New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-26
THE HON. B. STANTON on THE WOOL
QUESTION:
To the Editor If The N. y. Tribune.

respondent, i'll The DAILY TRIBUNE of the 10th inst ,
in sTeking of the proceedings of the House on the
tariff, fays:
Two important amendments adopted-one raising the
duty axsccd per and the other wool proposed
by Nj Stanton Of Ohio which virtually prohibits importation"
And agan
"Mi ssntor's course the bill excited much
Ways and hoans"
Again, in biz letter in The TRIBUNE Of the Ilth, he
says
Mr Stanton of Ohio whose whole opposition dictated by
dfernce Of two cents WOOL again oeed a. leader OF the
Demooscy, bot Intellectually"
VII not stop to inquire how a difference Of two
cents On wool would prohibit importation.
But the gentleman who has charge of your tele-
graphi correspondence here has awaited himself Of
every opportunity that he could find during the enAe
seesontO place me in false position, | think | may
Justly daim the privilege Of setting myself right.
Ii my recollection Ii correct az To your statement OF
the circulation of THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE think you
send about 40 copies 10 the village in which reside,
and probably not less than 900 to my district. While
bohng about the effect Of these dispatches here,
ard never trouble the Houfe with questions of pryi
lego growing out Of any Misrepresentation Of my posi-
ton in the newspaper do not feel bound 10 submit
10 pesevoring effort to destroy the confidence of my
constituents my character and usefulness as repre-
sentative.
1t is true that have long since announced my pur-
therefore, from any apprehensons about the influence
Of Your paper upon my future prospects and promo
ton but because desire in my retirement 10 preserve
TIE confidence and esteem of a constituency to whom
am indebted Tor "a cordial long-cOntnued, and generous
support, tina. j desire the Of your columns 10 set
ny self night before them. Now let what it is
tlat warrants your correspondent IN denouncng me IA
fCtioGs III Iy opposition ID the bill of the Committee
Of Ways and Means.
Ii would cot do TO denounce me for supporting an
increase of The duty on faxseed, because Mr.. Petit
Mr.. Kilgore and Mir. Coliax of Indiana, who are
special avoiites Of The TRIBUNE and it, correspond
et took tie lead the Republican side in favor of
that amenument.
Hence my ofense consists in Offering and supporting
roviso topreye frauds in TIE importation OF wool.
That pTovlso war AZ follows:
P,0rdcd That all imported wool which shall contain large
atniHure OF @ buIr yok, grease other Substance other
than wool ready for cadng than good
STdTee Of % United states shall be redeced in weight to The
Of fuch and duties shall be- levied such inn
RRa S'' ''''s 10 IT'S '''s pei pound VINE" reduced
twill be borne in mind that the bill reported by the
Committee of Ways and Means proposes to admit all
wool eostipg sixteen cents per pound, or under, Free
II manufacturers demanded that the maximum
weight for free wool should be 20 cents per pound at
tie place fIom which it Ii exported The Committee
agreed 20 raise the maximum 10 IL cents 10 admit all
between Is and "a cents at a duty OF cents per
pound and all over ~ cents per pound at cents.
| considered this worse than "A maximum of 20 cents,
with duty OF cents on all over that price, az have
ported, will range between Is aud "a cents.
During the fiscal year ending June 80, 1859, there
vas g3l go pounds Of wool imported, valued ut
sci So little 80 cents per pound while there
was 1865, l2l worth of wool the number of pounds
not gwen imported free of daty, all Of which must
have cos ess iran 20 cents per pound.
Ii would be DONG great Injustice to the genius and
inventive faculties OF these Importers TO suppose that
tIey could not End some way 10 reduce the price Of
tbs little rodicunl Of dutiae wool IRON 80 to a cents
rer round, when they coud thereby get il IN at duty
Of 3centr, per pound instead Of paying9.
The manufacturers IN 1857, for the first lime in
history, demanded tee wool In support OF this de-
and they urged the paradOXlral proposition that the
abolition OF duties would increase the price of Amer
icar wool. They paraded statistics, showing what
va, alleged to have been the result of abolishng du
ties Oh wool IN England.
Then devoted considerable labor 10 the investigation
Of le subject the results Of which, embodied in a
81 eech, which was delivered in the House Of Repre-
s,1tatyes during the tendency of the tariff Of 1851
HAT investigation satisfied that their statistics
wire falst-VrOlab.y iOrged-aud Their arguments
wholly unsound.
Tie subject was finally adjusted by allowing all
wool costing under 20 cents per pound at the foreign
Jrt TO come III free and all costing over that sum 10
Jay duty of - per cent advaorem. This was done
iron the representation that coarse wool, which was
required for curVets Sc, not grown in this coun
nv and that therefore would not come IN competition
with American wool.
Tie result las shown, as was then apprehended,
that wool ID imported which eighty per cent dirt and
in that condition Is worth 20 cents under, but when
cleaned worth iIom 80 10 20 per pound and IL
equal tie very beet wool raised in the United States.
Specimens Of II have been shown upon the floor of the
house during the peudency of the present tariff and
no one protends TO conrOvert the fact Various inter-
views were OF course had between the Representa-
tVos of the manufacturing and wooi-growng interest,
for the purpose OF enGeayOuDg TO mud some common
ground upon which all could agree.
Mir. Morrill, demanded IA reduction Of the maximum
for free wool to 10 cents, the only means Of pre-
venting the fraudulent importation Of fine woods.
" Ith this j would have been sallsied but ths manu-
iacturers peremporly refused II, but said they
wiling consent 10 any guards that could b. desired
to prevent eyasiOns of the law Of 1857. With this
view Mr.. Morrill, and yself proposed 10 them that all
wool that would be reduced 30 per cent in weight by
cleansing should pay duty. AZ first they prOfessed
10 be satisfied with tbis but after time they sad
that large portion vi American wool would shrink %
per cent, ana that such provision would make fair
foreign wool liable to n duty in violation Of a fair in
depreciation OF Tie law Of 1857 But If We could de-
wise some provision that would make American wool
the Standard they thought it would be satisfactory
II wa upon thin suggestion Of Mr.. Rice of Massachu
sets that ! framed the provisO which moved as All
amendment 10 the bill Of the Committee of Ways and
Means. | supposed II would he satisfactory u the
Manufacturers. But before had an opportunity of
consulting with them on the subject MIR. Morrill, mad
consented 10 the modification finally adopted and
which have no doubt they considered better for them
than the law Of $780, They then of course refused TO
ACCEPT my Proposition as II was matter of
quence whether anybody else was satisfied or not, if
they coad get the support Of the Republican members
Of llc Committee of WAYS and Means. The excuse
hat Was gwen by many Of The representatives of the
wool growers for not supporting my amendment was
hat II II Was adopted, many of the Ncw-Eugiand
n,nhcrr would vote against the BILL and that il wOuld
be defeated knew better, and the vote shows that
was not mistaken. am oensured for voting against
the hl on account of thcidefeat of amendment OF
70 little importance.
But knew very wen that if a majority could be
found TO lay the ball upon the table, defeat S en-
grosment, that motion 10 reconsider would bring lHH