New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-13
THE WOOL DUTIES.

Differences of opinion among ONO WOOL
growers have brought out letter from hepre-
sentative Kennedy of that State, in which APP
pear statements of wide public interest. lie
relates that the Ohio Republican delegation had
2 conference with Mr. Mckinley and MIR. Dc
Iano. president Of the National Wool-Growers
Association. in which it was agreed to uphold
them in endcavoring TO procure the adoption
of valuable restrictive provisions not embraced
in the Senate Tariff BILL but embodied IN
so-called agreement between Mr.. Delano and
some representatives of the cloth and carpet
manufacturers. as this was believed TO be bet
fer for the growers than the Senate bill which
lacked many o. these most salutary PROVISIONS
Mr. Kennedy then continues:
To show that our confidence not misplaced. The
Republican members of the Committee Of Ways aud
Means have so modified the Senate bill and the socaled
agreement as 10 give what IS believed TO be the pest
nrotection the wool growers ever had. IL has pre-
served all the restrictive provisions and has increased
the duty from IL cents pound 70 3 ]" upon car
NOT woods costing l. cents and under. and has made
inc duty cents on all above Il, and has increased
the duty on cloth and combins woods from 10 and II
TO II and l..
One Of the greatest difficulties In protecting WOOL
and the one from which producers nave suffered most
Is the constant evasion Of duties levied By law under
he head Of tons noils rug waste and various others
pnrportuc 10 lie poor quality u wool. or the refuse
Of manufactured wool. The very finest OF secured
woods have been brought 10 our shores from foreign
countries ard admitted under low duty. and thus
enter into competition with the very finest wool pro
dnccd in America and hence the destruction Of even
,he small markets which the tariff. 50 cvaded, should
have projected.
one Of the objects Of the proposed law has been 10
50 regulate define and limit this importation a. - en-
tirely prevent IT, or 70 compel payment pY !" oi 'e"
class of duty.
Tho advance in duties on carpet wool here
proposed is not 50 great as in some accounts
,hc growers have been reported as demanding
and there seems to have been some opposition
by Judge Lawrence and Mr.. lIarpstcr OF ONO
n the arrangement reached by Mr. pciano
with representatives of clo>h and carpet man
nfactureIs l,ut the committee ana the 'hio
Republican delegation are reported IL entirely
united in approving the adjustment above dc
ScIihed in part because Of the value OF tho
restrictive features which the senate hlli dd
not contain.
II is obviously too early 20 form definite
opinion in regard TO the changes proposed unti
they have all been formally reported so tha'
they can be examined together. But Their" j.
reason in the claim that The growers not only
of Ohio. but OF other states - well. have Good
cause 70 confdc in the intention Of such men -
Nr. Mckinley aud Alr. Dclano 20 secure Tor
their industry the most ample protection which
il is possihle 70 obtain, through the acton oi
Congress heartily in favor OF the protective
policy. TO assail them as un'aithiul 10 the
wool producing interest j, palpably UNJUST. In
decd. with many the question Will rather Ice
whether these gentlemen, in their earnest de-
sire 20 defend an industry which has been great
" depressed BY lawful and also by unlawful
! mportatjons nv unwise reduction Of duty. and
also bv fraudulent evasions OF duty may not
/ have zone little further than was eXpedient.
Nevertheless it has been the opinion OF TIE
TRIBUNE that the wool growers are Justly en-
titled 10 greater measure Of protection than
,bcv have ever enjoyed That larger measure
the contemplated change Of duties appears 10
offer. Under tho law Of lsG, both the wool
growing and the wool manufacturing indus
tries prospcrcd greatly, and the duties on car
net wool in that law wcre lower than those no~
rcportcd Then 3 cents was the duty on such
wool costing . cents per pound or less, ana
cents on other carpet wool Now IL Is pro-
posed 10 make the dutin, Il ana cents
But there has been a wonderful change IN the
production Of such wool III other countries, so
that II is now placed in the market n lower
cost than was formerly known. Moreover the
change in methods OF manufacture makes 1t
possible now 10 employ wool of that grade on
description for uses 10 which only American
wool was formerly adapted.
The assertion 50 often made, that no carpet
wool can be produced in this country has only
recently been answered in the most emphatic
MAJ. or BY Official statements from tho Depart
ment Of Agriculture Tho claim that no i'm
ported carpet wool Of consequence Is used III
the making OF cloth has also been most con
cIusively met by the statements OF manuiact-
ulers themselves, who have used IT and know
that others have used it largely. Under such
circumstances it. would seem to be but just to
regard the beliefs and wishes OF the growers
Of wool as respects the amount OF protective
duty now requisite.
CDVCpTp ITNNT JONES.