Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-07-21

AAer az, even uudxwhat may baye been an
improper construction, and imperfect execution,
of the law by tho Executive Department, il would
seem, from reference to the quantity OF wool
costing seven cents and under imported into the
United States during the first six months OF the
present fiscal year, that there has been great lat
ling off iD the importation Of that description OF
wool under the new tariff falling OIL which
ought to silence the cam0rs OF those who have
been laboring with so much zeal for the last SIX
months, TO pursuade the people that the new tariff
furnishes no check to the ruinous importations OF
fine wool which took place under the duty free
clause of the tariff OF 1882
have recently obtained from tho Treasury De-
partment n statement, showing the quantity und
value OF wool costing seven cents and under, and
the quantity and value costing over seven cents,
imported into the United States during the six
months ending on the 3lst of Murch last, being
the first six months OF the present fiscal year. Tho
following comparison of these mportaiions with
those Of the proceeding year l commend to the
consideration OF those wi o really DESTROYS to
know whether the labors of their Representatives
in Congress have been of any avail in securing
protection TO the wool growing interest.
From the statement just received from the Reg
lister OF the Treasury it appears that, during The
first half of the present fiscal year, which com.
menced one month after the present tariff went
into operation there WINS imported
Wool costing GEMS or under
per pound, esl, 36s lbs.
Wool costing over z cents l759G2 &"
Doubling the amounts for the imporIations Of
the entire year, and they will stand as follows
Wool costing &c. or under l,762736
Wool costing over cents b5l 924
Now compare this with the importations oil the
year ending Sept &c. 1912 which were as fol.
lows
Wool costing cents or
under 1053s,995 lbs.
Wool costing over cts. 35l, 1854
falling off, upon the establishment OF the new
Tariff, in the importation Of duty free wool, from
ten millions and half to one million and three
quarters OF pounds, while there is a ditninuon OF
the Importation of wool subject 10 protecting
duty Of more than one milf will those who de-
nounce the tariff as altogether inefficient to pro-
tect the interests of the wool growers, tell me
what this means?
But there is another very striking and more i'm
portant point in the comparison. The importa-
ton of fine wool, duty free under the operation OF
the tariff of 1892, it is well known was almost
wholly from Buenos Ayres. 1t was that impor.
iaiion which awakened special attention TO the
subject OF coarse wool, in revising the tariff, and
induced the modification ofthe wool clause in the
manner described in the following letter. Now
compare The importation Of duty free wool from
Bcenos Ayres during the year previous 20 the a.
doptlon of the Tariff, with the importation Of wool
subject 10 a duty OF per cent. from the same
country subsequent TO lis adoption. Importation
for the year ending on the 30h of September
lS42 7304SlI Lbs.
For the 6 months ending March
1913 504746 HIS
Double this for the entire current
fiscal year and we have 1,009492 lbs.
A reduction from Seuen million Three hundred
thousand pounds to fraction over one million
The Convention OF last January 10 which
have referred, soemny declared in ole OF their
resolutions, that in rerising the ldte tariff The
iUooi groDer's interest tcas ENTIRELY DIsREGARDED;
and yet, while they thus resolving, Tor party
effect, there was silently being wrought out under
the very tariff thus denounced by them, result
which now demonstrates the injustice of their as
sertion.
And all this, let it be remembered, was under
an execution Of the provision with regard to coarse
wool which it is by No means certain was in full
accordance with its true intent aud meaning
Great us has been the reduction in the mporla
ton OF duty free wool make no distinction in
this argument between the per cent duty mud
freedom from duty,] yet ] have 10 doubt that,
with thorough and careful execution OF the coarse
wool provision, according to its true intent aud
meanng, the reducton would have been still great
er. Aud am not without hope that the efforts Of
the Vermont Delegation in Congress, will have
the effect of producing such further reduction.
feel quite sure that such would have been the ef-
fec had Mr.. Forward renamed at the head of
the Treasury Department; as had repeated con-
versations with him on the subject, in which he
expressed his entire concurrence in the views
expressed in the letter to him, and would, have
no doubI, have carried them out, Ind he remain
ed at the head Of that Department | have no
means of knowing the views of his successor, but
feel too strong confidence in the correctness Of
the ground taken in the letter TO his predecessor
to doubt that he will practically sustain it. If he
does not however, on him and tho Administration,
with which he is connected, be the responsibility.
As this matter is one OF great interest to the
people of Vermont, aud AS it is perhaps, not per-
feclly understood by all, have 10 request that this
communication, together with those that follow,
may be published in all the newspapers in the
State
WILLIAM SLADE.
July 10, lo43.