New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-18
TOOI md VOOLENS.

Rhode Islanders, have been induced, under tne
lead of Mr.. Edward Harris, to sign an appeal
to the Committee of Ways and Means. WHEREOF
| the gist is as follows:
ain conclusion. inasmuch as the Executive Committee
Of the National Association OF wooManufacturers and
Wool have conceded that such descriptions o'
wool as cannot grown in this country 70 auVantaSo
GU qht to he admitted free Of duty or al ease aI ~"
revenue duty and Congress has aoceded 10 ther WISHES
SO far is concerned ana as We oeeVe
we have made quite clear case in regard 70 nne
woos we therefore pray that you guardians OF the
industrial Interests OF the whole country will modify the
present existing tariff In such manner that nne wooi
may come into the country at ~ low rates OF duY ~ tne
oarpet-wools now do"
Comments By The Tribune.
Certain descriptions of cheap, coarse Wool
are admitted at low revenue duty, because
it is held that these-being the product OF the
vast "pampas" of South America. where Sheep
are never fed nor sheltered-can be grown there
so low that all attempts at competition on our
soil in our harsher climate, are papaby futile
Hence it ia plausibly contended that Protec-
ton extended TO the growth of such Wool by
our people would be as mistaken as would an
attempt to protect the growth among us OF
Cocoanuts, Pine apples, and Lemons.
We have looked carefully through these
gentlemen's appeal without finding sentence
that even purports to prove the vital assertion
above made by them-namely. that " fine
woods are among "such descriptions as can
mot be grown in this country to advantage"
Here is the passage which comes nearest it
"To us it seems clear that this unjust exclusion Of fine
woods not grown here has contributed IN great degree
TO the decrease OF prices of domestic wool The price OF
wool in our market governed by the price OF cloths
and while forey manufacturers have cheap line WOODS
the absence OF competition from US. they can and DO
import their cloths IN spite or or 90 per cent duty a
prices below production under the 100 per cent
duty on fine wool Give manufacturers fine wool az
mere revenue duty. you do WOOL and the for
egn manufacturer must pay for his wool because
OF our competition and will be forced TO advance the
price Of his cloths the direct benefit Of our own an
ufacturers while wool growers obtain IN equal bene
fit by tho increased price Of their woods.
cit is well known that for largo portion OF wooden
fabrics the manufacturer afford to pay for wool
of American growth ho obtain the foreign woods to
mix with them. the product being absolutely improved
by this mixture OF the woods from abroad with American
woods From any point OF Wow, We believe IL can DO
shown that tho interests OF the woogrower and manu-
facturer are identical neither DO depressed for any
length Of time without seriously affecting tho other and
both will be attended alike with prosperity.
awe have no doubt that very large amount OF wooden
fabrics both in tho piece and in garments. is Struggled
into this country aud brought IN under false invoices
whereas the raw material pays the full duty"
We have thus quoted all, and more than
all, of this appeal that even seems to argue
that fine Wool cannot advantageously be pro-
duced in this country. If it appears not even
to begin to prove that point, tho fault Is not
ours.
To us. it is evident that reduction OF our
duties on fine Wool would prove mistaken
untimely, perncious Wool is almost the only
product of our great Northwest that can be
conveyed to a distant market for two to five
per cent. of its value. Mutton is most ac-
ceptable meat-the only one which the average
farmer can have fresh while immersed in the
exacting labors of his Summer barvest-one
that should DO extensively substituted for
Pork az a staple of the laboring mans diet.
We have immense stretches OF well grassed
prairie still unsettled, on which one hundred
millions Of Sheep might be reared and sub
sisted at very moderate cost Grain-the inev-
liable resort of piOneers-is so heavily taxed
by the cost of transportation and so depressed
in price that it can no longer be grown for
export in our frontier settlements unless the
grower is willing or constrained TO work for q
very moderate return. On every account, there
fore, we ought to increase and improve our
nocks, growing fine Wool and the long Comb
ing Wool to q Ear greater extent than we have
ever yet done.
Mr.. Harris and his henchmen propose q di-
rectly opposite course. Assuming, without
proof and against proof, that we cannot grow
such Wool. they propose to reduce the duties
thereon and invite largely increased import
alton of this staple. The Free-Traders use
them and chuckle over their short-sghted sell
fishness, knowing full well that the act which
reduces the duties on fine Wool will inevitably
reduce also the duties on Wooden Fabrics.
Their blindness is at once amazing and lament
able.