The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-09

A Diversity ofOpInion ON the wooIer
Schedule.

A Diversity ofOpInion ON the wooIen
Schedule.
NEW .YoRK, March S.-There is q diver
sity Of opinion as to the effect that the new
tariff schedule, which is to go into effect
July l, will have upon the woolen and
worsted trade. Manufacturers and their
agents regard the question from one stand
point and importers and general dealers
look at it from another stand point, but all
OF the members Of the trade who were seen
by reporters yesterday agree that Il the set
tlement Of the tariff question by Congress
does not stimulate the market it will at
least give confidence and stability.
Mr.. David L. Einstein, President of the
Somerset Manufacturing Company and
President and Treasurer OF the Raritan
Wooden Mills, Nos. IA and l6 White street,
said he was afraid that some Of the provis-
ions Of the new tariff list as applied to
woolens would have very injurious effect
on certain class OF domestic manufactur.
ers. Taking up copy OF the act as passed
by Congress, Mr.. Einstein said: "Here you
will observe some remarkable reductions
in imported goods. In the first place,
woolen cloths, woolen shawls, &c,
which have heretofore paid fifty
cents per pound specific duty,
are now reduced to 35 cents per pound
specific with no change in the ad valorem
duty. A great many specialties in domes'
tic woolen manufactures will be very seri-
ously injured. Flannels, blankets, hats and
other articles made OF wool, valued at not
to exceed 10 cents per pound, paid 20 cents
per pound specific duty under the old
tariff, but the new schedule will admit the
same class Of goods at the following re-
duced rates: Goods valued at not exceed
ing 80 cents per pound, at 10 cents pei
pound specific duty; goods valued at more
than 80 and not exceeding 40 cents pei
pound, at l2 cents per pound; goods
valued at from 40 to 90 cents per pound
at Is cents per pound, Ut was form
erly so cents per pound,) and goods
valued at between 80 and so cents
per pound, which under the old tariff paid
duty Of 10 cents, will hereafter pay but "a
cents per pound. Why, sir, these reduc
tions are enormous, and they will certainly
have a damaging effect on many impor
tant branches OF the domestic woolen in
dustry. presume that the operation o
the new schedule will wipe out several o
the manufacturers OF cheap wooden blankets
This is avery large industry in this coun
try, and manufacturers have been selling
goods on close margin for years. They can
not put their prices down any lower and
live, and yet Congress has opened the dool
10 foreign competition which simply
means ruin to this class Of home manufac
turers."
"In whose interests were these reductions
made?" inquired the reporter.
"0h, l presume that the change was
made in the interest OF the large import
ers, who have been agitating the question
Of lower duties on all goods used by The
poorer classes. The cry Of giving the pool
man cheap blankets seems 10 have figured
largely in this performance, and it remains
to Be seen whether the poor man will de
rive any benefit. So far as have heard
the American woolen manufacturers were
willing to accept q reduction OF duty or
foreign manufactured goods, providing
there was corresponding reduction Of the
duty on raw material. In some respects
the new schedule adopted by Congress will
operate harmlessly in its effects upon the
domestic wooden trade. In other respects
the trade will be placed at disadvantage
We can only await developments calmly
and make the best of circumstances as they
arise"