Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-23
EVERY DAY TALKS ON THE TARIFF
Just what's the Matter with Those
Wool Taxes Explained.

WOOl a4eS PtakneOs
The Tribune says but small number
OF our woolen manufacturers are in favor
of free wool, although it is evident to
every observant man that free raw ma
terials would Immensely diversity and
extend an industry that is now hamp-
cred by tariff restrictions. Well, it is a
fact that few rich and short-sighted
woolen manufacturers have declared
themselves against free wool, on the
ground that a successful tariff reform in
that direction might lead Congress in
year or to two to wipe out the duty on
imported goods.
But to show that the American woolen
manufacturer is fully alive to the fact
that the tariff on raw wool is an unneces-
of making American woolens we have
but to refer to the statement made to the
Secretary OF the Treasury in 1885, by the
National Association of Wool Manufac-
turers, in which they enumerated the
disadvantages which Government had
imposed upon their business.
'The American manufacturer" they
said, sis engaged in perpetual struggle
with the manufacturers of Europe for
the possession of the markets of this
country. In this strife the European
manufacturer possesses the advantage,
which would be overwhelming ii not
counteracted by special legislation, of
having the raw material free from duty
no duties on wool existing in Great
Britain, France, Belgium, the Neither
lands, and very slight duties, if any, in
other manufacturing nations.
"Our European competitors are ex-
empt from the direct enhancement, by a
duty, of the cost of wool, thus requiring
less capital to supply their mills, and no
cost of interest on duty required in
carrying their stocks of wool and
goods. They are free from the appre.
hension OF changes in the value of wool,
such as have taken place in this country
in consequence of no less than seventeen
changes in the tariff on woods within the
memory OF living manufacturers. They
are exempt from the duties on wool SUBJ
stltutes, so ,lsefully employed to mix
with wool in the manufacture OF the
cheaper and heavier cloths-duties which
with us are absolutely prohibitory. They
are able, from the lower cost of their
raw material, to relieve themselves from
over-production by consigning their sur
plus stocks at comparatively slight sacri-
fee to foreign markets, to which their
cheapness has already introduced them.
They are not compelled, as we are, to
discriminate i'll their choice of wool to
avoid the effect of the duty and are able
to select their wools in any condition,
whether unwashed, washed or secured,
with reference only to their desirable
qualities.
"It may be said that remedy for
these difficulties is to be found in the ex-
elusive use of the domestic wools, which
will be abundantly supplied under due
protection. To this We reply that neither
our own country nor any other in the
world does or can produce to advantage
woods of all kinds and grades. Expert
ence under high protection Of wool in
this country for over thirty years had
demonstrated that our domestic wool
growers find it to the. advantage to pro-
duce only the staple woods required for
the ordinary range OF woolen fabrics !;
and, as these fabrics will always be in
demand, they build up their flocks-a
work of time-for the production only OF
the flseces which will be profitable for
long series OF years. This system although
providing admirable raw material for com
mon goods, is incompatible with the va
riety required tor the diversified and
highly advanced manufacture that
should be our aim. The American
manufacturer, to compete with the fab
RIGS of other nations in the endless va.
riety demanded by our times, must have
the power of selecting a portion of his
raw material from all the worlds sources
of supply"
Can't every workingman see by this
statement that free wool would tend to
greatly increase woolen manufactures in
this country? Increased manufactures
would mean an increased demand for
labor. And that means good wages