Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-05
HENRY WILSON ON FREE WOOL.
The Case PIaInIy Stated In the TsSin De-
bate of 1857.

The Case PlaInIy Stated In the TsIiff De-
bate Of 1887.
ErtrGet from Senator Wilson'S Speech, 1857.
The manufacturers, Mr.. Chairman, make
no war upon the wool growers. They as
sumo that the reduction Of the duty on
wool, or repeal of the duty altogether, will
iufuse vigOr into that dropping interest,
stimulate hoGe production and diminish
tie importation Of foreign wOOlen manu-
lsctures snd sffOrd a steady and increasing
demand for American wool. They believe
this policy will be more beneficial to the
wool growers. to the agricultural interests
than the present policy. The manufact-
uIers Of wooden fabrics, many Of them men
Of large experience and extensive krowl-
edge, entertain these views, and they are
sustained in these opinions by the expert
encs Of the great manufacturing nations OF
the Old World.
Since the reductions Of duties on raw
materials in England, since wool was sd-
miitsd free, her wooden manufactures have
80 increased, 80 prospered, that the pro-
duction of native wool has increased more
than 100 per cent. The experience Of
Eusland, France and Belgium demonstrate
the wisdom of that policy which makes
the raw material duty free. Let Us profit
by their example. If our manufactures
are to increase, to keep pace with the pop
ulation and the growing wants Of our PEG;
pie; if we are to have the control Of the
markets of our country; il we are to meet
with and compete with the manufacturers
of England and other nations Of Western
Europe in the markets Of the world, we
must have our raw materials admitted duty
tree or ut q mere nominal rate. We Of
New England believe that wool, especially
the cheap woods, manila, hemp, flax, raw
silk, lead, tin, brsss, hides, hnsesd and
many other articles used in our manufac-
tories can be admitted duty free, or for q
mere nominal duty, without ipjuriDg to
any axtent any considerable interest Of the
country.
III CiuoAuk, MI. Slihhnnau 1ho iClhat No Il
have felt it my duty to submit to the SEN
ate and the country, that the Common
wealth l represent on this floor-I say in
part, for my colleague, Mr.. Sumner, after
an enforced absence of more than nine
months, is here tonight 10 give his vote,
if be can raise his voice, for the interest Of
his State-has deep interest in the modi-
fication of the tariff of 1916 by this Con-
gress. Her merchants, manufacturers,
mechanics and business men, in all depart
ments Of varied industry, want action
now before the Thirty-fourth Congress
passes away. They are for the reduction
of the revenue to the actual wants of an
economical administration of the govern
ment; for the depletion of the Treasury,
now full with millions of boarded gold; for
free list, embracing articles of prime
necessity we do not produce; for mere
nominal duties on articles which make up
a large portion of our domestic industry,
and for such an adj ustment of duties on
the productions of other nations that come
in direct competition with the product Of
American capital, labor and skill as shall
impose the least burdens on that capital,
labor and skill.