The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-04
THE DUTY On WOOL
Effect of a Reduction or In
crease of Tariff.
SHEEP ansERs' INTERESTS.
Tessgrucny Given Before the wsys and
weans csmsnIssee-D faexenee Of
c4.snfsn ~ 90 Results

wssmfxxlTos, Jan 7-Bsfore the House
romaffse On wars ard means this morning
Mr.. Garter. OF Montana, spoke IN relation
10 sheep liusbandgv. particularly on the
EASTERN dope 81 the Rocky mountains. Ar.
eheppnrd. the WOOL grower Of Texas, was
the next witness.
Bavne suggested. In order 70 save time
and give other gentlemen an opportunity
"a address the cor= mistee. that Iawrences
manuscript be printed without being read
70 this suggestion Lawrence asaentsd
wlth the endiflon that be make . con-
densed statement orally Of what his man
uscksps contained That was adopted and
I.awrenee Renf On uith his remarks. He
would purposely. he said, omit tariff
sseech whsrh he would like 10 make in
congress 10 the effect shas adequate duty
on wool and manufactured wooden goods
would nof ultimately increase The cost Of
ali because home competition would pre-
vent unreasonable charges. while If the pro-
sectiye policy were abandoned and all such
products were imported from abroad the
result wouEa be the American people wonid
~ al the mercy Of foreign trusts and cor
poTatlona.
Mr.. carlisae said: THAT argument rests
on the assumption that home Industry be
abandoned.
wisness--.Yes; the effect Of the tariff
Of 1888 has been 10 cut down vastly the
number Of cur sheep. and. with free wool,
the wool industry would he practically
abandoned la the United States
Jarnea Dpbson, a Philadelphia carpet
manufacturer, denied the correctness of
many of Iawreuee's statements. He arr
A. a. - ted
States Nouls not and did not produce the
quantity OF carpet wool used in that indus
try. because where they received xi.a9 for
a fleece OF fine wool they would not recesTe
. ceats for coarse wool.
William Whitman, OF Boston. president
of the National Association Of Manufae-
turera. said the prevailing sentiment IN
their organization WAS for maintenance
OF the present duties. They would
oppose any attempt to restrict the
importation Of foreign wool. Manufac-
tnrers could not produce all the goods
necessary for home consumption unless
they could have foreign wool.
In reply to 4 question, Mr.. Whitman
said that urider no circumstances would
free wool enable manufacturers 10 make
an impression on foreign markets. He
thought free wool would stimulate produc.
ton. and give manufacturers an opportun-
ity 60 displa.se foreign products not used
here. but he also thought the effect Of free
wool would be 10 diminish the price Of
wool and consequently discourage sheep
faisers. Tie moment we begin 10 take
from the wosl product any given amount
of wool the mrioe viii be raised. and wool
become considerably dearer than now.
T. G. Search, representing manufac-
tursrs' club ~ Philadelphia, declared him-
seit In harmony with Whitman's views.
statements 10 like effect was made BY
w III. Folwnll, cloth manufacturer of Phil
adelphia~ lie announced himself in favor
Of putting high duties on southern pro-
ducts. sugar, rics. tnrpentine and peanuts,
and Of having free whisky and free tobacco.
lie would sax sugar that comes from
abroad until We could supply the whole de
mand ourselves.
John +. I'iummer, Of New York, said the
country is suffering under popular prejr-
dice that hatteE clothes can he got abroad
than here at the same price lie declared
there was no country where a man could
get as good a suit OF clothes for "a little
money IS in the United States.
After some remarks BY Wal sh. of Mis-
souri,, Hon. VIM. Lawrence, OF Ohio. made
= statement as the representative sent by
the National Wool Growers Association lie
said wool growers generally believed a
sound policy required the imposition of
such duty on what is called carpet wool as
wonid enahin American wool. growers 60
produce nearly all the wool required for
consumption In che United States, shutting
cat foreign i1npartations and giving Ameri-
can wool-aroweTs the privilege of supplying
al carpet woai required for consumption
Al the conclusion of his testimony the
committee affao,4rusd