The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-08-02

titories. During that year the wool clip
of the states and territories amounted to
155,681, 751 pounds. OF this amount 3d.
473,447 pounds were produced in IA of
the southern states. Omitting Ohio and
California, the average product of each
southern state was equal to the average
product of each of the remaining northern
states. 1t seems hard matter to draw
a sectional line on the question of wool.
The salt industry of Louisiana has of
late years been making wonderful pro-
gress as indeed has that of West Virginia,
and if the figures of salt manufactures
for 1887 could be procured, they would
show greater increase of that product
in the southern states than In those of
the other sections. The total num-
Der of bushels of salt produced IN the
United States in 1880 was 29,SO5,298
while five of the southern states produc-
ed 3,60S,23 Leaving out Michigan and
New York the five southern states pro-
duced nearly one-half the salt of the
country. Evidently sectional lines can
not be drawn on salt.
Manufacturing in all lines is COM
paratively new industry in the south, and
in $780, numbering in that section was, In
truth, an infant. Still at that time, of the
total 1901 ,356,000 feet of lumber manu-
featured, the Il southern states furnish
ed 3, 756, 966,000 feet. 1t would seem the
democratic party represented in congress
had no idea of sectionalism in putting
lumber on the free list. The Mills bill
places hemp, a southern product, on the
free list, on which there is now duty,
per ton, of SO, and of SO per ton on the
tow. The act of March 1888 put hides
and skins on the free list, though the
south could with reason raise the cry of
sectionalism, when it raised much more
than one-half the cattle of the United
States. 1t might have asked for protec-
ton against the herds of South America
raised without cost" When we find
that there were imported in 1897, hides
and skins to the value of S24225,776 and
of raw wool only S16,351 1863, while the
value of the cattle in the United States
is 1913, 002,693, the value of sheep being
only SS9,279,926, our wonder increases
that republican congress should place
hides and skins on the free list, and de-
nounce the effort to do likewise with
wool as sectional measure.
The Mills bill makes much more than
the average reduction upon sugar. 1t
must not be forgotten that a vast amount
of sugar is now admitted free of duty
over nine million dollars worth having
been imported free of duty in 1887. The
reduction in the tariff on rice is far above
the average, being over II per cent. for
cleaned and over 16 per cent. on unclean-
ed rice while the average general reduc-
ton made by the Mills bill is about per
cent. Does this appear to favor the
south" at the expense of the northern
states.
The average advalorem rates of duty
on imported manufactures of wool for
the year 1887, that IS taking as a base
the aggregate of specific and advalorem
duties, was 81 per cent. The Mills bill
has reduced this to about 40 per. cent.
But it must not be forgotten that the
manufacturer enjoys the benefit of free
| wool upon which the average advalOrem
rate of duty is now 30 per cent. The
total products of wool manufactures of
the United States in round numbers is
S44 ,235, 243, paying a duty to the govern
ment of S29,729,717. At the same rate
the people of the United States pay
bounty to the manufacturers of S234,-
100000. But it is argued that the tariff
is not added to the price of the goods of
domestic manufacture. If the Mills bill
will iniuriously affect the wooden manu-
factories of the country it must make it
possible for the foreign article to add
duty to the cost and then be cheaper
than the domestic article. We are told
the Mills bill will close the wooden fac
tories. Then 10 is reasonable to add 40
per cent. to the cost of the foreign article
and make the amount represent the cost
of the domestic article. An amount of
wooden manufactures equal to what is
produced in this country could be pur-
chased in foreign markets for S250,o00,00O
thus paying a bonus of S100,000000 to
the manufacturers of wool. This prince
ly sum which the Mills bill allows the
wooden manufacturers is not sufficient to
enable the manufacturers to pay present
wages. For the year 1880, for which the
total manufactures of wool is that above
given in round numbers, there was paid
out as wages to all persons employed In
the manufacture of wool, the aggregate
of which is that here given, the sum of
So 159.S15. The tariff which the Mills
bill allows the manufacturers and 1t is
less than they take. on their own confess
sion that the Mills bill would seriously
cripple them should 1t become LAWS
S1OO.OOO,OOO or nearly S3S,000,000 more
than the total amount which they pay
out in wages Thus this iniquitous and
sectional Mills bill which will close our
WOODEN factories, permits the proprietors
to collect from the customers sum IN
excess of what like amount of the for
eign product could be purchased for,
sufficient to pay the wages of every man,
woman and child employed and make
neat little addition of about S3S,000,0O0
to profits. This is what the sectional
bill does with the WOODEN industry in the