New-York tribune., 1890-01-11
wooL GEouLEN M IuroRIrEs.

The duty ON wool requires new discussion. In
view Of the testimony taken before th" tom
mit-.c Oh Way, ard Means. IN" subject is
Of such general ur...-'. aul tho attacks of
oppOucut, of protection hdtr been so cor fully
directed 20 make breach amous lt, support
cl, Oh mi, feature. ih1t the success, CO.. failure
of tariff legislation this year j. Likely to de-
pend more upon action ou tac wooI and wool
len, dutic, than upon any other provision.
All the interest, ol thI, great Nation 20, affect
cd b., thc tariff have thcro'ofo," como 70 turn
uIon the ISSUE between wool growers and
vool-impoitcr-. For those ar' distinctly idcu'i-
lied with the importer, n iutcro-' who rely
upon imported wool iu the manufacture.
Broadly considered. thc importing interest
separates from and opposes thc manufacturing
interest proper. which ask, only adequate
duties on good, 10 compensate for Whatever
duties on wool Congress may consider it wise
TO impose.
The a'titud" of Tive manufacturers proper,
excluding from thar term those who are essen
tally one in interest with the importers, j,
thoroughly logical aad ha, been maintained
with great ability. "If largely dependent
upon foreign supplies" they argue. 1--WE should
not got wool a> choapy aS We do with homo
production stimulated by protection. There
fore it j, plainly our interest to uphold pro-
lection and TO rely mainly upon domestic sup
plies. Rightly encouraged domestic produc-
tion will reduce the COS; Of the material aS far
as it can bc reduced in harmony with the Na-
tional policy and to- prices lower than could
be obtained in foreign markets if domestic pro-
ducton and competition were crippled Hold
ing this attitude. the Wool Manufacturers
Association is in entire accord with wool grow
erS.
There are two kinds of manufacturers who
oppose this policy those who are dishonesty
using in cloth making foreign wool imported
as carpet wool, and those who are making
carpets mainly from imported wool. The lat
ter class, believing hat couSr wool enough
TO supply the carpet manufacture cannot be
produced in this country. wish TO have foreign
materials as cheap as possible and reason that
1t i necessary u the success of their man
ufacturc. Tho former class wants 10 dcfraud
the Government and consumers both, hy i'm
porting AT low carpet wool dutic, the wool in
tended for other uses. and by putting coarse
carpet wool into goods that are prOfesscdly
made of domestic clothing wool
The position of the carpet makers can be
met by reasoning. But the men who want to
defraud cannot state their real reasons, and
therefore give all sorts Of false excuses for
opposing higher duties on carpet wool They
can in no way be convinced that it is best that
they should not dchaud Government, deceive
consumers, and PROSTATE wool growers in this
country, and argument with them is wasted
The only thing to be said is that the Govern
ment and the people do not want 10 be de
fIauded, and do not intend 10 have a great
and bcncliccnt National policy spoiled or de
fcatcd for the private gain of men who are
not honest in their dealings
The carpet manufacturers nave experience
which ought 10 cnlighten them. The average
cost OF American carpet wool was 20 Ia cents