New-York tribune., 1870-04-12
An ARGUMENT ANSWERED.

The House of Representatives was last II
day in Committee on the Tariff, considering
an amendment affecting Wool imported on the
Skin, when Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio quoted in
full the prices at which leading WOOlen Fab
RIGS were sold in 1e59-C0 under comparative Free
Trade and in 1SG9-70 under Protection. These
lists were made up by A. T. Stewart & Co. for
Commissioner Wells's last Report and by Per-
ry, Wendell, Fay & Co. for The TRIBUNE !;
and, though we have repeatedly printed and
called attention to them, their accuracy has
never been questioned, nor the fact that they
show that Woolens are, in the average, actu-
ally cheaper to-day, under high protective
duties, than they were ten years ago under low
Revenue duties. On these facts, Mr. Lawrence
commented as follows:
"Before the wal our tariff on wool was so low that
wool growing in this country was almost abandoned
Our manufacturers relying only or mainly the for
egn market for wool in which they had to compete with
foreign manufacturers as buyers were at the mercy OF
the foreign producers importers The importers hav
Ing monopoly Of the market, controlled prices to SUIT
themselves, by combinations when necessary But the
great demand for army goods during the war stimulated
the American production OF WOOL and in 1867 we found
our ocks had so increased to be sufficient in number
TO supply more than the ordinary demands Of the people,
There was an over-producton Of wool. To prevent
the destruction Of this great branch Of industry
the wool tariff Of 1867 was enacted. And the
result is now, Mr. Chairman, that, under exist
ing laws we furnishing to the people Of this country
cheap wooden goods and it cannot be claimed that 1t Is
necessary to admit wool duyee in order to encourage
the existing manufactures. If the tariff were removed
two effects would follow First should annhilate the
growing interest Of country, producing more
than SOOOOOOO worth OF wool annually; and secondly
we should give to the foreign producer the control OF the
market prices Of wool would not be any less to the
manufacturer in year after the new order OF things
and we would export SEQ 100000 in gold to buy wool which
we ought to produce at home Our industries diversified
by the home production Of WOOL would suffer by the de-
sructon Of wool product and foreign manufacturers
again. as in 1860 would control the market for wOolen
goods and put up prices then, to higher figure than
now."
Mr.. Lawrence having closed, Mr.. Brooks of
New-Yorl took the floor and replied as follows:
"If the two gentlemen from Ohio had done me the
honor to listen read the speech made the other
day. they would have that under the
high tariffs Of England, the prices Of wool have gone
down. while under tariffs the prices have risen. The
gentleman from Ohio N1r Bingham) refers to the de-
preston of Wooens Thereby he admits the fall of WOOL
"sr well recollect the history OF the wool and wool
tariff passed in 1861 The argument Of the gentleman
now The argument that that tariff would raise the
price OF tle WOOL Wool 81 teIs ap % nn shea
the green hills OF Vermont upon the Alleghanies OF
PENNSYLVANIA, upon the mountain ranges OF CalfOr-
nia aud oregon, and Washington Territory where sheep
slaughtered by thousands and tens OF thoqsaIds
that does not in his dying moments calculate both Of
these arguments-Baa! Daa Laughter.
This is MT what you might call "a sock
dolager," but we presume it is the best
answer that the facts allow. 1t does not even
deny that We are obtaining homemade
Woolens as good and as cheap under PrOtec-
tion as we did or cOud procure their foreign
made rivals under Free Trade; it is obliged
to content itself with insisting that Wool is
no dearer under high than it was under low
duties. If the Free-Traders can make any
thing out of that demonstration that high
duties insure lou prices, they are welcome to it.
We rest content with the admitted facts that
we are clothed as cheap from American looms
as we ever were from foreign, and that the
representatives of our wool-growers say, Let
the duties stand