Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-10
The Wool Tariff.


Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, in re
cent interview on the subject of the new
tariff, replying to some CRITICISMS which
have been made, makes some interesting
Statements in regard to the tariff on
wool about which We have heard so
much in this part of the country, and
which was thought tc affect our wool
growers. so seriously. He disputes the
assertion that the reduction of the duty
on woods is greater than that on woelen
goods and thinks that the general re-
duction on woOlens is larger percent
age and greater in the aggregate. The
specific duty of 10 and II cents per
pound is the only trustworthy protection
the wool-growers ever had, or can have,
and that remains the same, while the
highest rate Of II cents per pound, by
the new law, applies to wool valued
ever 80 cents, instead of ever 80 cents
as formerly. The specific duty Of 10 or
II cents per pound applies wholly to un-
washed wool, which, is doubled if wash
ed, and if secured is treblsd. With the
duty of 10 cents per pound on unwashed
Cape and Buenos Ayres woods costing
from IL to Is cents per pound, the aver
age rate of duty is from 81 to over IS
per cent, and these are the woods that
would compete with the Texas and Cali
fornia product.
In effect the former duties on No. l
clothing woods were almost prohibitory,
and the change in the law will be prac-
tically imperceptible. Should the price
be reduced it will be caused by larger
importation of wooden manufactures, or
from increasing home competition
among wool-srowers, and the constant
and rapid increase of production such as
was witnessed in the twenty years end
ing in 1880 which was from 6O0OOOOO
to 24O,0OO,oOO pounds. The value of all
the WOODS imported was but about
$3,O00,0O0, while the value of imported
woolens exclusive of carpets was $685.
100000. Mr.. Morrill, makes the point
that any duty on woods would be useless
unless it was accompanied by sufi-
eient duty on woolens.
Those who have made the charge that
woolens Jared better in the new law than
woods seem to have overlooked one very
important fact. The duties upon all in
land charges and commissions on wooden
goods, which is very material item,
have been abolished, while wool suffers |
no such reduction, as such charges on
wool have never been dutiable.
AS to the influence of the tariff on the |
price of the present wool clips: The last
years clips are nearly all sold, and the
stock Of clothing On hand is reported to
be unusually small for the season. In
the Boston market medium and fine
woods are firm, notwithstanding the ex-
ceptional stringency of the money mar
ket for some time past. Since the pass
age of the tariff bill No. Ohio woods
have been selling in the Boston market
at 45 to 451a cents, and X and Xxx at AZ
to 43 cents, which is fully up to the av-
erage prices that have prevailed for the
past ten years. On the other hand wool
ems, which it was said were so highly
favored by the new tariff have not Jared
as well In the markets, and those gentle
men who predicted as an effect of the
new tariff the erection of new wooden
mills all over the country, must he as
tonishsd at an opposite result. The fact
is that wOolen goods are dull, and the
prospect by no means encouraging for
better prices. A recent auction sale in
New York of 1000 pieces of all-wool cas-
smeres and imported worsted, Italian
cloths and serges was at q decline of
fully one-third from former prices.
The charge that the duty on woods
was increased in the conference commit
tee to the detriment of woods is disposed
Of by the statement that the increase
was on certain made up woolens, such
as cloaks, doimans, ETC., which if not $
done would have left the doors open for
: large importation of such articles to I
the injury of both wool-growers and
But for this increase i
$4,000 persons would have been thrown
JuG VI Ou plOy uIcuG III new OTk ClLy {
alone, and France and Germany would {
have been the gamers. The only other
change made in the tariff on I
Hoolens was upon ladies' fine and costly
nerine dress goods. In former laws
such goods were not described, and they
nave been almost entirely imported. Il r
,he new tariff should result in their be- I
ng made here it would not only benefit Z
but furnish a largely in
creased market for fine woods. r
There is a mutuality between the I
and the manufacturers d
hat has been lost sight of to great ex-
ent by the controversy that has grown b
Up over the tariff law. The duty on
wool has not been materially decreased, O
Is We have shown. That it is increased 4
wen in the smallest degree in the mat a
er of wOolens is to the benefit of the V
who is directly affected by |,
IMPORTS of woolens as well as wools A d
;areful study of this question in all it's O
bearings cannot fail to convince the Ii
vool-growsrs that they have Jared well "
n the new tariff law.-IO. S. Journal. b
HENRY WARD BEECHER, in his Fri 81
lay evenings talk to his people, said: =
My dear friends, there are $4,000 wo-
nen in the city of New York, who sup h
'ort themselves by services of one kind a