Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-03
More Tariff Talk.
fsy telegraph to the Disps,ch.I


WASHINGTON, January 1.-The Ways and
Means Committee to-day heard arguments
by representatives of wool-growers.
George II. Wallace. of Missouri, read O
prepared paper Astounding with statistics
10 demonstrate the necessity for maintain
ing the duties on imported wool and sug-
gested an adjustable tariff which would
diminish when wool was scarce and
high in price and increase when it
was plentiful and low in price. He dwelt
at length upon what he described as the
impositions Of the present classlfcations.
saving that in Wanamaker's store could be
seen pantaloons made of third-class or
carpet-wool and sold at $3.50 per pair.
Importers Of carpet woods said that this
grade of wool was used everywhere and
for all kinds of wool manufacturing, as
well rs carpets. This demonstrated the
fact that the importation of third-class
wool under the present law is diminish
ing the production Of wool IN Anne
rica. Representative Flower questioned
Mr.. Wallace closely rs to the actual
cost of wool production in Mis-,
souri,, eliciting the fact that land
was worth S35 to $40 per acre, and that 1t
would maintain one sheep per acre. IL was
also ascertained from the witness that the
fleece averaged about Sl.50. The actual
20 cents per pound. There was no money
to be made at that figure. but there were
other considerations to be needed. such as
manuring the land, the fact that sheep
cleared of the brambles and weeds and
otherwise benefited the farm.
Mr.. Carlisle remarked that that was as he
supposed. The sheep were not valuable
alone for the wool and mutton.
Mr. Breckenridge sought to ascertain the
l. 4. L. II 1In gnl IN q
United States, but the witness said that
owing to the fact that the class OF wool
used in carpets varied according TO tho
quality of the manufacture he could not
give any exact figures. The wool-growers
had found the carpet manufacturers yerv
reticent III giving information.
Mr.. Breckinridge having put a long hy-
pothetical question respecting the amount
OF profit in wool-growing IL the United
States, witness replied dryly that he
would find that subject discussed with
great ability in the Presidents message OF
two years ago.
L. b. Bennett. of Boston, editor OF the
American Wool Reporter. was the next wit
ness. and said that two petitions would be
presented to Congress. one signed by $50
persons in favor of free wool and the other
signed by 200 persons in favor OF an at
tdioren duty on wool in place Of the pres
sent specific form Of duty. The witness
having mentioned the name OF Joseph
Kitchman. signer of tho free-wool petit
ton, as a large manufacturer and leading
Republican OF Philadelphia. and one
who helped raise the celebrated Philadel-
phia campaign fund in the last campaign,
Mr.. Doak, of Philadelphia, rose IN the
rear of the room and fatty contradicted
the statement. saying that kitchnman was
a. L. NJ, ~rot nd M had pnRtrl-
buted to Republican campaign fund.
Continuing, the witness said that the PEE
titions showed that the rank and file of
smaller manufacturers were rs willing TO
express their opinions IN regard to wool
duties as were the great leaders Of the
trade. No effort had been made to ascer-
tain the politics of the signers OF these pc
titions UAughter.l A petition for re:
duced duties upon wool for the benent OF
the manufacturers who furnish our domes-
tic wool-growers their sole market for their
fleece would secure great many signers
among that portion of our agricultural
population concerned IN the raising Oh
wool.
The witness next spoke Of the I'D cdtoreIn
petition, describing the signers as among
the largest merchants and manufacturers
and reading letters from experts favoring
this system of tariff. They favored CON-
pound duties on manufactures of wool, be-
cause of the difficulty Of determining their
value. but the same objection could not be
made to an od ratoyeDs duty OH raw wool. as
the prices were known all the over world,
and frauds under the situation could not
be praticed.
In answer to Chairman Mckinley witness
said that personally be favored the dd ca
loren petition. He was adverse to radi-
cal changes, and believed that an al reIo,
rem duty of 40 per cent. on combins ana
20 per cent. on carpet-wool would afford
sufficient protection.
Replying to Dir. Carlisle witness SAID
that it was undoubtedly true that as land
increased In price the number OF sheep
decreased. Where sheep decreased, the
prosperity of the inhabitants increase1
vastly. lie did not think that the tariI
on wool had increased the price realized
: by the wool-grower.
After recess J. F. Gibbs. of Greedy, Colo @
RADIO. took tho stand and gave . number OF
statistics relative to the cost OF growing
and marketing wool in the West TAXING
the accounts Of Colorado farm, heshowsa
that 1900 pounds Of raw wool cost tne
grower about twenty Eve centsper pound;