Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-17
THE WOOL TARIFF.
FALLAcIEs OF HIGH PROTECTION
Set Forth In the Majority Report Of
the Ways and Means Com
tee---The Wool Feature.

|
!, WAsHINGGroN, June l5.-Mr. Morrison,
Of Illinois, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported back adversely res
olution offered by Mr.. Grosvenor Of Ohio,
declaring in favor of the restoration of the
wool tariff OF 1867 and resolution offered
By Mr.. Wilkins of Ohio, expressing the
sense of Congress as adverse to any change
in the present wool tariff, and they were
laid upon the table.
THE REPORT.
In reporting to the House adversely
Representative Grosvenor's resolution pro-
viding 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 derived
from both arguments and experience to be
injurious to all classes and beneficial to
none. 1t drives from our markets
many kinds Of wool uat raised
here, bCt indispensable to the
successful manufacture Of wooden goods.
1t gives the European manufacturer the
exclusive use of these woods and therefore
monopoly of goods made OF them and
consequently Of the markets Of the world.
Il copGnes the manufacturers TO a restric-
ted choice Of materials, and so to q limi-
ted class of goods with which the home
market is periodically Glutted. 1t
is impossible for our manufacturers
to export wooden goods and by
con6ning them to the home market leads
to ruinous fluctuations in prices, resulting
in frequent closing Of mills and their sale
at disastrous sacrifice. 1t cripples the
only customers of our wool growers so seri
ously that the market for wool is periodic
ally in an unhealthy condition 1t prevents
the home manufacturers from buying the
fore;gG voois which could be used
in mixture with American woods,
and thus lessen the demand
for American woods instead Of increasing
it 90 intended. 1t gives the European
manufacturer control OF all foreign wool.
1t causes the importation Of foreign wool to
come in a manufactured form and the more
the duty has been raised the more disas-
trous has been the result to the American
grower. 1t has furnished good e.Guss ior
hesping heavy ,s1es upon the clothing OF
tho people and it has taken from the wool
grower an amount far eI ;eeding any bene-
fit which be might have imagined Re would
derive from the tsrif without giving him
trait imagined benefit. 1t has
REDUCED THE WAGES or THE woREINGNEN
in the wooden manufacture; il has ruined
investors who entered into this manufacture
by the delusive promise of high tariff it
has greatly hindered our trade with our
natural customers in South America; it
has made clothing desrer in America and
cheaperin Europe; it has injured all classes
and helped none The committee there
fore recommend that the resolution lie
upon the table, but that the prayer OF the
textile workers in Philadelphia should be
granted-that the duties on wool should be
repealed and duties on WOODEN panuiac.
lures reduced 10 OF least an equal extent.
JOHN T. SMITHS LITTER.
The adverse report of the committee
upon the wool resolution declaring against
any reduction Of duty on wool is based upon
a letter written to The chairman hV 1onn |
Q Smith, formerly 9. member OF Congress
from nE...o, and at one time Commissioner
of Indian Affairs Mr. Smith comments
severely upon letter written to the Secre
tary OF the Treasury BY committee pur.
porting TO represent the wool growers OF
Ohio in which they strongly favor restora'
ton OF the duty Of 1867. Mr.. Smith
Gays they are not ashamed
openly TO assume and publicly
declare that the legislation Of the country
is if possible to be controlled BY the con.
binstion Of two selfish Interests (wool
growers and wool Rsnufacturers). That
this committee ia utterly insincere in i,s
preteuse that it aims to secure the prosper
ity of American industries is made mani
fest by the open and bitter threat that in
case they fail to get high rste OF duty on
wool they will enjoy the compensation Of
having free goods. In other words it is
menscing threat (not without a purpose
that if they do not get their share Of plum
der they will see, too, that manufacturers
shall not longer enjoy theirs Ii is to be de-
voutly hoped that wool will be made free, and
that these men may grow madder and
madder until the whole sbomnsble system
ia swept out OF existence and millions Of poor
people OF America may be allowed to clotbe
themselves with the garments that money
will buy in any market Of the world.
hope your committee will give not only
the wool tariff but the whole protective
system searching examination to see
wherher it has not been tremendous curse
to the American people and especially to
American farmers
THE EIHoRITY REPORT.
Representative Mckinley, Of Ohio, on
behalf OF the minority cfthe Committee on
Ways and Means, submitted to-day report
on the wool resolution reported adverse
| " By that Committee. The minority re-
port says that the majority report, while oS
tensibly made upon the resolution, is in
fact supplemental report Of the general
tariff bill, and is evidently intended as q
defense for the action OF the committee in
attempting TO place wool upon the free
list. The minority gees into an exhaust
i've argument brslliDg with figures TO dem.
onstrate that the outgroWth and develop.
ment Of agriculture have not been obserTed
by protective tariffs
Wool at soc per Pound.
Warren, O., June l6.-0cs h..ndred
and hhy thousand pounA-. Of wool was
purchased Jssis'. lay BY eastern buyers at
So 0e--,s per pound.
Mining Strike Ordered.