Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-03-25


Commissioner Wells, in lie last report, laid
down two propositions of the highest c3n-c-
quence TO wool Growers These were, that
under the tariff of l,i7 wool has yielded the
grower les- price than ever before, and that
there has been great decrease in the mum
Der Of sheep in the country. These yiev-
have found strong endorsement in petition
addressed 70 the Committee of WAYS and
Means, by thirty-three corporations and
twelve individuals. manufacturers OF wo1len
cloths in Rhode Island, Massachusetts,, Con
necticut and New y ork, who representa- cap
ital engaged in the manufacture of wooden
goods of over fifteen millions of dollars and
own upwards of five hundred sets of wooden
machinery The petitioners allude to and
sustain. in terms, these statements of Mr..
Wells, and aver that the tariff greatly de-
presses wool manufactures in general, TO
the especial advantage of the carpet makers
and manufacturers of blankets. They state
that carya WOODS under l. cents per pound.
whether JraSl,d ~ unwasIed, come in under
duty of three cents per pound, while fine
washed woods. which are not grown in this
country. and which are essential to the man
ufacture Of fine cloth. pay % cents per
pound specific, and - per cent al yalarem.
Thus the duty on fine r7sleS wool is - g.
100 cents per pound to the manufacturer of
fine cloths, while a duty Of but 3 cents per
pound Is paid on ras.ed wool by the carpet
manufacturer They add that the shrinkage
in securing Is about twice as much in the
fne wool a. il is in the carpet wool. which
gives the carpet maker still greater advan-
tage over the fine cloth maker
They claim that the existing tariff is thus .
3. fifty per cent. worse than free trade '' to .
them, and thu; the exclusion Of fine woods .
not grown here has contributed in a grea, .
degree, to the decrease Of prices Of domestic
wool. They say:
The price Of wool in our market is governed
by the price Of cloths. and while foreign manu-
fscturers have cheap fine woods, in the absence
Of competition from US, they can and DO import
their cloths, in spite Of IS or 80 per cent
duty, at prizes below the cost Of production IN
der the 100 per cent. duty 0n tine wool Give
our manufacturers fine wool at mere
revenue duty, Is YOU 10 coarse wool. and
the foreign manufacturer must pay for his wool
because Of our competition, and will be forcei
70 advance thc price of his cloths to the direct
ocnett Of our own manufacturers, while oar
wool growers obtain an equal benefit by the H.
erased price OF their woods
1t is vel known that for s. large portion of
Soolen fabrics, the manufacturer can afford to
pav more for woois Of American growth if he can
obtain the foreign wool TO mix with them. the
product being absolutely improved by this mix
ture OF the woods from abroad with American
woods From any point of view we believe it
can he shown that the interest Of the wool
grower and manufacturer are identical neither
can be depressed for any length of time withou;
seriously affecting the other, snd both viii be
attended alike with prosperity
The petitioners accordingly ask such
modification Of the tariff that fine wool may
come into the country at as low rates Of duty
as the carpet woods now do.
The matter is one of very great Importance
both to wool manufacturers and wool grow
ors. 1t is certainly difficult to see on what
principle Congress can say that carpet man !
liacturers shall have the advantage over
other consumers Of foreign woods; or that
arif of one hundred per cent. upon foreign j
yools shall be maintained. while but fifty
,er. cent. is imposed upon foreign goods !
made from such foreign woods in foreign c
ountries This would seem to be the very
pposite of protection, for its eject must be '
D enable foreign manufacturers to underbid ,
he makers of home goods, drive their pro =
notions from the market, and bald up il
lemselves upon the ruin OF almost tie en- b
re wool interest of the country. r