Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-17
A POOR MANS BILL.
CLOTHING. CARPETS AND BLANKETS WILL Be
CHEAPENED.
To In.,-ssa O.. the Artisan Carefully Guarded.
Balsi. U..l Accrue Alike to Growers Manu.
L9alerS Workman and Consumer.

WASHINGTON, February left the
Free Wool bill, so called, becomes law,
the effect viii be % place the lowest
tax on articles which are consumed by
the poorer people. Under the Mckin-
ley bill the reverse was true, the high
est tax being Imposed on the goods
worn by the masses. Under this bill
the poor mans blanket will be taxed p
and IS per cent, as against 20, 90 and
10 per cent. under the Mckinley act.
Carpets will be taxed 80 per cent, as
against an average of over 60 per cent.
under the law enacted by the last Re-
publican Congress.
Chairman Springer, Of the Ways and
Means Committee, the author Of the
BILL drew the above distinction between
the Mckinley act aud the free wool
bill which has been indOrSed by the
Democratic members OF the committee.
Mr.. Springer was seen at his home this
afternoon. Copies OF the Mckinley act,
the Mills bill and the bill OF which he Is
the original sponsor lay upon his desk.
"Let me explain this bill by cOmpari-
son with the Mckinley act, based upon
the table OF imports of 1889" said he.
1T will be borne in mind that the Nc
KInley act imposes both a specific and
an ad yalOrem tax. The comparison Is
made on the basis Of an ad valOrem
rate, the only duty 20 be imposed under
this act.
''On wooden and worSted yarns made
wholly or i'm part Of wool, wOTSted, the
hair Of the camel, etc, valued &C not
more than 30 cents per pound, the tax
under this bill is 80 per cent. ad valor-
EN-. Under the Mckinley bill the equiv
al6nt was l32 per cent. On goods valued
at over 80 cents and under 40 cents the
tax will be 50 per cent. ad valorem.
Under the Mckinley bill it is l23 per
cent. On goods valued at over 40 cents
80 per cent al yalorem is imposed, as
against 1O3 per cent. under the McKin-
ley bill. On woolens and wooden clothes,
Shawls, knit fabrics, etc, the duties are
fixed al 40 per cent; the equivalent un-
der the Mckinley bill is from 90 10 l46
per cent.
"On blankets, hats made of wool,
ianuels, underwear, composed wholly
or in part Of wool, SC, valued at not
over 80 cents per pound, p per cent;
under the Mckinley bill the tax is 81
per cent Ga the same valued at over
so cents per pound and not more than
40 cents per pound the tax IS placed az
30 per cent; under the Mckinley bill ii
is % per cent. When valued at over 40
cents per pound the tax is 40 per cent,
and the rate fixed by the Mckinley bill
is no per cent. On women and child
ren's dress goods and other goods de-
scribed In paragraph 1914 Of the Mckin-
ley bill, where the warpS consist wholly
Of cotton, the tax is 81 per cent. on all
values. Under the Mckinley bill the
rate is - per cent. On wOmen'S and
chjldreus dress goods, coat Innings and
other goods mentioned in paragraph 3gj
G.. The Mckinley bin, made wholly or
Bon part pi wool, the rate is fixed az 40
per cent: under the Mckinley bill
The tax D. 40 aud 90 per
cent GA clothing, ready-mate, and
wearing uura-gl aud other articles In
paragraph 1926 OF the Mckinley bill, the
rate .NrI Is S. Uer cent; under the Nc
Ku.ry bin the tex is ST per cent. On
CIoaks, jCluaUS, jackets and other out
s.ue garments the rate is fixed at IS per
cent: under the Mckinley bill the tax
is - Der cent. On some articles under
This section the rate is as high eS $50
and 500 per cent, and the articles were
excluded from importatiouS hence the
average does not appear in the Treas
ury reports. On webbing and other
ARTICLES lde rate Is fixed 40 40 per cent;
under the Mckinley bin il is 90 per
cent. ON all carpets, druggets, mats,
rugs. &e., this bill, fixes the tax at 30
per cent; under the Mckinley bill u is
65, Il, So aud 80 per cent.
''On 20 these manufactures the aver
age tax under the Mckinley bin is 9l.76
uer cent: uaier the Mills bill the aver
age rate OF 40 per cent. was fixed on all
these articles; the present bill provides
for an average tax of between 80 and
81 Der cent. The high rates under the
Mckinley bill were caused by the tax
per pound ON the square yard.
When asked Il Mr.. Stevens, Of Mas
sachuSe.tS, o Democratic member OF the
committee and a wooden manufacturer,
was dissatisfied with the bill, he said:
'Mr. Stevens is OF the opinion that
wooden manufactures with free ma
terial can prosper under these rates.
He is the largest individual wOOllen
manufacturer in the United States.
The only protest that has been received
was from the National Association OF
Wool Growers, who sent a petition re-
mOuStrating against any Interference
with the duties on wool and woOllenS.
They ask for a continuance OF the pres
emit law. As will be seen, there is di-
vision If opinion among manufacturers
on the subject. The more liberal
minded, 10 is believed, will accept the
provisions OF the bill, while those Of
high Protectiouist prOclivitieS will OPP
nose them bitterly. The result has
been reached with almost perfect I'M
auimIJy.
"As will be seen, the lowest rate is
fixed ON the cheapest articles, while
the highest is imposed on the highest
priced goods and upon goods which
have received the greatest amount OF
labor. In this way ample protection is
given 20 the working people and proper
allowance is made to make up the diff
ference I'm wages paid in this country
and in England. On yarn the tax is 30
per cent, on clothes 40, on ready-made
clothing As. This illustrates my state
ment that the highest is imposed on
goods which receive the creates
amout Of labor. This bill may be said
IN have been framed in the interest OF
the wool-grOwer, the wool manufac-
turer and the great consumer. IL Will
give the wool-grower a larger market,
the wool manufacturer larger demand
for his products and the people viii
have cheaper clothing, cheaper blankets
and cheaper carpets