New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-27
TARIFF ANENDMENTS ASKED.

The call for convention of representatives
of wool growers associations, to be held at
Washington, January l 0, afirmS that the pro-
visions of the Senate Tariff bill do not afford
adequate protection to that industry. The
president of the National Association, in max
ing this statement confirms belief expressed
some time ago by THE TRIBUNE, and while the
majority in the Senate has thus far sustained
the Finance Committee in action upon amend
ments proposed it does not yet appear that the
committee is inclined to favor different rates
as to wool from those reported. Lower rates
than those originally proposed by the commit
tee on some items have been adopted by the
Senate, and the convention is doubtless called
with the hope of inducing the committee and
the Senate to insist upon such modification
Of the rates on wool as may arrest the rapid
decrease in production which has been in
progress since the reduction of duties in 1888.
In the Bulletin of the Iron and Steel
Association the official organ Of that body,
there appears strong argument in favor OF
adequate duties on tin plates, and it is shown
that cat least So 900 wOrkingmen could be
given employment in this country" and that
- the farmers would be called upon to supply
them with breadstuffs and pl DIVISIONS" The
Bulletin further says of the rates on wire
rods and on billets, slabs and bars Of STEEL
Both these rates are too low. The very lowest
rates which should have been provided for these
products Z Of cent per pound on wire rods and
Of per pound steel billets slabs and bars,
or ST. 66 and S13 al respectively per ton No lower
duties than these which we have Just named Will
sufficiently protect the domestic manufacturers of
these products.
The statistics of imports with which Tho
Bulletin enforces its statement are decidedly
convincing and there is no good reason for
keeping duties so low as to enAurage the i'm
portation of wire rods and steel billets, while
maintaining more effective duties on other
| forms produced from them. Last year there
were imported BAT ,S18 tons of steel billets,
slabs, bars, ingots and blooms and 1929
tons of wire rods, in all over half million tons
of manufactured steel, and the iron market
would not be as uncertain and weak as it is
now if the quantity imported of these articles,
and of tin plates, last year 1888 SO tons, had
been produced in this country. The question
is simply this: as ii best to hire in Europe
the labor to produce these $780, 900 tons Of
iron and steel, while any American iron work
ers are looking in vain for wOrk%
Referring to such points as these, the ma
| jority in the Senate long ago was advised that
its bill did not seem to be perfect. Since it
has been determined to pass a bill at this
| session, as formal declaration Of the kind Of
revision which the Senate as now constituted
is disposed to make, there is certainly the
strongest reason for making the measure salts
factory to those who have the prosperity Of the
most important American Industries in view
and surely no other industries directly concern
the welfare of a greater number of American
workers than the wool-growing and the iron
and steel manufacturing industries.