Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-07-24
McKinley's Oppression Of the East
ern Wool-Growers.
Last weeks report of the condition
of the Boston wool market is.

|
Last weeks report of the condition
of the Boston wool market is:
The feeling is not strong or satisfactory aud
dealers assert that they cannot afford to pay the
high prices asked for the new crop. The demand
OF the week were only IL 60 pounds of all kIuds
| Prices remain the came.
| Ohio fine delaincs, which brought
last November just after the higher
duties OF the Mckinley bill had gone
into force, from 81 to 81 cents pound
are quoted now at - to 3G. Extra
wool which was 32 TO 33 cent? "a pound
is now 30 to 81, and double extra
which was 81 to 81 is 81 To 32.
On the other hand the increased i'm.
portations of foreign woods keep up
amazingly in spite of the higher duties
There were received during April Of
this year l5,333,OO0 pounds Of wool Of
/ kinds, as against S,iGGOO0 for the
same month in 1890 The import. o.
first-class woods which compete viii
the American product rose from 7"7..
600 pounds in April, 1890, To 5.2Gs 900
in April, 1891.
There never was more striking in
stance OF the punishment which fol
lows the violation Of economic laws
than is afforded by the course Of the
wool market since the passage of the
Mckinley hill. That measure had two
special features. One of them, which
was unobjectionable, was the imposi.
ton on Canadian natural products of
duties as high as those placed by the
Dominion on American manufactures.
That was retaliatOry legislation. The
other and Objectionable feature was the
increase in the duties on foreign mix
ing woods for the proiessed purpose Of
winning for the Republican party the
votes of a million sheep-owncrs. II
was claimed that the effect Of these
duties would be TO raise the value Of DC
mestic fleeces and stimulate the pro-
duction OF wool in this country, which
raises but half it uses. The duties ON
foreign woolens were raised also TO
compensate the manufacturers for the
higher price they were to pay for wool,
but the farmers were told that they
would have to pay no more for cloth.
ing Of equal quality.
Things did not turn out as Shepherd
Lawrence promised. Instead of the
foreign wool producers paying the in
creased duties, as Mckinley fancied
they would, they are being paid by the
wool-raisers Of his own aud ncighbor-
ing States. The sheep farmers between
the Alleghanies and the Mississippi
are getting less for their neeces than
the prices which they grumbled about
last November. Thus they are hand.
ing over out of their own pockets the
increased duties which the manufac-
turer pays on the imported mixing
woods he must have, and they will con-
tinue to do so until Congress legislatcs
for their benefit.
The law for which these shecp.own.
ers should petition Congress next fall
ought to be one putting the duties on
mixing woods back where they were
year ago, or, better yet. one empower.
ing Mr.. Blaine to make reciprocity
agreements with WOO. producing coun.
tries just as with sugar.producing ones.
This country took during the last fiscal
year 81 ,4OO, 600 worth Of Argentine car.
pet woods. Nothing would please that
country more than for its great staple
to have free entrance to American
markets. There are few ces.ions
which the Argentines would not make
in order to obtain it. They might be
willing TO make differentiai duties in
favor of this country on WOODEN aud
cotton goods and other articles. With
wool to trade on Mr.. Blaine could Sc
cure the Australian commerce for this
country. Favorable arrangements
could he made with Russia and Turkey.
| Shepherd Lawrence and Assistant
Shepherd Mckinley will say that the
effect of the free admission OF wool
would be TO lower the price Of Ameri.
can fleeces. On the contrary, IL would
raise it just as higher duties have
lowered it before the eyes Of Mckinley.
When it was proposed nearly fifty
years ago to let wool into England free.
the English shepherds said 10 would
ruin them. Their remonstrances were
not needed, and the legislation they
dreaded was the making Of them.
They began getting more for their
fleeces at once. The same thing would
happen here.
II the sheep-owners between the Al.
leghanies and the Mississippi have had
enough of the Mckinley experiment
and are tired OF paying duties on mix.
ing woods for the manufacturers, they
will make a united demand on Con.
gress to relieve them OF their burden oi
unjust taxation. And as the Presitien.
tial election will be less than year of
each party will be eager TO give them
all they ask for.
, THE United States is exporting more
steel rails every year. During the ten
months ending April 30, 1890, the total
exports were SO55 tons at valuation
of $276,Sl7, or an average OF $34. 30 per
, ton. During the ten months ending
April 80, 1891, there were exported l5,.
, 1859 tons at a valuation OF $5l7, SIS, an
t average price of $34.l2 per ton.
Il WHEAT harvest in the Paiouss
county commences shortly after the
1st of August, and from all adyices, il
is probable that big yield will bs
secured-in some cases larger even
than that of last year. Farmers there