Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-22
THE NORTHWEST
Wool.

1t would be useless to attempttO dis
guise the meaning of the recent decis-
ion of the United States Customs Ap-
praisers, at their meeting in New York
last week, CHASING "all waste naturally
made in the process of manufacture of
wooden and worsted fabrics, is the waste
intended to be covered by the tariff act
of 1882 1t is bold step towards free
wool and it means free wool as the fu-
ture policy of the government. II is not
called by that name; but both wool
growers and wool manufacturers under
stand that it means practically free
wool. By this strained decision, that
overrules the plain text of the tariff
laws and also overrules the recent de-
cision of Secretary Window, given on
the 22d of March last, large amount
of the best imported wool is reduced
from 60 per cent. to ten per cent. tariff
duties. The amount of wool likely to
be imported at the reduced rate by CIV
ing it the semblance of waste, will be
Just the amount of the best class of
wool that our manufacturers want, and
we are now about to reach, by a violent
overruling of the law, just what the
Mills tariff bill declared to be necessary
policy to quicken our industries and
supply our home market with Ameri-
can woolens.-PhiLndelphid Times.
This reduction of fifty per cent. on
wool appears to have been effected by
general understanding among the ad-
ministrative officers. The motion to
that effect at the recent Appraisers
convention was made by an Ohio man
from the Cleveland Custom House.
There are dark hints that the result was
effected by what the late General Kill
patrick would have called a campaign
"with money in it."
Free wool, as raw material, Is sorely
needed for the prosperity of our woolen
manufacturers, as well as for the relief
of the whole body Of the people who
are woolen consumers. The Mills bill
freed wool and reduced the taxes on
manufactured goods twenty per cent,
thus aiding both the manufacturer and
the But the monopolists
would concede nothing. Their nation
al convention declared in favor of pro-
hibitory duties; their candidates and
stumpers talked only of protection to
American labor by increasing taxes and
restricting markets; the Senate bill not
only conceded nothing to the popular
demand for reduction and reform, but
offered an increase of rates instead of a
decrease, o stone instead of the loaf. So
the wool growers of Oregon and of Ohio
Notwithstanding even they lost more
than they gained by this wretched de-
vice of monopoly-were held to the
monopoly ticket, and voted for Harri-
son, Morton, protection, and Doodle.
But the Republican party is the party
of the manufacturers. 1t is their inter
ests which it exists to serve; and the
scattered wool growers are likely to find
themselves the victims of their own
foolish plan to gather tribute from their
neighbors. ..s,, .x..rs ras,-a, ,,a
The manufacturers have found the
means for reaching the appraisers, and
the appraisers say they have made theil
ruling in accordance with the secret
policy of the Treasury Department. II
this be the case, then have the bulk o.
imported wools-the raw materials o1
manufacture-been reduced fifty pei
cent, whilst the duty on the manufact
ured article remains the same, and the
wool grower takes his place unrenum
Grated, but it is to be hoped, wiser and
o better man, among the mass of plum
dered consumers Incensed sheep
farmers and wool dealers may rave
They threaten to upturn Ohio, and tc
give the new States to the tariff reform
ers. But This does not change the rate!
of duty, orabridge the arbitrary powel
ofTreasury officials to change them by
administrative misconstruction for thu
o. A