New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-15
THE TARIFF ON WOOL.
,porrsr AGAINST ITS REDUCTION.
CHAIRMAN MORRISON HEARS BUSINESS MEN
OPINION OF HIS PET SERENE.

slipht prospect that he viii ever be con-
vipced to the contrary. And YET inc POM
frank statements and ccgent reasonins "
the representatives of the woolen industry to-day
INNS, have made some impression. Chairman MOT
,ison and Abram S. Hewitt took the ieau III 'IeeA-
animation. Chairman Morrisons cmel anxiety
seemed to be TO find why and how horizontaI re-
5nction would disturb the present Isatonst to each
other of the duties on woollen manufactures. MI
tJawitt,s questions we're framed mainly with view
10 obtain admissions favorable TO his theory that
free raw materials are the foundation upon which
10 build just and equitable revision OF the tarln
John l.. Hayes secretary of the Woolen Manu-
facturers' Association, and late president OF the
Tariff Commission, read written protest against
the proposed BILL 1t bore the signatures OF many
Of the leading woollen manufacturers of the coun-
try The protest stated that the legislation OF the
last Congress was accepted by American manufac-
turers as a pledge of the Nation that they were to
be gwen rest from injurious agitation. The re-
ductions then made were as great as the country
demanded and as the woollen industry could bear
Among the facts with which the paper bristled
was that the reduction Of the duty on worsteds,
coatings and yarns had resulted in the revival OF
those branches of manufacture in the Bradford
district of~Engand, so that the exports TO the
United States in July and August 1855
amounted to about f71,000 sterling against
$4,000 sterling In July and August, 1882
The protest declares that the horizontal reduc-
ton proposed would be Tuinous to many branches,
would cut down wages where 1t did not close the
mills altogether and would shut up all mills max
ing low grade goods 1t would not reduce revenue
unless the rates were cut down 10 the verge OF tree
trade.
HOW HORIZONTAL REDUCTION WOULD WORK.
William Whitman, of Boston, manufacturer oil
woollen and worsted dress goods, was asked by
NJ nv /
eouitable in their relations TO each other,
a horizontal reduction would disturb
them Mr. Whitman easily showcd
that while the reduction would be 10 per cent on
wool it would be 20 per cent on the fabric ITSELF
Mr.. Amidown on the same point made some calcu-
lations which showed that if the horizontal reduc-
ton is effected the manufacturers viii be com
PEELED to recoup by reduction of wages and ms
cellaneous expenses equal to 45 per cent OF the
the duties.
Mr.. Hewitt tried haId to get Messrs. Whitman
and Amdown to say that with free wool the man
ufacturers could stand reduction of 20 per cent
on fabric without reducing wages but he did not
succeed. Mr. AmidOwn said free wool meant the
utter destruction of one Of the most important
American irdustries-wool growing-whlch paid
American wool producers $1lO,000,O0O last
wear Mr. Whitman said that with
free wool he could pay higher wages
than now as against foreign competition, at least
temporarily but in the end the policy will be dis
astrous
"You prefer high priced raw materials thcnf"
asked Mr. Hewitt, Mr.. Whitman replied that under
the tariff the price OF wool has decreased
in tie United States, aud Mr.. Amidowu showed that
on January l. 1884, Xxx Ohio clothing wool was
selling at 80 cents against A cents January l,
1882. and Xxx New-York Wisconsin and Michigan
wool at 81 cents against 40 cents two years go.
Mr.. Amdown also read q statement that the
selling prices of cotton goods have fallen
80 per cent to "a per cent and of blankets SO per
cent to "A per cent IN two years. ITO what do You
attribute the declinef" asked Mr. Herbert. To the
constant agitation of the tariff question" was the
reply
DEPRESSION DUE TO AGITATION.
Mr. Amedown declared that the prevailing
depression in the wooen industry is due not to
overproduction. but TO timidity caused by tariff
agitation. which affects not domestic
manufacturers alone, but wholesale and
retail merchants as well as foreign
manufacturers and importers No one knows what
day may bring forth-whether prices are to re-
main steady or be affected by tariff tinkering. He
admitted that the textile industries Of Great Brit
ain are suffering. "What is the cause y asked Mr.
Herbert Free trade" was the prompt reply. He
said those industries are in far condition in
France and still more prosperous in Germany, and
that in those countries wages are rising, results
Tsn These statements aroused Mr. Hewitt
who cOmbated them with considerable vehemence
but Mr.. AmdOwn succeeded ia maintaining his
ground. Mr.. Hewitt having spoken of benefits to
consumers by reduction of prices Mr.. Amldown
replied that in this country nearly, everybody is
producer, and the people cannot he divided into
separate classes as producers and consumers.
HOW THE CARPET TRADE is AFFECTED
John L. Houston, of the Hartford Carpet Com
pany, said that for nearly two years past the
carpet industry has been badly demOralized by
constant tariff agitation. The industry could not
stand the proposed reduction Carpets are cheaper
to-day than ever before during his business expe-
1ience of more than thirty years. The industry is
the creature of protection, and its establishment
and growth In this country have not only cheap
ened carpets but have stimulated inventors and
led to the building up of new branches of ma
chinery manufacture. With the duty of third
class woods, which not and cannot be
grown here the manufacturers could get along
with specific duty equal TO an ad valorem rate of
thi1ty-hve percent on the manufactured article
John L. Sloane, of NewYork, large importer as
we'll as manufacturer of carpets, approved Mr.
Houstons statements. Stability is what we need
said he. He opposed the horizontal reduction be-
cause 1t would operate uneQualiy. He expressed
the opinion that with free carpet woods the American
manufacturers could capture the American trade;
ninety per cent OF the carpets sold IN the United
States are Of home manufacture.
Robert DSrnam, of Philadelphia, now and Tor the
last twenty years manufactured ingram carpets,
declared that the proposed reduction would compel
those engaged In that industry to "cose their
mills thus throwing thousands of operatives IN
Philadelphia alone out of employment and causing
great DISTRESS" The present profits ingram
lets are merely nominal Cir in the mills average
81 so day at piece work, being only 1G per
cent less than they were paid during the flush
times" OF the war, and more than 60 per cent in
excess OF the wages paid in England to operatives
in the same industry. The horizontal reduction
would operate unequaly. While reducing the duty
on raw material one cent per yard, 1t would cut
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and result in closing the mills and turning the
whole trade over 10 foreign manufacturers.
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