Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-20
Wool. 40.


The following, copied from the Journal Of
Commerce, New York, relates to an important
question now under consideration ia Congress,
and viii command attention from the high
character ofthe source whence it emanates.
We entertain no doubt Of the propriety Of adj
hitting raw wool free Of duty, and that it
would benefit as well the wool grower as the
woollen manufacturer, and also the nearer Of
woollen goods.
The Treasury is overlooking, and now is the
time to afford the proposed relief
There is another interest which equally de-
mands relief, and to which interest we trust re-
lief viii be afforded.
The stringency Of the money market has
operated most powerfully to Cypress those rail-
road companies, which have not yet completed
their lines of improvement, and hence millions
upon millions ofdollars invested in these works,
are producing no dividends, and the country
through which they are located, as well as
the companies themselves are suffering seri-
ously from this cause.
If Congress would grant them an exemption
from duties on railroad iron, as has been re-
peatedly done heretofore, for year or two in
advance, and refund to them, as heretofore, the
duties paid upon railroad iron laid down during
the last year or two, the relief would enable
them to resume operations.
The resumption Of their operations, and the
completion of their works would thus be in
sured and every interest in the country would
be benefited by this measure. It is mistake
to suppose that such measure Of relief would
inure only to the benefit Of railroad companies;
it would result in benefits to farmers, mer-
chants, and even TO manufacturers of railroad
iron in the United States, and to every other
class and interest in the community. The pre-
cedents are numerous for such action OF Con-
gress, and we hope the present Congress will
signalize itself by this act Of just liberality.
The following are the articles referred to:
WooL.-We have heretofore advocated the re-
peal Of all duty upon wool as a measure demanded
by the interests of both the wool grower and
wooden manufacturer. Our articles upon this sub
ject have been widely copied, and with scarcely an
exception, the proposition has been approved by
the public press in all sections Of the country.
man Of the Committee Of Ways and Means, the
principle was virtually admitted, all foreign woods
being placed in schedule at rate of duty nearly
nominal That bill, however, proposed such
radical changes in other respects that there APP
pears to be little chance for It's success during the
brief portion of the session now remaining, and
unless some simpler action is proposed, there IL
danger that the important measure OF admitting
raw materials duty free, viii be postponed for an
war; npp n dOubffilI
advantage, or less generally approved by public
opinion In all parts Of the country there might be
some excuse for further delay but as the case now
stands, we do not see why 1t may not be imbodied
in single enactment and receive the appreciation
of Congress befor the session closes.
It has been cordially recommended by the Sec
rotary of the Treasury two years IN succession 1t
has been advocated by the leading organs OF the
Protectionists especially by those whose circula-
ton is greatest in agricultural DISTRICTS 1t has been
cordially commended by the friends and opponents
of the free-trade policy; and letters from leading
wool-growers have begged 1t as remedy for the
evils they have so long experienced. In another
column, we print a letter from woolgrower in
Washington county, Pennsylvania, where some OF
the best wool is raised which is to be found In the
whole country If this measure can be consum-
mated at the present session OF Congress, more
real good viii be done to the manufacturing inter-
est than by all the "protection" afforded them
since the formation of the government; while such
an impulse will be given to the home demand for
wool, that the rapid fluctuations in price which
have ruined so many in this trade, will be no longer
experienced.
The following Is copy of a letter written by
wool grower In Pennsylvania to firm in this city;
CASossBuRo, Washington Co., Jan. 18th, 1885.
SIRs Your different hvors and newspapers
have been duly received, and would have been no
ticed sooner but was waiting to see how the idea
of free wool would take with the people, and after
consulting with a number of my neighbors give
you their views on the subject. think the ma
ority Of the people viii favor wool coming in free
of duty, provided that the duty on manufactured
goods is kept on. As far as the wool-growers are
concerned, think in our section Of the country,
there viii be no difficulty about the matter. l
have got the articles copied in our country papers
and they take pretty well with the people, and 4
you should send me any more on the subject, viii
have them put in our papers. shall use my in
Huence with our members Of Congress to have the
matter brought about soon as possible, for there
is room for reformation on the subject. We are
wool-growing people here, and want something
that win be Of durability and not 80 many ups and
downs in the market. Yours truly