Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-08-20

menis that he was protected by that law.
! "The New-York Tribune has been fore
most hitherto in this cry against the duty on
| Wool, on the ground that it was Of a coarse
quality that was valued less than seven cents.
/ 1t is well known, however, that much Of the
wool entered at this price is made up into fine
cloths. The mode by which it escapes high
duty is, by mixing il with dirt and coarse wool.
/ thus diminishing il in value. But this viii
hardly escape the vigilence Of the Custom
| House hereafter. FREE TRADE"
Once more we are constrained TO publish
that portion Of the Tariff Of 1912 which fixes
the duties on WOOL, and ask ths reader to COM
pare its facts with the above assertions. That
! Tariff reads rerbatina as follows:
'SEc. l. BE IL enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives. of The United States Of
.4merica ia Congress assembled, That from and
after the passage Of this act, in lieu Of the du.
ties heretofore imposed by law on the articles
hereinafter mentioned, and on such as may
now be exempt rom duty, there shall be lev
led, collected and paid, the following duties,
that is TO say
First. On coarse wool unmauuiactuTed, the
value whereof, at the last port or place from
whence exported to the United States, shall be
! seven cents or under per pound, there shall be
levied duty OF iive per centum ad yaloTem /:
And on all other unmanuiactured wool there
shall be levied duty of three cents per pound,
and thirty per centum ad valorem: Prorided,
That when wool Of different qualities of the
same kind or sort is imported in the same bale,
bag or package, and the aggregate value and
contents of the bale, bag or package, shall be
appraised BY the appraisers al rate exceeding
seven cents per pound, il shall be charged
with duty in conformity 10 such appraisal:
Propided farther, That when wool OF different
qualities and different kinds or sorts is impor-
ted in the same bale, bag or package shall be
appraised at the value of the finest or most val
liable kind or sort, and duty charged thereon
accordingly ProUided farther, That If bales
of different qualities are embI aeed IN the same
invoice, at the same price, the value OF the
whole shall be appraised according to the val
us of a bale OF the best quality; Prouided FIR
ther. That If any wool be imported having on
il dirt or any material or impurities other than
those naturally belonging 10 the fleece, and
thus be reduced in value to seven cents per
pound or under, the appraisers shall apprase
said wool at such price as, IN our opinion, II
would have cost had it not been so mixed with
such dirt or impurities, and duty shall be
charged thereon in conformity with such ap-
praiSal: Prorided also, That wool imported
on the skin shall be estimated as to weight and
value as other wool"
Here are the facts. Do they require one
word OF COMMENT You see that the Tariff
of AZ admits at the low duty none other than
coarse wool" costing less than seven cents per
pound. If fine or medium wool could be bought
abroad al. fire cents pound, il would have no
right to admission except at the high duty,
amounting to nearly one hundred per cent
Then see the express and abundant provisions
against mixing fine wool with coarse, or with
dirt and other impurities. In case this Is at
tempted, the duty is to be charged on the Wool
according 10 its quality or value apart from the
extraneous matter, and The whole is TO be as
sessed with duty as II II were of the finest
How could more stringent provisions be deyi-
sed : Do they not completely meet the ex
gencies Of the casel
But Gree Trade" says that, in spite ftheSe
provisions, great quantities Of fine foreign
Wool, mixed with dirt and coarse Wool, has
been imported to the serious injury Of the
American Woolgrower. II this be so, (as we
believe it's we ask every fair man 10 Judge
,olether The blame rests on the Wing Congress of
1912, ,chich, .foreseeu,g, expressly and amply
procided against such abuses, or tie Loco. Foco
Rereue officers ,oho, IN pioidti0il Of their duty
and their 0aths haze permitted them. Here is
the matter in nutshell. The Tariff of AZ is
carefully drawn expressly to guard the inter
ests Of the American wooLgrower, by allow
ing importation Of no Wool tina, can compete
with this except on payment Of a high duty.
The Revenue officers are ample in number
and amply paid TO take care that the laws are
fully carried into effect. Through their IN
fsithfulness, the wool grower is deprived Of
Protection and the Revenue is defrauded--
But do their friends well in attempting TO
throw the blsme on the Tariff Of '42l Con-
slider the facts and pass judgment--.N L.
Tribune.