Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-11
KICK ON FREE WOOL
Great Dissatisfaction With
Springer's Proposition.
WHERE THE SHOE PlNcHES
Manufacturers Cannot Have al the Bene-
tt--Fsrmers Must and VIII
Have Fair Play.


they do not understand the statesman
ship that would recommend free wool
without an equivalent reduction OF
duties upon manufactured goods. IL
appears also that some OF the manufae-
turers who have been demanding free
wool ~ free raw material are begin
ming TO discover that they have bar
gained without their hort. There are
two kiuds OF manufacturers who use
wool. Those who use wool without the
mixture of other material aud those
who usc wool with cotton and other
materials combined. To the manufac-
turer who uses only wool free wool
would be = raw material indeed, and
he would welcome IL, provided he
could get free wool without an equlva-
lent reduction in the protective duty
upon his manufactured goods. Then
would free wool be exactly what Henry
Watters OIL has declared that 1t is-of
exclusive benefit TO the manufacturer
OF WOODEN goods and ruin TO the farm
ers. But the other class of manufac-
turers OF WOODEN goods are beginning
thing very different to them. particu-
larry If that other part OF the pro-
grammc shall be carried out and AL
the compensatory duties be taken Off
of manufactured WOODEN goods and
only the ad valorem tariff lett.
springer's Queer Logic.
Those who used wool and cotton
mixed. such as manufacturers of
hosiery and underwear and similar
classes OF goods, would find that with
wool absolutely free and the compen-
satory duties taken OFT they would
manufacture their goods at loss. The
compensatory duties represent to them
their profits. He fixes the date when
the provision shall take effect as jan
uary !, 1898, instead of January /,
1892, as had been at first proposed. The
date is 70 be uniform both as to the
abolition of the wool duty as we'll as
the compensatory duty on woOlen
goods. Tne pOstponement of six months
is saidto be due to the suggestion from
manufacturers that they desire to have
an opportunity TO dispose of the stock
OF wool already imported upon which
duties have been paid, and that this ar
rangement would prevent any special
advantages to manufacturers who have
bought small stocks, or loss to those
VINO may have bought large stocks and
paid the duty uDon them. In this
change Of date and the reasons as
signed for it, Henry Watterson will un-
doubtedly find that MIR. Springer is
still actUated by desire to benefit the
manufactures that the people who he
ri a orYrpa Vytll ho 1<.v,a tcA hss
cheaper wooden clothing must provide
winter at the rates under existing law.
Attitude OF Mills Friends.
The representatives of the Mills fac.
ton on the committee of ways and
means have not gwen public indication
that they are willing to accept the
Springer policy of attacking the Nc
KInley act by piecemeal. Mr.. Springer
Is playing the part of Mr.. Toots IN the
matter of the dates. He knows that
there is no possible chance that his bill
will become law, consequently it is a
matter of no concern with him when
he shall provide a time for its taking
effect. One suggestion is made by Mr..
Springer which shows that he is learn
ing something about the tariff and that
he is adopting some of the heretIcal
notions of the protectionists. At all
events be has changed his view as to
shoddy 3SNG Gwool waste on 5rotectionist
wounds. He has discovered that the
ps>,tection to admit wopl shoddy and
wool waste free of duiYis not popu-
lar one even with democrats. He con-
clud. d, therefore. TO strike that provis-
ION from his bill and to leave the duty
on sboddy and waste at thirty cents u
pound as III der the existing law. Mr..
Springer has said that in making this
change inc has discovered that the
shoddy and waste is the result of pro-
Cess of manufacture abroad, and that
while he Is dcsirous to have raw wool
come in free he wishes to have Ameri-
can labor reap the benefit of every pro-
cess which is necessary to convert raw
wool into finished goods.
Questions for Springer.
The representatives OF the sheep
growers in Texas and the northwest
will be very likely TO call Mr.. Springer
to book for this admission. They will
doubtless ask him why it IS not good
thing aiso for American labor TO have
the benefit of the expenditures neces-
sary in the raising of wool. 1t probably
will be the republican policy. SD soon
as this or any other tariff bill shall he
reported TO the committee of the whole,
To offer amendments 10 make cores
ponding reductions in duties on ali
manufactured articles In which the raw
materials arc used. They consider that
this Is the only fair and logical course.
They know OF no reason why the New
England manufacturer should be given
special advantages to the disadvantage
OF the MOO. grower of the northwest,
aud the representatives and senators
from those sections viii insist that If
there u to be free wcol for the New
England manufacturers there must be
free woolen goods for western cou-
sumers. There will be no serious
leaders TO save the protective
duties on the manufactures OF
woolen. II the manufacturer them
fsIyes Join hands with the tree traders
20 break down she protective system n
their Own interest. The manufacturers
IN one corner OF the country can no,
expect 20 have free trade as 4 special
dispensstion for themselves and leave
tho rest OF the country 10 bear the bur
den of taxation. There IS considerable
speculation az to what may happen IN
the sens r. with regard 10 free wool. An
snsIysis of tue Political complexion OF
that holy shows that there are lofty
seven republicans, thnIy-niBe Demo-
cEsts. ane indspendent~-hyle ef scath
Dako'a--and one FsFnefs' Alliance =
Mr.. PETER. Ga one question affecting
the reduction Of the tariff the two
latter may be exeeeted 30 vote with the
democrats. When the tariff question
vss last before tie senate three reptih-
llcans-PluBab, pettigfew sni Pad