Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-17
THE WOOL TAHITI.
Reports OF the Committee ON WAYS
mud Means.
TBy telegraph TO the Dispatch.I

by telegraph 10 the Dispatcn.l
WASHINGTON. June 1.-two long re-
poris were made 70 the House to-day from
the Committee on Ways and Means upon
tho resolutions offered by Mr.. Grosyenor,
Of Ohio, declaring In favor OF the restora-
ton Of the wool tarifJ Of 1867, and by Dir.
wilkins. Of Ohio, expressing the sense OF
Congress rs adverse b any change m the
present wool tariff. The majority report
adverse o. these resolutions, emb0dles
long statement Of figures from the statisll-
cal abstract Of 1882, and other authoritle>
10 support the assertion that the result o.
the imposition OF the tariff OF lD, en-.
acted in obedience TO the chmors OF
the wool-gTOwers % the states OF ono
New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, ILLINOIS,
Iowa. Wisconsin, aud Michigan, was q
falling of OF one half OF the product II
those SiS,es. From this showing Tie c"h!-
mitiee argues that the woOl-grOwer' were
not benefited IN the price oi ticlT pro-
duet: that the more wool was nOmihllil
protected the wore was the condition OF u
grower, that American wool had aiNiy'
tiscn IN price when home manufacture
Lad been permitted 10 obtain foreign
wool duty.ircc. OF nearly So tbll no
amount Of protection Of the woOl-mmufac'
lilfi sulitt~ 10 fOLIiFuThtf W. am .''.'.'
under which Le hb0rs By reason oi thetAN
on materials; that both the wool-gfow"r
and manufacturer have pr0spered more
under fhesystcm of low duties on IMMUNE
tuIes and more at all on wool Than they
haNe under opposite systems.
The report continues: To those who
have blind faith 10 the power OF a pro-
ffrtivc tariff 20 override the laws 81 M
turc these conclusions are doubtless in
credible. Accustomed 90 believe that al
ihe prosperity Of this country IS due to 50
called protection, they cannot or VIII no'
look 10 the facts and accept the con-
illusions 10 which they lad. IN
mi. there is nothing remarkable.
Unfortunately, almost every class, when n
eds the power Of legislating in IT. own IN
tcie-t. j, 80 blinded by seld,hnes, that II
cannot see what is Interests really are. II
/, not 20 be wondered ut that those VINO
cain 10 be representatives OF the WOOL
Growers Of The country should be
,hor,.sghied. But the committee /,
ASSUMED that not One-ii'th Of The wool
growers Of the county are really concerned
in the proceedings OF their assumed repre-
,euta;ivc.. and the committee i confident
that many OF the most intelligent wool
eroWtr., including some OF those who pro-
ducr the largcst quantity OF wool, are not IN
sympathy with the demand Tor high
taritl on wool.
The report submit, as the conclusions OF
the committee that the duty on imported
wool is proved 10y TESTIMONY derived from
both argument and experience % be inIu-
rious TO all classes and beneficial ~ none.
The report submitted by Mr.. Mckcnly,
OF Ohio. in behalf OF the minority OF the
committee, is equally positive in itS ar;u'
ment aud conclusions, and is ~ fully Well
fortified with citations OF statistic - l. the
majority report.
lie minority say: The majority rcpor'.
white Osicn,lbly made upon rrsoili'i II, l.
in feet a supplemental report OF thr genera
tariff bin. and evidently intended ~ de-
fence fur the action OF U" committee III
PROPOSING 10 place wool on the ftcc li'i.
The opening statement OF the mlor'ty--
that The wool-grOwcrs and farmer, are
entitled 10 share IN any advantage q
10 lie obtaincd from a protective -ystcW
come, with little force, and seems almost
nockcry when it j, remembered that lh
sane committee hos already reported bi'l
taking away from th!- class % or f'liO -
citizens large part OF the protection nov
Afforded them. The assertion VIII HGrdl'
-..lisf, ihc farmer IN view oi the action q.
rcCruoiltCc already bad.
The minority 20 on into an eSh3j-'i;'
argument hri>tdng with figures - -f'"
q ~ the Developments VI agriculture htv-
not been obstIuCt u 10y protective ;Nid'.
n manufacturers - textiles have lT-ri
On Coggrt -- thc uuN,,Gum Of a"y !. .ur-
lion II TIE present GutC- upon WOODS aD'
wooil,n,. Oi the many hundreds OF peii-
tiou>, rrrrc-cniiug Practically every >tlt,.