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

tance-we may say the indispensable necessity,
Of the word coarse" in the clause in question,
IN order TO describe quality of wool which the
minimum of seven cents might not, IN oil cases,
sufficiently indicate, and to make distinction, the
effect OF which should he to exclude from the
nominal and subject to the higher duty, all wool
not coarse, though of a value below seven cents
Ii is we understand, maintained by some that
the value OF the wool at the place whence expor-
ted to the United States is, under the clause in
question, to be taken as decisive OF its quality,
and is thus to settle the question between The high
and the low duty. If this construction he correct,
the word coarse" is merely coincident in its effect
with The presumption of quality arising from value,
aud is therefore, useless. A construction which
involves such n result cannot be the true construc
ton. The word coarse is in the clause. and evil
DENLY for distinct, definite purpose. What iods
lhnt purpose, unless ii was that for which we con-
tend II any effect is to be given 10 it, what can
thai effect be # II is not that WOOL though costing
less ihuu seven cents, shall not be privileged with
the nominal duty unless 1t bo coarse also? II
this is not to be taken 10 he the effect OF the word
coarse in this connexon, il is impossible 10 con-
ceive what effect il was intended to have. To de-
ny it this effect is to make it senseless surplussuge
The correctness Of the position that the word
coarse was intended to limit the five per cent
privilege to wool really coarse, aud not conslruc-
lively SO by reason of Of its value in the foreign
market, is sustained and illustrated by reference
TO the history of the Introduction OF the word IN
TO the clause in question: connected with tie MS
tory OF our previous legislation on the subject.
BY the tariff Of 1892, wool costing eight cents
under, was ndmitted free Of duty, because, us
we have remnrked, ii was presumed, from rel
crencc to its value, To be coarse. The word course
was not IN the act; but the qualify was lett to he
inferred from the value. i'm the tariff ui lc4% The
quality of HE wool to he privileged with the nom
nal duy was not left 10 depend upon such IN III.
ference but. instead OF IT, II strong Term was used
to express the IaIny OF the wool which was 10
he subjected 10 the nominal duty That term was
the wmd coarse"
Now why tins change OF phraseUlOgy? Why
was il not enacted, simply that wool costing seven
cents or under, should he subject to Il duty ui i've
per cent, leaving the quality 10 he Inferred from
the price, as in the net of 1892 The renson is
found in tie practical operation of The duty
clause of that act Under that clause large guam
tiiies of fine wouI had been imported, free OF du-
~, because costing eight cents or under. The
great reduction III the price OF iiuu wool Witch
gave such an unlocked for effect TO the clause III
question resulted from the large production OF
wool oil that quality in Buenos Ayres by crossings
OF merino, with the native South American sheep
so as to produce quality Of wool coming within
the description Of fine wool, md yet at cost not
exceeding tina, of the wool contemplated
in the duty free clause of the act of 1892 II cost
reduced to low point by the cheapness OF land
and labor in Buenos Ayres, together with Gil
mate dispensing with the use of fodder for the
support OF sheep, and remarkably favorable TO
their health and longevity.
1t appears from the Custom House returns that
eleven hundred and one sheep, of the aggregate
value of 5 IL, 565 averaging $500 each and there
fore presumed to have been merino bncks-were
exported from the United States to Buenos Ayres
in the years 1897 and 1898. Tho quantity of wool
the product of The crossings Of these nerino with
the native South American sheep = supported into
the United States AT, aud below the value OF eight
cents, caunot, OF course, he ascerlained The I'M
portatons from that country of wool costing eight
cents and under, were greatly increased in HE
succeeding years; embracing, as is well known,
much fine wool, and therefore presumed 10 have
beeh the product of the crossings referred to-
That increase will appear by the following stale
Inent of the importatl'rs OF wool costing eight
cents and under from Buenos Ayres during the
Gus three years.
In 1896, S256'8s7 pouqds.
1897, 2l0S,5S2
1888, 25l5,So3
1882, $685.
1910, 566,46S
lS4l, SS70,790
The French blockade Of Buenos Ayres in 1899
aud 1910 diminished the exports Of those years,
and consequently sweled those of 1911 when the
blockade was raised. The annual average OF the
three wears was 1913 600 pounds. That OF the
three years was 203,7e pounds ma
king an excess Of the average Of the last three,
over that OF the first three years, of 1919 ol6
pounds-nn increase Of about ~ per cent.
1t was the extraordinary quantity Of fine wool
thus cheapeled in the market of Buenos Ayres,
aud thrown, ia rye quantities, upon our own,
that suggested the necessity nt the Introduction
of the word coarse" into the clause in question:
Its intended effect was, to subject tn tbs higher
duty all wool not coarse, though costing less than
seven cents. The following history of the intro
duction Of the wor, coarse into the clause will
confirm this view of the subject.
report from the Secretary of the Treasury
upon the subject OF the :nrlff, was made TO the
House Of Representatives OIL the 9ih OF May
1912 accompanied by n bill, the first section Of
winch provided that, " on wool manufactured,
the value Whereof AT the last port place whence
exported to the United States, shall be eight cents
or under, per pound, there shall be levied duty
OF three CTS. & 30 per al vaIorem" The bill &
repor, were referred TO the Committee of ways
and means. While the committee were consider
ing the subject, meeting of tho Vermont Dele
CATION was holden for The purpose of considering
the proposed duty on wool, and suggesting such
OF the Secrelary's bill ms would give
to an article in which Vermont had
very deep interest. We came to the conclusion
that the fixing OF n minimum within which the
nominal duty should take effect, must from the
want of uniformity in the relation between the
value and the qualify OF wool, necessarily TAIL TO
accomplish fully the intended purpose of just
discrimination between fine and coarse wool in
reference 10 the high and low duty especially
after the exiraornlary resns of the process tor
cheap, fine wou in South America
The idea OF amending the clause by the inroduc,
ton OF some phraseology directly expressive Of
quality was suggested; ind the word "coarss
was ngree 10 be proposed for that purpose-a
word which WIS believed Ia bI OF sufficient def
niteness OF meaning in its ordinary Use among the
growers and manufacturers OF wool TO admit of
it's practical application to the intended purpose.
The result of this consultation was, that two Of
the undersigned attended before the committee
of ways and means, aud urged the insertion Of
the word I" coarse" in the above mentioned clause
of the Secre,ory's BILL far The purpose, and upon
The grounds ab0us suggested, Upon full discus"
sion o. the subject, the committee decided to in
sert the word, and reported the clause, thus mod