Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-13
THE TARIFF On RAW WOOL.
Do Not Favor Its Abo-
lition.

DO NOt faNOr lls ADO
lition.
The Albany Eucning journal publish
es replies from a score OF wool manutactu-
rers doing business within a radius of 100
miles of Albany, as to the presidents
recommendation to put raw wool upon
the free list. With one exception, the
replies are against a change Almost
unanimously the manufacturers main
tain that the abolition of the tariff on
wool, would soon be followed by move
ment to abolish the tariff on manufac-
tured wooden goods There is some diff
ference of opinion as TO the question
whether farmers would kill Gil their
sheep in the event of the abolition OF the
wool tariff. Most of the manufacturers
agree that the sheep industry would re
ceive serious blow should the tariff be
abolished. AS 10 lowering the price of
wool, the manufacturers agree that the
abolition of the tariff might have this eff
feet for a few months, but that it would
not be permanent reduction. The gen
eral opinion among them is that they
could not successfully continue the bust
hess with the present scale of wages If the
tariff on raw and manufactured woods
were removed or materially lessened.
H. +. bradford q Co. of Bennington
say 1--WE do not favor the presidents
recommendation to place wool on the free
list We do not think II wool were adj
mtted free, that the duty on wooden goods
could be maintained, as the farmers would
not admit of such determinations detri-
mental to their Interests. With wool on
the free list we certainly think farmers in
this country could not compete with for
eign wool growers, and would in cOnse-
auence Kill off their sheep, and be obliged
| to drop that branch of their industry. If
we have no duty on wool the prices would
rule lower, until such time AS our farmers
would be obliged TO give up that industry
and then prices would certainly be higher
and benefit foreign growers. We could
not successfully conduct our business at
present prices paid for labor, If both wool
and wooden goods were admitted free of
duty, or if the present duty Is materially
reduced The only way we could success
| fully conduct our business II wool and
wooden goods were imported free, would
be to reduce the price of labor to the stand
ard paid by foreign manufacturers.
Hon. A. b. Valentine, for the Bennng-
ton Knitting company, answers: I'VE
! do not favor the presidents recommends
ton to place wool on the free list. We
think that the duty on woollen. goods
could not be maintained II the duty on
wool is removed. The placing of wool on
the free list would very materially reduce
its price, and as we understand 1t, Aus.
(tralian and other woods can be Imported
| free at price below that at which domes-
tic woods of same grades can be produced
in this country, and any one can judge
how long farmers would raise wool at
loss, and once they were driven out of the
market prices would be at the mercy OF
foreign importers The fourth is an
swered in the third. ) We could not sue
cessfully manufacture at present wages
if both wool and wooden goods were i'm
ported free of duty, or the present tariff
materially reduced. The knit goods in
dustry of this country has grown to its
present proportions in the last 20 years,
now requiring millions of money IN ma
chinery and real estate, and employing
tens of thousands of skilled laborers,
earning high wages, all on account of
protection, as represented in our tariff,
ana any action materially changing the
present status cannot be otherwise than
disastrous to this industry