New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-03
TIE SENATE on WOOL AND WooLLENS

THE SENATE On UOOL A-'D
I, vouId he strange if all sincere and ardent
protectionists could agree precisely in regard
20 o,ch of many hundred rates OF duty on as
many distinct articles The agreement already
manifested between the Republicans OF the
House rs embodied in the Tariff bill they nave
nasscd and the Republicans OF the senate
rn,nce Committee. as shown In their approval
,ritbout change of nearly all the items Ill
sovoral important schedules, is therefore graf
;fvinc evidence of substantial accord. 1t is
enacted nevertheless, that there will be some
differences of opinion on items not YET re9icheu'
among which the wool and woollens duty are
ofton mentioned Frce-Trade organs nave IN
dulccd sancuine hopes that Mr. Allison ana
rorbaps other Senators of the Finance 'om-
mittee. will insist on lower duties IN TINS Scheu-
ulo than the House has proposed.
II is n curious fact that these people some
how fail 10 consider what Mr.. Allison ana MS
Rcnublican associates Of the committee ana
,ctuallv vote for at the last session. Mr.. Al
lison and these other Senators then voted Tor
duties which were a high or higher on wool
90 almost every grade than the duties pro-
,oScd in tho House bill. on irSt-caSS WOOL
the Senate put the duty AT cents ana inc
Mckinley bill put il ~ II cents On ""oi o.
tho second class both bills fixed the same duty
!, conts On third class wool OF the lower
Grade the Senate hill imposed cents duty
and on the higher grade cents. But inc
Uouse bill fixes the duty on tho lower grade
n 20 nor cent. which could never be rs much
a. ; cents per pound for any wool costing J.
cents per pound or less. and on the hiRn'r
Grade AT 30 per cent while the average Vaiuo
Of such wool imported is 1914 cents, so tha'
the duty would be but "A shade over cents
nor nound Every one OF these rates IN IN"
s.,a,e hill of last year was fixed upon MOTION
of Mr. Allison himself January II, ana adop'
al bv rho votes OF the Republican Senators.
Nr Allison and his associates are well aware
that the farmers Of the Western states, Iowa
included. have organized 10 demand more Sd'
i.factory legislation from Congress 10y '"'
election of a Republican President they were
encouraged last year 10 hope Tor better prices
for wool and actually obtained better prices.
pnt il would DO dangerous policy for hePuo
Icans after giving the agricultural interest
rcncated assurances OF more complete pro'e'
ton 10 reject in a Republican Congress duties
nat higher than Mr.. Allison himself proposed
and the Senate voted when Democratic House
made il certain that they could not pass.
Nc;,ber in Iowa. in Ohio nor IN other W cS,crn
states could the Republican party look Tor
ward ~ an election with confidence II II ShouIu
urs d;srccord the often expressed wishes OF
f,rmers. The election in Ohio, in the year
preceding the Presidential campaign "i lNN''
should have taught men of all parties ina, 'h'
,vooI growing farmers were strongly lhcliileu
~ defend their interest by their votes even II
,bev sometimes voted unWiSely with mat IN
tent.
On the other hand the Free Traders are
u,ohablv &c much mistaken II they suppose
that Republican Senators will vote 70 pros'ra'e
tho woollen manufacture by refuSingto IL ace
mnate compensatory duties. 1t 1t be ilrst con
sidcrcd that the duty on wool has become
| necessary 10 the maintenance OF the protective
| svstom il must be equally remembered mat
tho same system cannot be politically sustained
without the support Of the manufacturing
recions The dissatisfaction expressed in many
manufacturing districts during me last TWO
wears has its real origin in the damaging sue
cess of foreign competition, undr the revised
tariff NJ 1883, for by that competition many
of the woolen manufacturing establishments
have been rendered Improbable or compelled
to work part time If the duthS on wool are
70 he raised sufficiently to deend the wool
growers. there will be needed sso tor effective
defence of the manufacture not only the
changes which would have ben necessary to
make protection adequate unler the tariff OF
1884 but such further MODIFICATION as Will
comnensate for additional duies on wool. II
is not impossible that sincere Republicans may
differ regarding the extent protection need
ed in some instances, but itmay fairly be ex-
pcctcd that they will hearty agree to support
and enact such duties as be Republican ma
ority may upon due consideration Judge to be
necessary.