The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-17
The Wool Tariff Question.

WASHINGTON, June 16.-In reporting
to the House adversely Representative
Grosvenor's resolution providing for
the restoration of the tariff of 1867
upon wool, the committee on ways and
means submit that the duty upon i'm
ported wool is proved by testimony de-
rived from both argument and expert
ence, 10 be injurious to all classes and
beneficial to none. 1t drives from our
markets many kinds of wool not raj ed
here, but indispensable TO the successful
manufacture of wooden goods, gives
European manufactures exclusive use
of these woods, and therefore q monop-
uly of goods made of them, and conse-
duently of the markets of the world.
1t confines American manufacturers to
q restricted choice of materials,
and so to producing of limited
class of goods with which the
home market is periodically glutted
1t makes il impossible for our manufac-
turers to export wooden goods and by
combining them to home markets leads
to fluctuations in prices, resulting in the
frequent closing OF mills and their sales
at disastrous sacrifices. Ii cripples the
only customers OF our wool growers so
seriously that the market for wool is
periodically in an unhealthy condition.
1t prevents home manufacturers from
buying foreign woods which could be
used in mixture with American woods,
and thus lessons the demand for Ameri
can wool instead of increasing it. The
committee therefore, recommended
that the resolution lay on the
table, but that the prayer OF the
- -, DkrfaAa1~hso chnrrfd
be granted that the duty on wool should
| be repealed and the duties on wooden
manufactures belreduced to at least an
equal extent. The adverse report of
the committee upon wilkins resolu-
ton declaring against any reduction Of
the duty on wool is based upon letter
written by the chairman 10 John Q.
Smith, formerly a member of Congress
from Ohio, and 81 one time commits
sioner of Indian affairs Mr.. Smith COM
ments severely upon the letter written
20 the Secretary OF the Treasury by the
committee purporting 10 represent the
wool growers OF Ohio. in which they
strongly favor the restoration of the
duty of 1867. Smith says: They
are not ashamed openly to
assume and publicly declare that
the legislation of the country, IL pos
s.ble, Is 10 be controlled by the comblna-
ton of two selfish interests wool grow
ers and wool manufacturers), that the
committee is utterly insincere in its
pretence that it is laboring 10 secure
the prosperity of American industries.
as is made manifest by the open ma
bitter threat. that in case they fail to
get high rate of duty on the bill they
viii enjoy the consolation of having
free goods. In other words. il is q
me2scing threat mot without a purpose)
that if they do not get Their share of
plumber, they viii see TO 1t
that the manufacturers shall no longer
enjoy theirs. Ii is to be devoutly hoped
that wool will be made free, and that
these men may grow madden and mad
der, until the whole abominable bust
ness Is swept out of existence. and NIL
lions of people of America may be
allowed TO elothe themselves in the soft
est and warmest garment that money
VIII buy in any market of the world.
hope your committee will give not
only the wool tariff, out the whole pro-
tecuEe system a searching exanina-
ton, 10 see whether 1t has not been a
tremendous curse to the American
people, and especially 10 American
farmers.