The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-10-04

voice the whole at its average value-ad-
jus,ing the proportions between the fine and
coarse so as 10 bring the Average to eight
cents or under. Thus for example, bale
of wool weighing 200 pounds. may be mix.
value of three dollars per hundred, am punt.
ing TO 81.
and one third, of the value of eight
cen dollars per hundred, amounting
10 IL.
: For 300 pounds $40.
{ Thus the whole contents of the bale NAV
be fairly invoiced al eight cents per pound.
while ii may contain o6 8 pounds of wool
worth, al the place ofexporlation. eighteen
cents per pound, and which, paying no du-
ty. NAV, after being separated from the
coarse wool with which it is mixed. come in
I competition with much of our fine wool.
| This kind of evasion was attempted to be
prevented by the provision in the act of the
18th of September last, by which that part
of a bale or package of wool worth more
than eight cents, was subjected to duty of
90 per cent. But this involved the neces-
sity of an asserting by the appraisers, of ev-
cry bale containing woods of different fine
ness; which would require an am punt of
labor that would probably prevent a
thorough execution of the provision. A nd
besides, it imposed Il duty on the wool thus
found, on separation. to have cost over eight
cents, inadequate 10 the protection of our
wool of the same grade.
The true and only effeciual remedy would
be by provision which hope to see pro
posed by the Committee of Ways and
Means az an amendment 10 this bill-by
which, when wool of different kinds or sorts.
is imported in the same bale, bag or package,
thecontents of the bale, bag or package shall
be appraised al the value of the finest or
most valuable of the whole.
Another mode BY which wool really worth
much more than eight cents, is imported as
costing eigh; cents or under, is to purchase
it with the Dirt and filth and burs which be-
come mixed with it in the progress of its
growth, and by which it is reduced, per-
haps one third, or ore half or more, in its
value err pound Thus it is easy to sec,
that wool, worth, at the place whence I'M
ported, if cleansed TO an extent not greater
than our river washing before shcarine
twelve or fifteen cents, may have really cost
eight cents or under, and, with a small en-
pense Of cleaning may come in competition,
free of duty, with much of our wool. The
expense of separating the burs which would
seem TO be formidable item in the pro-
cess of cleaning. is, understand, reduced
10 mere irlhe by burning machines, which
are in successful operation i'll those esiab-
lishmenrs in which South American wool is
principally manufactured. There are, also.
in operation, understand, machines by
which the long and coarse hairs which are,
10 some extent, mingled with fine wool
! ffeeces. are separated, with astonishing ia
cilty, thereby augmenting the value Of the
| fleece. as it is augmented by the separation
I from it. of. burs, dirt and other impurities.
There is provision in the act of 1892,
and also in that of the l1th of September
I last. declaring that, ''if any fine wool be mx-
4 ed with dirt or other material. and thus he
reduced in value 10 eight cents por pound
or under, the appraisers shall appraise said
wool, at such price as. in their opinion, il
would have cost had it not been So mixed;
and duty thereon shall be charged in con-
formi,y with such appraisal" But this
provision has been rendered Intellectual for
its true purpose. by its application in prac-
ice Sanctioned, believe, BY judicial de-
cisions) to cases only in which the "dirt
or other material has been mixed with the
wool by an artificial process. for the pur-
pose of reducing lis value. The bill before
US should be altered-as hope to see done
upon proposition of amendment from the
Committee If Ways and Means-so as TO
fix the appraisal upon the basis of the value
Of the wool. without tie dirt material or i'm
purties accumulated in the process of its
growth-placing it, as near as NAV he, up
on par with the river-washed wool, before
shearIng. of our own sheep.
I The facts have stated in regard to our
wool trade with South America land The
same process of obtaining fine wool below
the eight cents point, may be carried on in
other countries) show, think. very clearly,
that our Legislation should be altered 10 meet
this new state of things. In two or three
particulars, | have suggested the changes
which think ought to be made. will add
what must be obvious to all. that the eight
cents maximum should be reduced. The
maximum of six cents would probably ad.
nit, upon the nominal dnty Of FIVE per cent
in the bill before us, about the same quality
of wool As was intended to be admitted. IN.
der The eight cents proviso in the act oil
1882. An additional, and. if fairly execu.
ted. very important safeguard would be
the limiting the five per cent privileg to
wool declared by the act, 10 be coarse, as
well as inferred to be so by the maximum o.
its cusi,
The facts to which have adverted, ir
/. regard to the increased facilities for intro