Evening journal., 1890-01-03
NEWS FROMWASHlNGTON
Wool Growers Argue Before
the House Committee.
MORE PROTECTION WAS ASKED.

The Opposing Petitions That Arc to lie
Presented to coneress-w nianu-
facturers Are Observation-Disclosures Live
News from the National Capital
WASHINGTON, Jan. s.-The wool growers
appeared before the ways and means com
mittee of the house yesterday. An address
was made by g. II. Wallace on the importa- |
tion Of third class or carpet wools. The inn |
portation Of this class OF woods at low rate
OF duty, he said, was greatly damaging 70
the producers of wool in this country, as II
was killing the business Of the farmer who
got his wool from quarter or common blood,
as it is being imported cheaper than be can
afford to raise It. This class OF wool was
also being used In the manufacture Of cloth
Ing He advocated establishing tariff on
wool SO that, when the price was low and
the article plentiful, a high duty should be
charged, and when it was high and scarce q
low rate He concluded his remarks with
an appeal to the committee to stop. as far
as in their power lies, The importation Of
these low grades.
Two Opposing Petitions.
Frank P. Bennett, of Boston, editor Of The
American Wool Reporter, said that at the
suggestion Of some members Of the commit
tee, and at the request OF parties whose busi-
ness Is seriously affected by the present
illogical ratio between the duties on raw
wool and those on manufactured goods, he
appeared mainly for the purpose OF stating
the facts In regard to two petitions which
are to be presented to congress, signed by
men actually engaged in or dea ling in wool
and wooden goods, one In favor OF free wool
aud the other in favor Of ad valorem duty
The free wool petition has $50 signers,
| among whom are Moses I. Stevens, OF North
Andover, Mass, the largest individual
wool manufacturer IN the United States; q.
q Silsbee, treasurer Of the famous Middle
sex Woolen company, OF Lowell, Mass,
and Arthur I. Lyman, treasurer Of the great
carpet mills at Lowell.
''The woolen manufacturers Of the United
States, almost without exception continued
Mr.. Bennett, are sore and discontented be
cause the duties upon wooden goods are in
many cases lower than upon the raw mater.
ial Of which they are made Thead valorem
petition carries 203 signatures, among then
A. d. Jnlliard q Co Of New York; the As
sabet Manufacturing company Of Maynard,
Mass the Pacific Mills aud the Harris
Woolen company, Of Woonsoeket r. l.
Mr.. Bennett'argued IN favor of 40 per cent
ad valorem upon clothing and combine
woods, and 20 per cent ad yalorem upon
carpet wool.
Greater Protection Asked.
J. F. Gibbs, Of Greedy. Colo, addressed
the committee on the cost Of raising
marketing aud the condition in general q
the wool business in that state. The indus
! try was pursued there under great diliicul
! ties-the water supply being so scarce an
, the damaging storms Of the region 50 fire
quent II the present congress did not Civ
J this industry greater protection il mus
necessarily 20 TO the wall in his part of th
! country Irrigation was badly needed
I No Free Wool Men Present.
S f. NJ. Bissell Of Shorehnm, VT, raise
t Of sheep for breeding purposes, addressed th
& committee, comparing the wool business Q
y this country with that OF Australia, Stain
that the same grade Of sheep were al cheape
in Australia than in the United State
: When Mr.. Bissell had concluded, Chairma
! Mckinley asked IL there were any person
!. present who wished to address the commi
4 tee on free wool. As there was no respons
J the committee adjourned for the day.