Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-26

the whole bale or package shall be SUBJ
ject to the higher rate Of duty charge
able on wool Of the class to which the
foreign or unauthorized component OF
the bale may be referred.
CURIOUS EFFECT OF THE PROTECTIVE
POLICY On THE PRICES OF WOOL.
The first and general effect OF such
taxes and restrictions on the importa-
tions OF wool of foreign production Is
to greatly enhance their price In the do
nestle market.
The lata Mr.. John l.. Hayes, for
many year. Secretary of the American
Wool Manufacturers Association, testi-
fed in 1881 that the then exisisting
duties INCREASED the cost Of clothing
woods impofted into Boston to from
4s-45 to 1880 per cent, and since that
date the duties have been increased,
under the Mckinley tariff, to the extent
of about o. per cent. on the average.
Recent Investigations have led to the
conclusion i'that the burden put on the
American manufacturer by the present
wool duties must be as great as the total
expense to Che foreigner Of manufactur-
ing his goods entire and shipping them
to this market"
Let US next consider what has been
the effect of this extraordinary legisla-
tion In respect to the Importation OF
foreign wool in crude or manuiac-
tured state.
EThat the supply of such wool to the
United States has, in a comparative
sense, been restricted cannot be doubt
ed; that is, the quantity OF such wool
imported has not been as great as 1t I'M
doubtedly would have been had the pol
icy of free wool or low duties been ad-
opted. In an absolute sense, tariff re-
striction has not been effective, mas
much as the imports seem to continual
ly increase. rising from 67,s61,000
pounds in 1882 to 126, 1S1, 900 in 1889.
And here is the place to call attention
to very interesting economical pheno-
menon which the advocates OF the pol
lev of high duties, intended to be re-
strictive of the imports of wool, will
find it very difficult to explain. The
period of imposition of such high duties
may be referred back as commence
ment to the year 1867.
IMPORTS INCREASE UNDER TARIFF.
From that year to 1886 inclusive,
period of twenty years, the domestic
clip increased about 20 per cent, the
imports more than 300 per cent, while
the average prices OF domestic wool
notably declined. Since the passage OF
the Mckinley tariff, still further in
creasing the duties on wool, the same
phenomenon has been witnessed; name
ly, a large increase in foreign importa-
lions, the imports for the first four
months OF 1891 having been double
those Of the corresponding period Tor
the previous year under lower duties,
and a marked decline in the price OF
American woods. What would have
happened If the parties responsible for
the wool tariff legislation in the Fifty
first Congress had effectually carried out
their desire and intent, and had through
the agency of the government abso-
lutely prevented the wool manufac-
turers and consumers OF the country
from supplying themselves with about
300, 900, 600 pounds Of wool which they
can not and probably never will obtain
from any other source, may be left to
To the extent that the domestic man
ufacturers use the imported wools-and
nearly all do have to use them to
greater or less extent-their enhanced
cost, which Is only another name for
the tariff tax, must enter into the cost
of their products and be recouped or
paid back to them by the consumers, or
the manufacturers wonld soon use up
business. The domestic consumer WOulu
not pay the enhanced cost If he could
help himself, but he cannot, except by
turning smuggler; for duty is imposed
on the importation of all foreign wool
fabrics sufficient to at least neutralize
all advantage in price in the domestic
market, which would otherwise come to
a foreign manufacturing importer from
having his wool free Of taxation.
suoDDY AND IT'S USE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
But a most important effect OF this
great enhancement to the American
manufacturer by the agency of the tar
if of the cost OF his needed supply OF
wool of foreign origin, and can not yet
be sufficiently understood or appreciated
by the American masses, is the perma-
nent inducement thereby created for the
use OF something as substitute, or in
the place Of WOOL and the bounty insur-
ed in proportion as the substitute is sue
cessful. The substitute of hitherto first
Importance, and in most general use, Is
the fibrous material obtained by tearing
or grinding up old wooden fabrics and
which is designated, according to it's de-
gree of disintegration, as "shoddy,"
"mungo," waste" DEVILS dust" &C.
Notwithstanding the unquestionable
merit and value of the substitute for
certain purposes, the house of Dolan &
Co., of Philadelphia, in 1885, estimated
that the combing wool prodoct of the
United States fell S0,000,000 pounds
short of the amount necessary to run the
existing machinery of the country to its
full capacity.
Continued ON Sirtlt Page.