The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-09
DON'T WANT FREE WOOL.
TEE NATIONAL WOOL MANUrA CTURkRg
ASSOCIATION TO CONGRESS.

Association OF Wool Manufacturers. These
gentlemen came from all parts Of the country.
and represented large majority OF the CAPT.
tai invested In the manufacture OF woollen
goods They are the ones who would be most
directly interested in the proposed abolition
Of the tariff on raw wool. The subject was
carefully considered in secret session to-day
lowing strong remonstrance against any dick
erng with the present tariff law WINS prepared
and adopted. aud will be forwarded to Congress
at once as the sentiment Of the woollen manu-
facturers Of the country. They are satisfied
with the present law. All they want is to be
let alone by politicians The following Is the
text OF tho important document:
",s e Honorable he Senate and he HOUSE Of Representatives.
W,slfngt,o
Tho National Association OF Wool Manu-
facturers respectfully petitions the Fifty.sec-
ond Congress against any change In the tariff
act OF 1890. particularly schedule X OF that
act. relating to wool and woollens. and for the
following reasons:
II. The tariff act OF 1900 has been in force
but fifteen months. II is O matter OF general
agreement that from three to five years OF
practical operation are required to determine
the actual effects Of a new tariff upon the rev.
enues OF the Government. upon tho industries
specially affected by new rates OF duty. and
upon the consumers OF articles to which such
new rates OF duty apply. An Intelligent judy
mont OF the present law necessary to its salts
factory revision ia not yet possible.
- Tho retention Of the wool and woollens
schedule in its present form until 1t can DO
thoroughly tested can work no injury to
wOollen manufacturers. There Is universal
agreement among manufacturers that the
tariff is now accurately and scientifically adj
justcd in It's relationship between the duties
on raw material and the finished product. 1t
thus establishes the condition Of prosperity
for the woollen industry so far as dependent
upon custom duties.
"3. On tho other hand. no injury to con-
sumers has resulted from the law. notwith-
standing the fact that the increase in duties
on woollen goods by the tariff OF 1880 was
greater than in any other schedule tnecessi-
tated by the unfortunate and illogical dis.
proportion between the wool duties and
the goods duties in the tariff Of 1882
There has been no increase whatever In the
market price q domestic woollen goods. On
Gs sad sy Us
consumers less than ever before in the history
universal panic and fnancia! crisis: Conn
pe!ing woollen goods of foreign ma Ike have
Of the prices at which these goods are sold to
consumers. Thus for the incr easel rates have
forced corresponding reduction IN foreign
"a What the woollen, manufacture of the
United States now needs before all else Is u
aiming at radical departure from the condi-
tions upon which nth, tn INDUSTRY Is new n3w Or
;asted The Wooiien industry 0 is subject ,y Il" to
unusual and unavoidable, difficulties. impos-
sible to foresee or guard against ewing to
and the popular taste. When to these diff
cnlties are added the doubt and uncertainty
ity is destroyed and prosperity becomes I'M
possible. In no recent session OF Congress
Until H 81 Ses q 81 ~ G the
Whenever depression has marked the industry
In the immediute past it has been largely due
tinues similar depressions must necessarily
- Measures contem plating repeal OF the
the duties on wooien goods. and whatever ad.
sy sfes Would bs
set IN the hrst instance by the necessity Of re.
ea Saoas prssl hi sx sss s
tions. nor does the experience OF, the
prices to Consumers Of weoiIen Clothing Would
result from the rem9yal Of the wool duties;
be Followed Il not ined}ateIy eas papied.
by q determined onslaught on the woollen
goods duties that might still remain. Irecipi
tating new contention over the tarn OF u
rercer and more disastrous character than
any one industry has encountered since the
contention likely TO extend over years. to be-
come the pivot in repeated political contests.
the enforced disaster Which prolonged , uncer.
tainty. would carry with it.
20 We beg to direct attention to the extraor-
Nff Ita
In the United States during the thirty years in
which the compound system OF adjusting the
with variations in classification and rates OF
duty. AZ Offering conclusive reason why that
system should not now be overthrow. In
1850 our wooilen manufacturers consumed
S5.;,34. $40 pounds Of greasy wool tof which
~ per cent WAS importedl. a ,p srr
40o.ooo0H0 pounds 'ot which lG per cent. Was
poaHas rhe per pn t q to- to tor
eign wool consumed in orr mills has also in
creased. while the per capita value Of wool!en
the domestic manufacture can now easily sup
which for durability and general excel
lence are nowhere surpassed. Ia 1870
G 6o pds e Wool % %"ss sRss nsay
British in u CONSUMED less than
dian orr o% In " 4 1hty e ys"r. our
manufacturing consumption o. wool has in.
creased, 315 per cent. while that OF Great
Britain has grown but 50 per cent. No record
Of growth equal to our own has ever been wit
messed. Marvellous as this development has
been. it will be surpassed by the growth of the
next decade. IL the tariff OF 1880 remuins I'M
disturbed.
Tin view Of these facts. which cannot fail to
crafty the nat iOnal pride OF a patriotic Con-
gress. and in view Of the reasons set forth in
this petition, We respectfully represent that
tho arguments advanced to instffy q renewal
OF The agi alton Of the wool aud w9oliens tariff
arn largely imaginary or theoretical, in their
nature: are not based upon any real advantage
which could result TO the domestic manufac-
and that they should not DO given weight by
aiization which renewal of tariff agitation
inyoiyes.
tion speaks. and who arc believed to comprise
T. large majority of the manufacturers OF the
United States. are satisfied with the existing
tariff law. They feel that, after 50 many yssrsof
they are entitled to = period OF rest. and they
now respectfully petition to DO let alone that
they may prosecute their industry in peace
and with a reasonable degree Of confidence.
1x.As~