The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-05-02
FLEECED.
How the Ohio Wool Grower Has
Been ShOrn.
The Tariff on Wool Decreased, But
on WOOlsn Goods It ls -..
Increased.

~ bno WOOA OAOWoAS ASSOoiablOu Ol
Your Representatives to whom was
delegated the duty OF presenting the
claims of the wool producers Of this
State before the Tariff Commission and
before the Congressional Committees
having charge Of the Tariff bill, having
discharged that duty to the best OF
their ability, beg leave to offer to your
body some observations on the report
of the Tariff Commission, as we'll as
upon the bill as 1t finally passed the
two Houses OF Congress- and became a
law.
without going into elaborate details
regarding the Tariff Commissioners re-
port so far as 1t concerns the great
wool producing interest Of the country,
we feel constrained to say that the re-
port, as to the classification of woods
and wooden goods and the duties to be
imposed thereon, follows the line re-
commended by the wOOlen manufactur-
ers of the east, seldom ever changing a
word or figure. SO subserVient did the
Commission appear 10 the interests Of
the manufacturers, In some cases their
report actually advanced the rates i'm
posed on manufactured WOOlens above
the figures asked by the representatives
Of the manufacturing interest, which
advance was not met by correspond
ing advance In the duties imposed on
these goods are made.
(See report of the testimony Of VIM.
Whitman before the Commission, Pam
phlet, page 8, and Commissions Re
port, page 81 and 68)
In support Of the charge that the
Tariff Commissions report gave undue
attention to the interests OF manufac-
turers as to the wool and wOolen goods
schedule, we beg to submit the follow
ing fact.
We find an advance made Of 5 Der
cent. ad ValOrem on wOOlen cloths, and
10 per cent. ad valOrem on hannels,
blankets, etc. In both instances the
Commission report makes this material
advance In rates over those asked by the
manufacturers.
When the report was taken up by the
Senate, that body followed the line of
the report of the Tariff Commission as
to the rate of duty on raw woods, and
when the item OF wooden cloths, wooden
shawls, ETC., was reached, the Senate
bill changed the classification from 5
per pound to 80 cents per pound, and
In addition raised the duty on these
goods per cent. by making the rate 40
per cent. ad YalOrem, In place of 80 per
cent.
On the class Of flannels, blankets, etc.,
the Senate's action raised the specific
duty two cents per pound on goods
NAluOu az ~ OOhbo POI POuhup aOONo bub
rate recommended by the Commission,
and in addition changed the classifca
tiOn, in the most important division,
from 81 per pound, valuation to 80 cents
per pound, advancing the rate of duty
5per cent. ad ValOrem making 1t 40 per
cent. Rd valOrem in place of 35 per
cent, and adding cents per pound
specific.
These changes, though seemingly
small, 1t must be remembered are on
the principal lines Of goods imported,
and their aggregate will be found to be
very considerable.
There is very slight reduction made
on the class of wOmen's and children's
dress goods, but it Is only cents per
square yard, and is specific duty, and
not based on the value OF the goods.
Under the head Of ready made cloth
ing, and wearing apparel Of every de-
scriptiOn, there Is an advance of 10 cents
per pound, specific duty. You will OBJ
serve that these advances are on the
compete with those manufactured from
our domestic woods.
On carpets, the report Of the Tariff
Commission advanced the rates 5 per
cent. Rd val0rem above the rate asked
by the manufacturers on five Of the
eight classes, tO-wit:
1. AmbussonD Administer, etc.
8. Tapestry Brussels.
4. Triple ingram.
3. Yarn, Venetian.
(See the report Of VIM. whitman be-
fore the Tariff Commission.)
The Senate, however, placed the rate
at the flgnres asked by the manufactur-
erS-30 per cent. Rd valOrem, In place of
80 per cent, as recommended by the
Commission.
The Senate, In its revision Of the Tariff
Commissions report, made some
changes which, while apparently being
in the line Of reduction Of the tariff,
really changes 1t but little, and In some
instances increases the rate to a con
siderable extent. Some instances Of
such action are herewith appended:
On wOOlen cloths, shawIs, etc., the
Senate reduced the specific duty Is cents
per pound as compared with the old law
but at the same time 1t advances the ad
VslOrem duty per cent. on goods Valu-
ed at over so cents per pound.
Also on lannels, blankets, ETC., the
Senate bill, while reducing the specific
duty 10 cents per pound, advances the
ad valOrem duty 5 per cent. on all goods
valued at over 80 cents per pound, which
embraces the bulk of the foreign goods
of this class brought to America, very
few being imported Of cheaper grade.
An exactly similar change was made
children's dress goods, etc. The specific
duty was reduced from 50 cts. per pound
the rate under the old law, to 80 cts. per
pound; while the ad Yalorem rate was
at the same time advanced from 35 to
40 per cent. on all goods weighing over
four ounces per square yard.
On the class embracing carpets woven
whole there was made reduction of 20
per cent. on the ad valorem duty, while
an addition Of As cts. per square yard
was made to. the specific duty on the
same goods.
On other lines Of carpets there was
general reduction made Of about 10 per
cent.
On the class which embraces cIoaks,
dolmans, jackets, ulsters and other out
side garments for ladies and children,
there is an advance as compared with
the old law, and also as compared with
the report OF the Tarih Commission, OF
IS cents per pound specific, and 40 per
cent. I'd Valorem. This change was