The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-21
STILL PULLING WOOL

Mr.. Louis Windmueller, large wool
importer Of New York. wrote recently
to Senator Plumb protesting against .
duty on Russian camel's hair and against
increased rates on coarse and mixed
wool, such as are used in carpet making.
It was shown by Mr.. Windmueller that,
as we have no camels, it would be fool
ish to place protective duties on camefs
hair to build up . new industry, and
that the same 10 true of coarse carpet
wool. since next to none is produced In
America The only effect of these
duties, therefore, would be to increase
the Pee Of carpets to our own people.
In reply. his letter Mr.. Windmueller
received the following letter from the
Kansas Senator:
UNITED STATES SENATE.
WARRINGTON, ID. o.. July H. 1890.
Louis Windmueller, Esq.. New York:
Dear Sir: Ihave read what you say about
tho duty on Russian cameps hair. Will give
this matter full consideration. and except
for something which do not now foresee
will support the position which you take. /
do not object TO the rectincation OF tho in
equalities Of the tar II but have not been
able TO convince myself. nor have | been
convinced By tho reasoning Of others, that
there should be any general Increase Of the
which 90 into general consumption among
our people. Yours truy.
Preston h PLUMB.
It was Senator Plumb who introduced
the resolution in the Senate to require
the Finance Committee to give reasons
for changes in the tariff. But this reso-
- In -
glittering generalities about creating
new industries" protecting American
interests. meeting increased COMPETE
tion abroad" and 80 on, that 1t would
have been as we'll II Senator Plumb had
never introduced the resolution at ALL
With regard to the wool duties, for ex-
ample, the committee said: "The de-
mand from the representative WOOL
growers of the country that the rates
upon wool should be largely increased.
has led the committee to recommend
the adoption of the classification herein
suggested, which it is hoped will result
in uniform and honest classification Of
wool"
That is funny. The wool-growers de
manded" largely increased rates upon
wool, and the committee gave them "a
new Classification" but this was by no
means giving . stone instead Of bread,
for the new classification" results in a
large increase Of duties though the
committee neglected to assign any
reason for that increase beyond the
demand from the representative wool.
growers Of the country"
This affords another example Of how
the protected interest Of the country are
allowed to write their demands into our
tariff laws The theory OF protection il
that the lawmakers examine the con-
dition OF the country and then decide
that protection is needed, ant. this Is
accordingly given. In point act, the
thing is M ger done in this uas but the
hungry inter sts come foe' - Con.
gress to impose their 'aemans upon q
committee that usually ftss very
little about trade and industry aud Is only
too willing to have its action guided
by men who know what they want This
IL the way tariff bills to defend "Amcsi
can interests" are concocted. It is the
men who want to fill their own pockets
who rush before committees Of Congress
and prate about protecting American
labor from disastrous foreign compe
tition."
As the Senate committee had no rea
son to give Senator Plumb further thar
1.-THE demand of the representative WOO
growers Of the country" Mr.. Wind
mueller undertook to show the Senate
that there was no good reason to in
crease the duties on camel's hair ant
coarse wool; and he undertook to shov
up also the iniquity OF the ''uniforn
and honest class. .fication" which tn,
committee said it had given at the de
mand OF the representative wool-grow
ers of the country"
The present rates and the increase
are rs follows on coarse wools: On WOO
valued at Il cents : pound or less tn,
duty is 2h cents pound, which |
equivalent to "a. so per cent ad valorem
and this is changed by the committee t
80 per cent. for wools valued at Is cent
q pound or less; on coarse wool wortl
more than u cents . pound the duty
cents, which Is equivalent to so. IS pc
cent, this being raised in tho presen
bill t.. so per cent on wool above l
cents . pound.
So much for the duties; but here
where the uniform and honest classif
cation" comes in and effects doublin
up Of duties in = way to delight the pt
litical shepherds Of Ohio who made tn
demand. The bill provides that
any bale of wool of one class contain
any portion Of wool of higher class tn
whole bale must pay the duty Of ths
higher class; and further, that il IN
sorting OF the wool has taken place th
duty shall be doubled.
Ths Is what the political shepherd
demanded" and what they got Nj
| Windmueller shows that, inasmuch .
| all carpet wools are sorted before in
portation, the rates put down In the bi
will have to be doubled; that is to sa,
on wools worth Is cents or less the dut
will be 81 per cent on the higher grade
100 per cent Our political shepherd
know how to make demands for the
own interests The plea that the poll
ical shepherds make is, not they hav
any carpet woods to sell, but that thes
imported carpet woods are sometIne
used to make cloth for the people
clothing-which, from the shepherd
standpoint, is thing to be stamped OF
by the iron heel Of q Mckinley Tari
bill. Carpet wools must be mad
SO expensive that the wicked man,
facturers shall not be able to .,
them into our clothing, in order that th
political shepherds may get highs
prices for their wool. This will mea
dearer carpets for the people; but whi
do the shepherds care for that? The
are looking out for number one!
Meanwhile it is highly instructive /,
note that shoddy men are clamoring I.
the Mckinley wool duties They wal
to feather their nests too They sc
that high prices on wool will cause
larger demand for their humbug stui
and therefore they have taken gre,
liking to Mckinley. and nobody is no
supporting tho Mckinley bill with MOI
ardor than the shoddy men.
There is one saving feature abo,
the Mckinley bill. 1t is SO consistent
and uniformly oppressive that it wi