Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-04

turers and for the benefit of all consun-
ers of wooden fabrics.
| 1t is of course undesirable in general
70 change tariffs frequently but the gen.
eral principles of the act of 1890, as ap-
piled to wool and woolens. are the same
as have been tried unsatisfactory for
very many years, except that it aggra-
Yates some of the worst and most OPP
pressive features of former acts in rela-
| ton to wool.
The act has therefore practically been
tested Ivy the trials of many years, and
there is no occasion to test it longer by
experience. 1t is not true that the act
in its present form can work no harm to
wooden manufacturers. 1t works the
same injury to the makers of wooden
and worsted cloth that the restrictions
on the use of wool always have pro-
duced, and in the case of the carpet
trade, which consumes a very large pro-
portion Of all the imported wool, it is
the most oppressive act ever passed.
The wool schedule ~ of the tariff act
of 1890 offers an exceptional opportunity,
by amendments making wool free and
relatively decreasing both the specific
and al valorem 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 the cost of their goods to them
and to the consumers, while leaving suf-
fCient protection. With free raw ma
terials, the tax on imports of connecting
goods 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-
mand 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 adu rerants to a great and I'M
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 man
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 ire
mendous 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-
cipal causes that brought distress and
falling prices.
What those manufacturers and wool
| growers who arranged the wool schedule
with the intention of increasing prices
want Is, no doubt, to be let alone. so
that the tariff act may produce, under
more favOra bic auspices, the results they
| expected and worked for. But the rest
| that the public needs is 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
! its vast natural resources and enormous
immigration, has increased vastly in
population and wealth: but the growth
of the MAJ ufacture would be much
more prosperous and much greater with
free wool, ard 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 Ass ociation of Wool Manufac-
turers and rom undoubted facts, EN-
phasized by the vast increase in the inn
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, 900, 900 pounds
needed by the carpet manufacturers,
and only a part of the clothing and
combing wools needed: and it is further
to be considered that the use of wool fo1
so called "7vooleGs" 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 serie:
of years of high duties on wool. In tbs
theory of the new protection" it is laid
down as a principle that 1.-The necessitie:
entering into The daily life of the mas;
of the people which we cannot econom
/ ically produce should be made free
On this principal wool should certain
? ly be made free. 1t is a most important
article for all The people. 1t is produced
in this country in inadequate quantities
and not in the necessary varieties anC
qualities. Some indispensable grades
can be produ ced in this country only
under conditions unfavorable as com
nared with these of other countries