The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-08
THE WOOL TARIFF.


The recent discussion by the Wisconsin
Sheep Breeders Association ofthe reduction
of the tariff on wool induces a few remarks
upon the subject Of the tariff on wool gener-
ally The history of the tariff legislation on
wool and wooden goods is as follows -
Raw wool was admitted free of duty until
1924. At that time duty of Is per CEN
was placed upon cheap wool, and upon the
higher-priced wool duty of from 20 to &c
per cent
In 1928 the latter was increased 20 80 pei
cent.
From 1882 to 1912 the duty ranged from
cents pound and 40 per cent ad paloren
added to 4 cents a pound and rs per cent
added.
In 1912 the duty was 8 cents pound and
80 per cent added
In As it was reduced to 80 per cent dd
Dalorem, and in 1867 to "a per cent.
From '6l to '64 the duty was 8 cents q
pound from ga to '66, 10 cents pound
and 10 per cent added from that time till
1874, 10 cents pound and II per cent add
ed for unwashed, and double duty for wash
ed.
In ia it was reduced to 9 cents q pound,
without any added dd 0alorem duty
There are, in round numbers, 100000
wool-growers in the United States, represent
ing fully 10000 of its population, or one
twentieth of its people. The wool-growers
very naturally think. that as wool is one of
the very few articles in which any portion
of the 8, 900, 900 agriculturists of the country
are interested, which receive any benefit
whatever from the long established principle
of protection, that this should not be the
first and almost solitary article on which the
tariff is reduced Agthe wooigrowers them
selves, numbering as they do 100000, are
more than quadruple in number the entire
manufacturers of the country, of every kim,
they have a right to complain that they
should be selected for a reduction Of tariff
while the more largely protected manufac-
turers are, as rule, even more largely pro-
tected than heretofore.
Especially have they the right to complain,
when this reduction of raw wool is caused
by the vaccinations of the manufacturers of
wooden goods, crowd so insignificant in
numbers as to poll only 1890. Mr.. Gibbs
well said at he convention last week that
the reduction was caused by the manufac-
tuners, as the tariff on the manufactured
goods was not appreciably reduced. nor the
price Of clothing reduced, while the manu-
facturer saved from to cents pound in
the purchase Of raw material, and thus from
So, 100000 to $4,000 900 is taken from the
pockets of the 400, 900 wool-growers and put
into the pockets of the 1890 manufacturers.
1t is interesting in this connection to note
how the tariff in this one matter of wool, as
in all things else, has always Disseminated
against the producer and in favor of the
manufacturer, showing, as Mr.. Gibbs sagely
remarked, that the manufacturer has always
welded alpotent influence in shaping legs.
lation. a
From 1889 to 1876, when wool was free
from duty, manufactured wooden goods were
protected by tariff ranging from per cent
al oalorem in 1889 to 80 per cent in 1876
From 1916 to 1916, while the tariff on raw
wool oscilated from nothing to cents and
40 per cent, and thence down to 8 cents and
30 per cent, the manufactured article ranged
from 20 per cent to so and down to 40.
From '46 to "a, wool received protection
ranging from 90per cent to 10 cents pound
and II per cent added, while manufactured
woolens were protected by tariff ranging
from 80 per cent to SO cents pound and IS
per cent ad Ualorem added
From "a to 'S2, the duty on raw wool was
8 cents pound and 90 per cent added !;
on the manufactured article it was 45 cents
per pound and 81 B per cent added.
In 1882, while the duty on wool was cut
down to cents, that on the manufactured
article was ia fact increased. E
Tins hprn nvaru IN hnrn nIcn thrnunh-
out the history of our tariff legislation. TIE
many have been made to yield to the rapaci-
ty of the few Where a duty of from TO 10
per cent was first laid to protect, encourage
and foster the then weak and struggling
manufacturing industries of America, now,
after 80 years, with some 68O,000 manufac-
turers, possessing o capital Of over $4,000
100000. and o yearly product Of over 3d.
600 000, 900, the rest Of the American people,
numbering barely 100000, find them
selves contributing tax of almost so per
cent (instsad of 5 or l0) 10 these poor
struggling manufacturers, whose capital
reaches int the billions These figures are
from the census statistics In the matter of
clothing alone, the &c, 900, 900 Americans are
paying to protect the 1890 wooden manufac
turers of the United States 45 cents pound
on the goods they wear and an additional
tax of 3l9 per cent Of their value. These
same manufacturers have now beaten, routed
and robbed the 100000 wool growers. who
have heretofore bllndly contributed to their
greed, and it seems high time that the pro.
Queer should combine with the consumer in
protecting their united interests against
domestic as well as foreign robbers Whits-
scdter Chronicle