Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-02-18
THE TARIFF ON WOOL.
Equal with Other Industries"--"Sup
ply and Demand Rule the Market"

Paper Read by David Brown, Esq,
Before the Belmont County wool
GrOwers' Association at st. ClaIrs-
VILE, Feb. 9th, 1886.
As the tariff question In regard to
wool is being much discussed, and eSpe-
cially in an ex parte manner, sttribHting
the great depression on wool mainly to
the present tariff. Although 1 am a
wool grower and protectionist, wish to
give some reasons and statistics on the
other side of the question. 1t is q SUBJ
ject that we must take a national view
of, and not look at it from class OF
LEGAL standpoint, as it concerns nearly
all classes and industries of the country
1t also effects our relations and CONNER
cisl intercourse with other nations. All
the important interests of the nation,
especially the manufacturing. are much
concerned in the tariff laws. They have
occupied the time and attention of Com
gress more than any other subject, and
the sense Of the people of the country
are more divided on this question than
on any other. Four years ago, when
the subject was up in Congress and
much discussed without any definite ac+
tion, commission was appointed by the
President, consisting of nine persons
taken from different sections of the
country, to visit all the principal cities
of the United States during the summer
of 'S2, and take testimony from experts
in every line of business and manufac-
lures. They reported their conclusions
to the Congress which assembled in De-
cember of that year. The reeommen-
datioHs of that commission were mainly
adhered to, and Congress passed the
present act in March, 'S3.
1 shall now review the tariff acts on
wool for the last fifty years and compare
them with the present duties, and will
commence with the tariff of July, 1888
Under that act, wool valued at eight
cents per pound duty free; wool that
cost over eight cents per pound, a specific
duty of four cents per pound, and an ad
valorem duty ranging from to 26 cents
per pound.
The next change in the tariff was in
1912; under that act wool that cost I
cents per pound, duty of 8 per cent ad
vsloreB, and on all other woods above
that price, duty of cents per pound
and 80 per cent ad valorem. For the
five years under that tariff wool averaged
Al cents per pound.
The next act was July, 1916. Under
that act all wool, without distinction of
price or quality, the duty was 30 per
cent. ad valorem. The price of wool for
II years under this act, averaged 511a
cents per pound.
The next act was March, 1857. All
wool costing less than 20 cents per pound
should be duty free. costing over 20 cents
per pound, duty of 20 per cent. ad va
loren.
The next act was in 1861. All wool
costing less than 1S cents per pound, a
duty of per cent. ad valorem; costing
over 18 cents and not exceeding "a cents,
a duty of 8 cents per pound; costing
over "a cents, duty of 9 cents per pound.
Wool averaged for the next years, 571a
cents per pound.
Act of 1854. All wool costing II cents
or less, duty of cents per pound; ex4
ceedlng II cents and not over "a cents, a
duty of 8 cents per pound; exceeding "a
cents, duty of 10 cents per pound and
10 per cent. ad vslorem. Under this tar
iff of years, wool averaged so cents per
pound.
Act of March, 1867. On fine Merino
or clothing woods costing 80 cents or less
per pousd, 10 cents per pound duty and
an addition of IL per cent. ad valorem !;
on wool exceeding 81 cents, 12 cents per
pound and 10 per cent. ad valorem; on
washed wool, double that duty; and on
secured, three times that amount. Wool
averaged under this tariff, 5Oss cents for
IS years.
Next the present act of 1888. Fine
clothing wool costing 80 cents or less, 10
cents per pound duty; costing over 80
cents, II cents per pound; washed wool
twice and secured three times that
amount of duty. With the exception of
1857. we have now the highest rate of
tariff that we have had for over fifty
years, and the lowest price for wool.
The question for Us to consider is the
tariff at fault for the present low price
of wool? Also, have we got an equal
share of protection with other indus
tries? l affirm that we have. Is the
manufacturer better protected than the
farmer? Is sheep husbandry any more
depressed than other business2 Sheep
pay small but SURE dividend every year
but few manufacturers for the last few
years have declared any dividend, and
ten of them break up for one wool grow
or that makes an assignment. believe
there is as much profit in wool at pres+
ent price, SSlS cents. as in growing
wheat, cattle or hogs, at their present
prices. A low or a very high tariff are
both equally injurious to the best inter
est Of the country. Let us examine the
policy of other nations. in regard to their
tariff laws. In the moAthly report of
last May, Of the department of sgricul.
turs, Gen. Dodge gives us a synopsis of
the tariff on agricultural productions in
most of the nations of Europe. here>
with CODY from his rennrt the duties