The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-29
IMPORT DUTIES on WOOL
THE TWO REPORTS WITH THE
SPRINGER BILL.


The Majority Point Out the Unreason-
able Rates Imposed BY the McKln-
ley Bill-rhe Goods Worn By the
Poor Taxed Higher Than the Better
Ones Used By the Rich.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2s.-The report OF
the majority and minority OF the House
committee on ways and means to accom-
pany the Springer wool bill have been pre-
pared and will be presented to the House
tomorrow. The majority report was pre-
pared by Chairman Springer and the mi
nority report by Representative Burrows OF
Michigan.
The majority report says the Mckinley
bill was passed with enormous rates OF
duties. many Of them prohibitory and all
OF them unreasonably high. There eau be
no good reason,n says the report. ''for
maintaining high taxes upon articles
| which are so necessary to the
health and comfort OF the people. A
peculiar feature of these rates is, that owing
TO the high rates per pound and per square
yard added to ad valorem rates tho duties
| we're higher upon the cheaper grades OF
goods worn by the masses Of the people aad
lowest upon the high priced goods worn by
those in better circumstances
RATES OF THE NEW BILL.
The rates proposed in the bill submitted,
the report says. are fixed with due regard
| 90 labor, cost OF production, and to the
necessities OF the consumers. The lowest
rates arc placed upon the goods upon which
the least labor has been bestowed and which
are consumed by the greatest number or
| people. Statistics are printed ia support Of
this statement As all persons are COM
| PEELED to uss woolen goods all
are compelled to pay the increased
cost by reason Of the tariff, whatever it
| may be. The exaction Is taken from the
many for the benefit OF the few. Notwith-
| standing the high protection accorded mAn-
ufacturers OF wooIen goods, the quality Of
such goods has deteriorated from year 20
year since the discovery OF machinery for
| converting woolen regs into substitutes for
| wool.
EFFECT OF A HIGH TARIFF.
A high protective tariff on wool has the
direct effect of limiting the demand for
American woods, for tho reason that under
such tariffs neither domestic woods nor do.
mestic manufactures Of wool can be ex-
ported and sold at profit and
that amount only Of domestic wool
will be purchased and consumed which
must be used to produce the required
quality and quantity Of goods TO supply the
home market.
As free sugar has increased the consump-
tion of sugar in 1891 over 1890 per cent,
the report looks for at least an equal Ia.
crease In the consumption OF wooden goods
il the bill passes.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The minority report says that from both
wool growers and wool manufacturers there
comes up 20 this congress an almost uuan-
imous sentiment that the law may be per-
mitted to stand as IL is. Within the year
that has passed since the present law was
enacted the 1ocks OF the United States have
increased more than 100000 sheep,
and under any assurance OF its per-
manence, this increase viii continue rap-
idly. The number Of wooden mills in
the country has also increased; great
amount OF idle machinery has been started
up to supply the new market created by
tho ourtailment of $22. 100, 600 In imports Of
foreign woolen goods; old mills, long idle,
have been re-equipped. large numbers Of
operatives have been given employment
and new industries. never before success
fully undertaken in the United States, have
been inaugurated.
THE WHOLE PEOPLE BENEFITED.
Not only are the wool growers and wool
manufacturers encouraged and benefited by
the law, but the great body of the people.
the consumers, have shared In its benefits
The people. Of the United States
all the woolens they require at
a smaller cost than ever before in their ex-
periepos. II cheapness is the one thing to
be desired. it Ihas certainly been achieved
under tariff which enables q dollar TO
purchase larger and better quality OF
woolon goods than was possible under any
previous tariff.
WOULD KILL THE INDUSTRY.
The committees bill. the minority says,
proposes to deprive the wool growing in
dustry in the United States at one blow of
the entire tariff protection it has enjoyed
under every tariff act since 1915. IL can
have but one effect-complete and fnal
abandonment Of the effort to produce In the
United States the supply Of wool needed for
the clothing OF our people. knowledge OF
the peculiar condition of the wool growing
industry throughout the world in
the last few years fully
demonstrates this truth. The bill NAV be
characterized as one not only TO destroy our
domestic wool industry at blow, but also
to build up. on British SOIL new and i'm
portant industry to supply the United States
class now Engaged In the occupations of
wool sorting and wool securing.
CHARACTERIZED AS DISCRIMINATION.
The assault on the wooden goods schedule
Is denounced as violent discrimination
against particular manufacture indefens-
ible on any ground and condemned by its
injustice alone. The report says "The sud-
denness Of the blow aimed at this single
manufacture is softened, according to the
majority report, by the boon OF free
wool. What snare and delusion
this boon is can be realized from
the fact that the wooden duties are reduced
far below those found necessary in the
cotton and silk industries. both with free
raw materials and the further fact that no
duties are disturbed upon any Of the other.
materials necessary to wool MANUFACTURED ~