The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-03
BLEATOF THE WOOL MEN
A MISSOURI MAN SUGGESTS A
SLIDING TARIFF SCALE.

He Would Have the Rate Diminish
When Wool is Scarce and High, and
Increase When it Is Plentiful and
Low-One Man Tells about Wana-
makers So so Trousers.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The ways and
means committee to-day heard arguments
by representatives of the wool growers.
George II. Wallace of Missouri read
prepared paper abounding with statistics
TO demonstrate the necessity for maintaining
the duties on imported wool, and suggested
an adjustable tariff which would diminish
when wool was scarce and high in price,
aud increase when it was plentiful and low
in price. He dwelt at length upon what be
described as the imperfections of the
present classi6cations, saying that
in Mr.. Wanamaker's store could be seen
pantaloons made of third-class, or carpet,
wool, and sold at $3 so per pair. Importers
of carpet wool said that this grade of wool
was used everywhere and for all kinds of
wool manufacturing, as well as carpets.
This demonstrated the fact that the i'm
portation of third-class wool under the
present law is diminishing the production
of wool in America.
COST OF PRODUCTION.
Representative Flower questioned Mr..
Wallace very closely us to the actual cost
Of wool production in Miss )uri, eliciting
the fact that land was worth from S35 to
$40 per acre, and that it would maintain
one sheep per acre.
Representative Carlisle joined in the in-
guiry, and ascertained from the witness
that fleece averaged about S1.50. The actual
cost Of the production of wool was about
20 cents q pound There was no money
to be made at that figure, but there were
other considerations to be needed, such as
the manuring of the land, the fact that
sheep cleared off brambles and weeds, and
otherwise benefited the farm. Mr.. Carlisle
remarked that that was as he supposed :;
sheep were not valuable alone for wool and
mutton.
COST OF THIRD-CLASS WOOL.
Mr.. Breckinridge sought to ascertain the
production of third-class wool in the United
States, but the witness said that owing to
thefact that the class of wool used in carpets
varied according to the quality of manu-
facture, he could not give any exact figures
Tie wool growers had found the carpet
manufacturers very reticent in giving in
formation.
Mr.. Breckenridge having put long
hypothetical question respecting the amount
Of profit in wool growing in the United
States, the witness replied dryly that be
would find that subject discussed with great
ability in the Presidents message of two
years ago.
TWO PETITIONS COMING.
F. z. Bennett Of Boston. editor of the
Americd,s Wool Reporter, was the next
witueSs, and said that two petitions would
be presented to congress, one signed by 130
persons in favor of free wool, and the other
hu2 in oS oS
vaicrem duty on wool in place of the
present specific form of duty. The witness
having mentioned the name of Joseph
kltchenman, signer of the free wool
perltion, as a large manufacturer
and leading republican Of Philadelphia,
and one who helped raise the celebrated
Philadelphia cam paign fund in the last cam.
paign, Mr.. Doak of Philadelphia arose in
the rear Of the room and fatty contradicted
the statement, saying that Mr.. Kitchenman
was lifelong democrat, and never had
cont ibutsd to republican campaign fund
THE RANK AND FILE NOT AFRAID.
Continuing, the witness said that the
petitions showed that the rank and file Of
tie smaller manufacturers were as willing
to express their opinions i'll regard TO woo
duties as were the great leaders of the trade
No effort had been made to ascertain the
politics OF the signers of these petitions. A
benefit of manufacturers who furnish oul
domestic wool-growers the sole mar
ket for their fleece would secure
great many signers among tha
portion of our agricultural popula
tion concerned in the raising of wool
The witness next spoke of the ad valoren
petition, describing the signers as among
the largest merchants and manufacturers
and reading let ers from experts favorins
this system of tariff.
WHY THEY FAVORED COMPOUND DUTIES
They favored compound duties on manu-
factures of wool because of the difficulty o.
determining their value, but the same ob
lection could not be: "a made to al
ad valorem duty on raw wool as the price
were known all over the world, and under
valuation could not be practiced.
In answer to Chairman Mckinley, tn
witness said that personally he favored tn
ad valorem petition. He was adverse t.
radical changes, and believed that an a.
valorem duty of 40 per cent on combing
ana 20 per cent. on carpet wool woul
afford sufficient protection.
Replying TO Mr.. Carlisle the witness sal
that 1t was undoubtedly true that as lam
increased in price the number of sheep de
creased With the decrease the prosperit,
Of the inhabitants increased. He did no
think that the tariff on wool had increases
THE INDUSTRY IN COLORADO.
After a recess J. F. Gibbs of Greedy, Col
took the stand and gave number of stats
tics relative to the cost Of growing an
marketing wool in the west Takin
the accounts of a Colorado farm
he showed that 1900 pounds c
raw wool cost the grower about 25 cent
per pound. AT the seaboard it cost 3
cents, and after securing pretty nearl
20 cents. He read from letter written b
Colorado sheep-grower, to show the grea
hazard of business resulting from storm
and billiards and prairie fires and sever
winters.
The witness recounted proposition mad
by sheep-grower to wager 100000 shee
against like number held by another sheer
grower, that Harrison would be elected Pre-
ldent. He said that the man chanced nothing
for he calculated that his sheep would
worthless if President Cleveland had bee
reelected. 1--WE all felt in the last pres
Dental election that every dollar investe
in sheep was staked on the issue,n said I'll
witness.
FLOWER GROWS SARCASTIC.
Mr.. Flower deplored the witness stat
ment touching the severe weather oond
tions of Colorado. He understood that
was the only place in the world where cor
sumption could be cured. The witness wit
some indignation declared that 80 days