Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-11


on uncut cloth, would have opened the door
for flood Of such imported garmt MS, equal
ly adverse to the interests Of wool growers as
Of manufacturers The only other change
mad, Of any Importance, about WOOL, ms
was made in the senate upon ladies' flue and
costly merino dress goods. Fashion has
changed, and 10 prior laws such goods were
not d, scribed. They are now all or nearly
all imported II they should be made here,
1t would furnish a large addilional market
for American fine wools and benefi, wool.
growers fully as much as the manufacturers.
This was consented 10 even by Democratic
leaders,"
With respect to the statement that addi-
tonal duties were placed by the conference
committee on both cotton and woolleu goods
of certain grades, far In advance OF existing
law, Senator Morrill, replies hat the general
reduction Of cotton goods was very heavy;
''bui,' he says, at is true that in the senate,
not in tho conference committee, the duty on
the best and most expensive hosiery, and on
laces, window.curtains and cmbrodcries,
was increased 5pcr cent, and only proviso
was inserted in the conference committee by
which special class of cotton cloth should
be subject TO duty Of 40 per cent which is
the same or little less than the existing law.
This is not much above the tate fixed on pig
iron, and can hardly lc charged as local
favor. Cotton mills abound in almost every
State and yet they do not use more than
onc-thrd of the raw cotton our coun ~ pro-
duccs. Is there any harm is giving very
trifling encouragement 10 some of our mills
TO step up higher AMI 10 bring out the highest
classes of cotton goods, while a, tie same
time using more and more Of the great staple
product of the SOUTH"
One OF Senator Sherman's chief structures
is based upon the assertion that 'thc metallic
and wool schedules are unequal and unjust"
Senator Morrill, shows that this is mistake,
II the meaning is that there is more disparity
than heretofore, for the relative changes in
the law are nconsiderable. "Somc modifi-
cations that might have been advantageous
were not made and that is ALL"
| As 10 the objection that the duty on cotton
ties Of 3j rer cent aud on tin plates OF one
and one-tcnth per cent per p )und were not
doubled, or largely decreased Senator Nor
rill says; Cotton lies are exclusively used
in the Southern States, and, of course, the
duty on them lecouacs local question of
deep interest bu, !, would appear rather
aLomS!ous, and perhaps oppressive, under
the circumstances, in bill proposing to re-
duce laxation 10 double the duty on on article
not used anywhere in the North. for the sole
benefit Of special parties in Ohio or New
England" AS for Tin Plates, they are very
largely consumed for manufacturing and do
es of trade, carried on in all parts of the
country, in canning meats, oysters, fish,
fruits and vegetables. The protests received
against any increase of duty were perhaps
more numerous than upon almost any other
subject. The present duty is one and one
tenth of cent per pound, and it WIS Claim
ed that, If iaiscd to two and two-tenths
cents, it wonld start the manufacture Of tin
piotco ~ ihAsumr ssuptOI Dlpilin tllRkS
that that might possibly Je the result, bn, it
would perhaps quire years before 1.-THE
of the quantity required for our consump-
ton would be available.
The reason for keeping wire lods at a low
rate, was that they are used to such all ex-
tent, particularly in the West. as fence wire,
and it was thought highly desirable, by a
firm majority Of the Senate, to thus provide
for cheap wire ferccs. fhe competition
among the numerous paentees Of larbed
wire for fences will be so extensive that il is |
probably true it would not be much affected
by any tariff, whether upon rods or wire.
In conclusion, Senator Morrill, Gays. "If
there are no more serious short comings in |
the new tariff Than those mentioned, We
shall have reason 10 be thankful Some Of |
the defects. though few and some Of them
temporary, excite my disgust, a1d would
have been remcdicd il there had been lime
and votes enough in the Senate for proper
correction; but VIC had neither, and may not
have for some time to come. Those who un-
derrate the merits of the new law, like those
who objected TO pprgaloiy, would go further
and perhaps falc wo.se'