Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-05
Chairman Springer Reap
pears in the House.
An Ovation rendered Him by
His Colleagues.
He Makes the Closing Speech in the
Free Wool Debate.
The Chinese Exclusion Bill Passed by
an Overwhelming MsjOrity-The
Silver Question In the
Senate.

"AohiN1ION, " ApTll fs-OPiASSA Was
given magnificent reception in the
house today. Before his arrival some
friend distributed scores of his favorte
flowers, carnations, throughout the
house, and all the Democrats and many
Republicans wore them. His desk was
piled high with flowers, and when he
entered the house, after six weeks alb
sence, there was tremendous burst of
applause. When he took his seat busi-
ness was suspended for ten minutes, the
members of both sides crowding around
him.
When the house went into committee
of the whole on the free wool bill
Springer announced that he had in
tended to make an elaborate speech, but
the condition of his health would not
permit it; he had, therefore, prepared a
brief one, which would be read by Mr..
Bryan of Nebraska.
sPRINGER's SPEECH.
Springer said the committee on ways
and means had asked the bureau of
statistics to furnish statement show
ing the prices of wool of like quality in
the United States and Europe during
the existence of the wool tariff from
1866 to this time. The bureau referred
the matter to S. N. d. North, secretary
of the national association of wool
manufacturers, and the special agents
of the census Office in charge OF wool
statistics. The statement furnished
made comparison between Ohio
medium washed wool and port prices
OF Australian fleece, which are con-
sidered of substantially the same quail
ity. The prices, when reduced to gold
basis, show that the prices at these
ports, London and Boston, vary little
from year to year to 1890, except during
the unusual years, 1871 and 1872, in
which prices were unusually affected by
speculation. Leaving these out of ac-
count, it appears that for the remaining
twenty-three years the average price OF
Port Phillip fleece was. one fourth cent
per pound more than Ohio medium
washed. In Boston when Port Phillip
fleece is 20 cents pound, ii protection
protects, it would make the price of
Ohio wool 20 cents greater. The fact
that it is really lower in price than Aus
tralian, shows that the American wool
growers do not receive any increase in
price by reason of the tariff. The reason
for this is that the American wool man
ufacturers do not manufacture from
American wool exclusively, but mix
with foreign wools, cotton, shoddy and
other adulterants. AS wool, under the
operation of the tariff, cannot be export
ed, the American wool growers are con-
fined to restricted market. Under the
conditions that the manufacture of for
eign and domestic woods are not in COM
petition, they must be used together,
complementing each other for the man
ufacture of woolen goods accept
able to this market. With free woods,
the price of these goods would be re-
duced to the extent of the tariff on the
foreign woods used in taeir manufacture.
This decrease in price would largely in
crease the manufacture and sale of such
goods, and 30 increase the demand for
American woods at the manufactures.
In other words, cheapening foreign wool
by the removal of the tariff benefits not
only the wool grower and the wool man
ufacturer, but is of advantage to the
general public, who are consumers.
In conclusion, Springer called atten-
ton to the fact that placing raw sugar
on the free list, in 1890, caused an in
creased consumption of sugar to the
amount of nearly "a per cent in 1891,
and said the passage of the present bill
would have similar effect in increasing
the consumption of woolen goods, and
cause the starting up of 271 establish
ments idle during 1890, and would give
employment to $74 900, 900 capital, caus-
ing an increase in the use of material
| worth $48, 1000, 900; create demand for
81 ,000, 900 pounds of domestic and 27,-
000, 900 pounds more foreign wool; give
employment to $4,000 hands, with
wages of SIS, ,0O0,0
Burrows Of Michigan moved to strike
out the provision placing call woods on
the free list" Without action the COM
mittee rose and the house adjourned.
CHINESE EXCLUSION BILL PASSED.
Previous to going into committee of
the whole on the free wool bill, the
house passed the Chinese exclusion bill.
after only thirty minutes debate.
Geary called it up and said it remedied
the defects in the existing law, and, in
short, it's effects the ends desired.
Hit and Hooker opposed the bill on
the ground that it was violation of
national faith. in abrogating treaties.
Geary said the Chinese government
had done everything in its power to
violate the spirit of the existing treaty.
Herman of Oregon and Cutting of
California favored the bill, and it passed,
l79 to 43.
The bill absolutely prohibits any
Chinese, whether or not subjects of
China, excepting diplomatic and consul
lar officers and their servants, from en-
tering the United States, and Chinese
who may hereafter leave the United
States are prohibited from returning to
the country. It makes liable to arrest
Chinese, or persons of Chinese descent
entering the United States, or found un-
lawfully therein, and provides for their
punishment by imprisonment not ex-
ceeding Eve years and subsequent re-
moval to the country from whence they
came, provided when they come by way
of contiguous foreign territory, they
will be returned direct to China. The
last clause repeals al acts and treaties
inconsistent with this.