Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-09-15
THE TARIFF-WOOt,

lnC hhtFt - WOOI.
90 Although the election is past it is no, use.
less to correct one Of The misrepresentation of the
Patriot as we do by copying the annexed letter.
addressed by Hon. lland Hall 10 the editor of
the State Banner.
LETTER FROM MR.. HALL.
Enoch Davis Esq.-Sr;
learn from your paper that the following
statement in relation to the tariff act now in force
IA, been made in the Vermont Patriot published
at Montpelier
Was it not we'll understood nv our delegation
IN Congress, pending the tariff bill OF the late ses-
SION, tha' u afforded no protection 10 the wool
growers Of Vermont , During this lime did not
Mr.; iial ct the first District. say to Mr.. Fillmore
W view YORK SUBSTANTIALLY, that the clause pre-
tending TO protect wool was n hur.b,Iu or that il
aftnl little or no protection TO the wooRrow-
?"
10 these questions so far az they apply to he
tariff bill rs it finally passed aud became a law.
say unequlvocally, that so lar rs know aud be-
eve II was NOT understood by the Vermont
delegation IN Congress that it afforded no nile
qnale protection to the wool growers of this slnte
IT WAS NOT so UNDERSTOOD BY Me
further say that Mr.. Hall of The first district.
neper said TO Mr. Fillmore Of New York, or 10
any Other person, that the clause pretending to
protect wool was humbug, or that il afforded lit
lle or no protection t1 the wool grower. Nor did
that tariff bill,
| With the bill ms reported by The committee of
Ways and Means, of which Mr. Fillmore was
clnirmnn, was dissatisfied, and to tina, hill ex-
pressed strong opposition both to Mr.. Fillmore
and on the floor oi the House IN this oppo,i.
ton understood the whole delegation to concur.
| That bill proposed 10 impose a nominal iuty of
| per cent upon all wool costing under cents
per Id. was dissatisfied with Ills provision be-
canse believed that the cost of wool in the or-
eign countries. as shown II the Cusiom Houses
10y The importers was not true test Of its qualify,
and that under IT'S provisions large quantities Of
fine wool coming in direct competition with tho
wool ut Vermont would he imported under the
nominal duty OF per cent, aud because | also
thought that more protection than would be given
hy duty OF thirty per cent. ought to be afforded
to the higher priced woo In hi, dissatisfaction
understood the whole delegation TO CONCUR MIR.
Slide and myself were lie ,uled hy the del. cation
10 20 he ore the committee of Ways aud Means,
nhd endeaVor to procure their aid IN improving
The bill. A majority of the committee including
the chairman expressed their Willingness 10 put
wool upon AL equal footing with other articles in
the bill, and especially to furnish MS much protec-
ton 10 woo, AS was Afforded TO the wool manu-
facturer. 1t was suggested by the committee that
II duty OF the sntne per cent. was imposed upon
wool that was imposed upon wooden goods, the
wOo-grower would have the whole benefit of The
protection, aud the manufacturer would have
higher duties had always bten imposed upon wopl-
ell goods than on the raw materials. Il was found
TINT 10y the tariff act Of 1892 the duty Oh wool
ems was so per CENT while that on wool was
ly equivalent To about 40 per cent. The tariff
hill rs proposed II was snd, kept The articles in
nearly the same ratio The duty on woo.en goods
WAS reduced 10 forty per cent. and that wool
to 30 per cent In this reasoning we did no, con-
cur aud partly by The exertious OF the delegation
IN the House, AMI partly by The aid of the COM
nttee the bill was altered to the shape N which
il became law.
by the bill rs il passed, The cost of wool which
was 10 come in unter The duty oil 5 per cent, WAS
reduced from 3 to z cents, aud it must lie coarse
wool. Fine WOOL though it might cost less than
CENTS was subject to the higher duty. This
WINS deemed most important prov ison. BY the
old law, all wool under 8 cents wheIher fine or
coarse, had been iree-Dot subject TO any duty.
By the TIN as it passed dizzy of 30 per cent,
aud also 3 cents per H., equivalent TO 40 per cent
was imposed Twas satisfied that this provision
placed wool upon an equal footing with tie other
articles IN the bill, aid especially upon an equa-
~ with wooden go0ds--the duty upon such goods,
being 40 per cent.-ihe same as upon wool. |
would have gone for higher duty upon woulens,
and upon wool aud alro upon many other articles,
lrt il the best hill thai c0ull he Ubtarne, aud
| voted Tor it cheeriulIy and heartily. i believe
If IL is suffered TO continue, and is fairly carried
into operation il will furnish IA lair and adequ4te
protection 10 the wool growing and other mnpor-
tant interests of the country Whether il is suffer
ed TO remain and resusciIae the dropping business
of the country, or Is destined 10 fall under The
blows Of party which, every where but here,-
and here, always, except just before nn cleo
lion-hold forth the Utopian system Of Free
Trade the remedy for all the evils of the body
poc-;ine will determine.
am, sir, very respectfully yours.
Inland HALL.
Bennington, Aug &c, IS43.