New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-29
WOOL AND THE TARIFF.
AN ARGUMENT AGAINST NTERrERyNcp

INDUSTRY or THE UNITED srATRs-REsiyIr ~ ~.
TIE EXISTING TARIFF
TO tie Edftor Of The Tribuns
SIR: In March, 1857, an act was passed bx
Congress increasing the duties the inpostao. .,
wool and woolens to extent excessive so that N.
general effect anticipated was the approximate a,
entire prohibition OF the introduction OF any a.
| these two classes OF 'commOdities-the produc. q,
foreign countres-vithn the territory Of the Un,sd
States The object aimed at by this legislation was tina
promotion alike OF the interests OF the OF VOC
and tho manufacturer Of fsbrcs and the representa
tves Of these interests, through whose agency tho
Increased Tariff enacted, promised TO Congress and
the country contingent on the increase the du...
sought for they would guarantee the following resu
! I quote the language Of their memorial:
I'VE will engage that sheep hnsbandry win incfesss
expand and diversity afording a market for The an
material and rcscuing the people from dependence 90
10 procnre permanently at home at less cost than s
in exchange for the only products they can export"
Six years have elapsed since the existing taria On
the importation Of wool and woolens enacted M
various disturbing Influences which from time to tim.
have been reported interfering with It's beneaeent in
duence-the antcipatory fmpOrtations; the forgetfa
ness at the outset wool the skim the excessive
sales of Government army clothing: the yellow fever
South American wool ports the French and German
war-haye all past away or have been remedied. Ths
world is everywhere at peace; new inventions and pro
the American wool and wooden associations have for
the last two years at least In full enjoyment Of all
the conditions they have desired IL IT, therefore emil
monthly ft and proper to inquire how far their promise
and anticipatons In 1S66G7 have been fulfilled by 70
| suits OF lS72-73.
To help 70 meet this inquiry, important from ia
bearing future legislative policy. Mr. j. Wiey
Edmands OF Boston, President OF the National WOOes
Manufacturers Association. in Tue NBw-YoRK TRIBUNE
of Eah T. through
| statements. lie says:
1.-THE good feeling between the wool growers and the
manufacturers continues unchanged and both are SAITH
fed with the results Of the arrangement made In 1851"
The trade OF last year was In general satisfactory
The manufacturers OF cassmeres perhaps Jared best
while those making wooden fabrics for clothing demand
heavy outlay for labor did not succeed so we'll
Not many new enterprises were started. because q
general of trade but the comparatively
factories did very well, and increased their business"
To all OF which, and much other OF similar elect
The TRIBUNE Of the same date edtOraly added:
"It IA satisfactory 20 learn from the Hon. j. Wiley
EdInands who we'll qualified TO speak the subject
That the wool industry was prosperous last year. and
tanning the common protection which mas led 70 LARGO
increase In the production ana DIVERSITY OIL Amsrlosa
woolens. wen as foatered the growth and qualify OF
domestic WOOL"
The case having been thus presented on the one SIDE
now propose Mr. Editor at the suggestion and request
several Of the largest wooden manufacturers OF thu
country to traverse both Mr. Edmsndss assertions ant
ers and the public 10 decide wherein is the TRUTH Will
mt in with your permission, the following evidence:
The first temIhat submit Is the fact, that at recent
meeting OF the National Association OF Wooden Manu-
facturers" held In New York City, the most important
business brought forward the startling proposition
20 discontinue the operation OF 1000 sets OF the wooden
machinery Of the United States, involving the labor OF
1000 workmen and indirectly the means OF support
at least three times that number Of individuas As
N he N he
the proposition read as follows:
The intent and purpose OF this agreement being
10 reduce the predictions OF the wooden goods
oppression under which it suffers. we, the sub.
scribers, whose names and seals are hereunto al.
fixed do these presents agree, pledge and promise
in good faith and honorable that as soon as Loo
sets shall be subscribed TO rigdy enforce our purpose
ductve capacity OF mills" or in case that either or
all OF elect TO run the said productive capacity
on but halftme only" The conditions are that each
aud all OF us, fuflment Of the above shall carry The
of this agreement into execution on the - day
DATED at Ne,o. York, Jan, 1873.
The above agreement, owing chiefly to the active ef
forts OF Mr. Edmands and other representatives. OF the
worsted interests. who do not sympathize with.
perience the same difficulties the wooden msnafas-
lures proper approved adopted by tho meet
ing but received nevertheless the signatures of
factmers representing between 300 and 800 Sets whs
nearly quite many more who absent from the
meeting known TO have pledged their wbsa-
ever the agreement should be presented to them.
In reference TO this proposed action The ~ Y BeoHo-
mist and Dry Goods Reporter, which to certain extens
is regarded the OF the wooden interest expresses
Itself in a recent issue as follows:
"Where lies hid the adoption Of any movement thss
will give relief 10 the market by clearing up tue over
stock advancing prices compelling wool to declinef
Stop your cards Stop your looms. stop your ma
chnery Shut down your gates for one, two, four, or
six mouths If 1t is necessary. But stop for some tuna
Wool to-day Is higher than eight months SINCE yet pces
goods actually lower than II months since Re
lief can be had only By reducing production which esd
have persstenty advocated this policy for IS months
That the action recommended by The Economist e
likely to be brought about by necessity, II not by
agreement the following additional evidence reported
by various leading wooden manufacturers Of the cosn
try is submitted.
Under date of Sept 49, 1879 OF the lagesiand mss
successful wooden manufacturers of wrses
"Mr. Edmands. as a representative OF the worsed in
terest, may we'll be satisfied with the operation or the
tariff Of 61 that and the carpet interest have bad al
the chesnuts which the clothing interest pulled ost
rate and have an duty their products Tho
worted fabrics are protected oy heavy duty and aoof
Is a large item OF their cost"
"The clothing interest has not been In precarous
condition for many Tue failures have been many,
very general and weifounaed dstrust in regard 70
credits among the wool sellers such as has seldom boen
ample The washington formerly tho Bay state NILS
OF Lawrence) reported 10 have lost large amoun
the past year, aud they now contemplate stoppings
large portion Of their machinery or chingns It 70 Get,
ton The Mddesex also made their dividend from tho1
reserved fund. having made no profits"
" Mr.. A. 4. Stewards various mills are running ono
third time and any mill that does that must do so s
los"
The 10 per cent reduction woods from beyond the
Cape OF Good Hope slight benefit 10 the inlpores
in the United states. IL allowed them "a make tnoo
selections in London, without making larger Nen'av
from Australia. But, ut the same time, t was OF IA
greater benefit TO the London merchans IS gylng me-
entire control OF their colonial wOoS including All .no
profits OF freights and commissions free ,,.
of wool from Australia TO San Francisco Win roturs
nerce on the Pacific than all the subsidies our Govern
ment could grant TO steamships
one result of our tariff OF 1851 has been TO build up
most prosperous wool manufacturing industry IN oes
ada The most intelligent men there attribute then s@