Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-28

While Chairman Springer of the
Ways and Means Committee of the
national House was explaining to the
gathering at a Democrats dinner In |
this city on Friday night his plans for |
introducing bills on the tariff. which |
should have for their object ''the en-
largement OF the free list and the Sc
curing of cheeper raw materials for
our manufacturers". and was citing
as "a measure of the most lmpor.
lance" which ought to be passed by
the House zone placing wool on the
free list, the telegraph wires were
bringing to TIKI PRKss from Boston
the strong, earnest and emphatic pro-
test of the National Association of
Wool Manufacturers against any re-
peal of the schedule of the present
tariff law by which raw wool could be
admitted free of duty into this coun-
try.
It Is to be presumed that the manu-
facturers of wooden goods. for whom
Mr.. Springer said In his speech ''this
cheaper raw material was necessary,
know what they really want and de-
sire quite rs well as the experienced
and erratic free trader from Illinois.
IL Is beyond dispute that the wool
growers of the country, who are be-
coming an increasing factor among
the agriculturists, are utterly opposed
TO free wool. The manufacturers of
wool being also opposed to any change
In the present law, as shown by their
remonstrance, it is only question
whether the consumers would be ben
Gifted.
The plain answer to that considera-
tion Is to be found in that part of the
manufacturers rem onstrance In which
they declare that notwithstanding the
increase of duties on wooden goods In
the tariff of 1890, there has been nc
increase whatever in the market price
of domestic wooden goods, but that, or
the contrary, all of the staple wooler
goods and most of the fancy wooler
goods may be obtained at the present
: time at cost TO consumers less thar
d ever before in the history of the coun
a try. except at brief intervals of univer
2 sal panic or financial crisis.
Such arguments as these ought t.
g make even the free traders in TIN
d Democratic House hesitate to follow
! the leadership of Mr.. Springer in hi
{ proposed free wool movement. Tn
8 wool manufacturers argue with grea
n force that 1t is matter of genera
!. agreement that from three to fiv
v years of practical operation are requir
ed to determine the actual efforts of
new tariff upon the revenues of tn
Q government, upon the revenues espec
r. tally affected by new rates of dut
!. and upon consumers of articles t
| which s.ns--- $500. >f dntv annly- The
n Insist that the retention of the voc
q and woolens schedule con work no In
y jury either to wooden manufacturers
l. wool producers or wooden goods cor
; sumers until it has been thorough te,
ted.
O Mr.. Springer's bill to put wool an,
- woolens on the free list has been hi
Il pet hobby, but 1t has received n com
i plete rebuff from every direction fron
r which he had expected support out
q side of Congress. He will find tina
n the same arguments used by the wool
e en- manufacturers will be presented Il
r. similar form from every industr
y which he attempts to attack an,
+. break down by his measures to amen,
4 single schedules of the Mckinley law
IN Y. Press.