The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-01
THE WOOL AND WOODEN SCHED.
ULEs OF THE SENATE BILL.

THE WOOL AND WOODEN SCHED-
ULEs OF THE SENATE BILL.
As this part of the Senate bill will in
terest the people more widely than any
other, affecting, as it does, the wool
grower and wool manufacture as well |
as every person who wears wooden gar |
ments, or uses wooden fabrics in any |
form, a critical examination Of il ia i'm. |
portant.
The wool growers are offered an in
creased duty of 1c per 10, on all kinds of
foreign wool imported in the grease,
except the lowest grade OF carpet woods,
On this there is no increase, probably
because there is little of this kind grown
or likely to be grown in the United
States.
On Merino woods, imported washed,
the duty is increased &c per ID and on
all kinds of secured woods it is iucreas.
ed Sc, except the lowest grade OF scour-
ed carpet woods, which remain as be-
fore,
This increase is partially offset by
reduction of lc per 10. of the duty on
unwashed Merino and combing woods,
costing over SOC per h., PC on washed
Merino, and Sc on secured Merino and
combng woods
This change slightly favors increased
importation of the finest kinds of for
eign wool, which, it is claimed, are
needed IN certain kinds of fabrics, to
mix with home grown wOOis.
Altogether, there is an increase of ten
per cent of the duties now levied on the
bulk of such foreign. woods as compete
with the general run of our woods; and
an increase of twenty per cent of the
duty on such foreign woods as have
hitherto been imported as carpet woods,
but which, it is alleged, have seriously
impeded the growth of the lower and
coarser grades of wool in our South
western states,
The reductions, apply, as a rule, only
TO classes not now largely produced.
some of which could not be produced
here under any circumstances with ad-
vantage.
Thus the wool growers have won a
sJuaterial advantage in the rates of duty
ssI3rescribed in the Senate bill
B. sRat they have gained a much greater
, Advantage by the introduction Of two
new sections. The first relates to high
er kin9F9t wastes. which are nearly
equal, IN Barking, to fresh wool. They
have hitherto been entered at the Gus
tom house ana low duty-l0c per lb, ;
and have H6en brought here IN large
quantities fofstiss In place of our woods.
ThsAew lsectI0M prescribes a duty on
3D. Nv a. tes FfsOc per h., or nearly as
rate .assr secured wool.
& flew section cuts off etliec-
~ Aemes to introduce any kind
of. w1a wassch has been advanced by
any process of manufacture beyond the
washed or secured state, except on pay
ment of the same duties as are levied on
manufactured. wooens.
Both these sections will be of great
value to wool growers, by excluding the
most destructive competition they have
ever encountered, and by enlarging
proportionally the demand for home
grown woods.
The changes proposed for manufac
tured woolens are also important for
both grower and manufacturer, but as
rule do not increase rates on the
cheaper grades of goods or such as go
into general consumption.
The first, and one of the most inn
portant. change Is the class fication Of
worsted with wooden cloths, shawls.
etc. Worsted goods. although made of
fine high duty goods and by costly pro-
cesses, have hitherto-under ruling OF
the Treasury Experimentation entered
at the low duty prescribed for hannels,
blankets. ETC.. often made of low duty
woods and cheaper processes. The re-
suit has been a great depression of our
worsted goods industry.
H., Lnr l., -
the classification of yarns, knit goods
and Balmorals, and for the same reason.
Should the new bill become law, a
prompt revival of these branches of wool
manufacture would follow. with in
creased demand for American wool and
increased activity in other branches
now depressed by the competition of
those who would under the new law be
diverted into other lines of work.
The rate Of duty is not increased on
wooden cloths, shawls, etc. valued
abroad at 40 cents pound or less, The
goods in common use and most widely
sold in ready made garments, for work.
ingmen and others in moderate Circum-
stances, are not effected by the bill.
The duty on cloths, etc, costing above
40 cents pound and not more than so
cents is increased from 30 to 40 per cent
I'D rdlOrem, and on all above 90 cents is
increased cents per pound additional.
The duties on flannels. blankets and
hatf of wool, are not changed until they
exceed in foreign value GO cents per
pound. Above this value there is an in
crease of 16 cents per pound and ) per
cent nd UdlOrem. This large increase
would apply only to the finest kinds Of
goods not IN general use, and made Of
fine high duty woods, 1t was an error
of the present law to classify these goods
as if they were made Of low duty woOls
The proposed change is inst, and will
permit the manufacture Of the. finest
kinds of tlannels. etc, in this country.
On dress goods of all kinds entering
into general use among all classes of
our people, and one of the most in
portant, though recently introduced
branches of wool manufacture the rates
of duty have been increased, This IN.
crease has been accomplished by low er.
ing the limits of prices to which the
specific rate Is applied, and also as to
the cheaper grades, by an increase Of
the rates of duty.
The present law provides that part
wool dress goods, etc, valued not over
20 cents per square yard, pay duty of
> cents per square yard and 30 per cent
dd UdlOrem. The Senate bill provides
that such goods valued at not over Is
cents, shall pay G cents per square yard
and 40 per cent nd UalOrem.
The increase on the higher priced
goods is effected only by lowering the
limit at which the higher rate is applied.
This involves an increase in the duty of
&C per square yard on all goods ranging
from 15c to 2Oc. Above zoe the rate is
the same as under the present law.
The only increase on all-wool dress
goods, etc., is an advance IN the specific
rate from DC to lie per square yard.
These changes are all IN harmony
with the evident purpose OF the bill
to encourage the production of finer
goods, but not to increase the cost OF
the cheaper kinds except as to the pro.
posed increase of rates on the lower
classes of dress goods The reason for
this variation from the general purpose
of the law is not obvious. unless it is
proposed, by stimulating the production
of these fabrics at home, to secure thro'
active competition, AN abundant supply
at low prices,
The clothing duties have been wisely
modified so as to give adequate prolec.
ton to large class of persons employed
IN the manufacture of garments, and
prevent the destruction Of this industry
by competition with the low wages OF
Germany. The increase is from 81 to
As per cent nd Udlorem on men's gar
ments. and from 40 to 4j per cent ad
1nlOTp,U on wOmen's parmebts