The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-04-16
THEWOOLCONSUMER
THEIR PLAIN STATEMENTS OF FACTS
To CONGRESS.

Show It's FuAiity-They Have to Import
Wool and Domestic Wool Is Lower.
TO the Honorable the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United
States:
The Wool Consumers association re-
spectfully petitions the Fifty-second
congress to change schedule X. relating
to wool and woolcns. in the tariff act of
1890, for the relscf Of wooden manufac-
turers and for the benefit of all consum-
ers of wooden fabrics.
1t is Of course undesirable in general
to change tariffs frequently, but the gen.
eral principles of the act of 1890, rs ap-
piled to.wool and woolens, are the same
as have been tried Enthusiastically for
very many years, except that it aggra-
Yates some of the worst and most OBJ
pressive features Of former acts in rela-
ton to wool.
The act has therefore practically bcen
tested by the trials of many years, and
there is 40 occasion to test it longer by
experience. 1t is not true that the act
in it's present form a work no harm to
wooden manufacturers. 1t works the
same injury to the makers. of wooden
and woc3ted cloth that the restrictions
on the use Of wool always have pro-
duced, and in the case of the CARPET
trade, which a very large pro-
portion Of all the imported wool, it is
the most oppressive act ever passed.
The wool schedule (D of the tariff act
of 1890 offers an exceptional opportunity,
by amendments making wool free and
relatively decreasing both the specific
and ad valo-em duties on wooden goods,
to benefit immensely the wooden manu-
facturers by giving them free access to
the supplies of wool Of various quail
ties, such as all other competing manu-
featuring countries enjoy, and by re-
ducing thus without injury to manufac-
turers tle cost Of their goods to them
and to the consumers, while leaving suf-
ficient protection. With free raw ma
~teliais, tic tax on imports of competing
gools would be almost entirely for the
protection of labor; and as free raw ma
terials would greatly increase consump-
ton, there would be an increased de-
maud for labor.
Neither is it true that no harm has
come to consumers by the law of 1890.
In the first place, the increased cost of
wool, as compared with prices in Eu-
rope, has forced the use of cotton and
other adulterants to a great and un-
usual extent; and, secondly, if wooden
goods have not advanced they might
have been lower but for the duties on
wool. There is no question among
ufacturers that the act Of 1890 was in
tended to advance prices, nor that it
was well calculated to do SO to the ex-
tent that consumers could afford.
The almost universal fall in prices
was caused in very small degree, if at
all, by the tariff act of 1890. The tre-
merdous losses in the Argentine Repub-
lie and elsewhere, the failure of the Bar
ings, the distrust caused by silver legis-
~lation, the low price of cotton in the
south on account of an enormous crop,
the failure of crops in the north and
west prior to 1891, causing dull trade
and reduced consumption, are the prin-
SllN>i LIE lIUt UtOtiSLc NISCICSS tllu
falling prices.
What those manufacturers and wool
growers who arranged the wool schedule
with he intention of increasing prices
want is, no doubt, to be let alone, so
that the tariff act may produce, under
more favorable auspices, the results they
expected and worked for. But the rest
that the public needs is a permanent re-
lief from taxes which Cypress both them
and manufacturers, which hamper the
latter, as every manufacturer admits,
and which largely increase the cost of
wooden goods TO the public.
The growth Of the wool manufacture
has undoubtedly been great during the
past thirty years, for the country, with
it's vast natural our and enormous
immigration, has increased vastly in
population and wealth; but the growth
of tho manufacture would be much
more prosperous and much greater with
free wool, and its growth and prosperity
mean larger use Of domestic woods and
higher prices abroad for all competing
woods.
1t is clear from the statements of the
National Association Of Wool Manufac-
turers and from undoubted facts. en-
phasized by the vast increase in the i'm
ports OF wool since the passage Of the
act of 1890 and by the falling prices of
Ohio wool that this country produces
practically no carpet wool to supply the
demand for nearly 100, 600, 900 pounds
needed by the carpet manufacturers,
and only a part Of the clothing and
combing woods needed: and it is further
to be considered hat the use of wool for
80 called "woolens" would be much
larger if the restrictions of the wool du.
ties did not greatly reduce the consump'
ton of wool and largely increase the
use of shoddy and cotton in so called
wooden goods.
And this Is the case after a long series
of years of high duties on wool. In the
theory Of the ''new protection it is laid
down as a principle that the necessities
entering into the daily life of the mass
of the people which we cannot econom'
ical1y produce should be made Free"
On this principal wool should certain.
iy be made free. 1t is a most important
article for all the people. II is produced
iastais country in inadequate quantities
aad lsnt in the necessary varieties ant
Qualities. Some indispensable grades
raa ne produced in this country onl,
unster conditions unfavorable as com
s. Ilared with those of other countries.
High duties for q quarter OF century
haze failed to produce any carpet woo
in this country. and have also failed *
1rpduce ar adequate supply OF the Wonii