The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-12
VERY INTERESTING.
THAT CAN BE SAID OF THE TARIFF
DISCUSSION.

United States Argues in Favor of the
Free Wool Bil-Delcgate Joseph's Bill
for the Admission of New Mexico.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-The tariff
discussion in the house was more than
usually interesting. The somewhat
unique spectacle of the largest individ-
ual wooden manufacturer in the United
States arguing in favor of the free wool
bill was presented, when Mr.. Stevens of
Massachusetts,, a member of the ways
and means committee, took the floor in
support of the Springer bill, and the
Democrats paid close attention to his re-
marks and greeted his arguments with
applause. Mr. Stevens, as manufac-
turer, was not afraid to seek relief of
the people by reduced duties on his pro
duct and believed a majority of the
American wooden manufacturers who
had carefully studied this ques-
ton would rapidly come to
his opinion. The abolition of
the duty on wool did not mean necessa-
rily smaller demand or lower prices
for American wool. 1t meant both
American and foreign would be used to
the best advantage for the purposes to
which each was adapted and they could
be mixed in proper proportions in all
sorts of fabrics. 1t meant that more
wool would be used than was used to-
day because foreign wool at less duty
would take the place of shoddy and
other limitations and more genuine
wooden goods would be sold to Ameri-
can buyers, and it might mean in the
future, perhaps, also the opening of new
markets to the American manufactur-
ers. Reduced taxes and lower prices
meant increased consumption.
Mr.. Montgomery of Kentucky then
took the floor and made strong argu-
ment, largely made up of Stats
tics, and analysis in support of
the bill of the committee. Mr..
Montgomery devoted his chief at
tention to the contention it deprived la
borers of protection and by statistics
went on to show the bill gave more pro-
lection than the entire labor cost of pro-
ducing goods in the United States He
discussed the proposition laid down by
the protectionists that duty of II or
IL cents per pound on wool was neces-
sary to protect the American wool
grower against foreign competition and
even with free wool the American
manufacturers have to have the
present protection to make up the
difference between the cost of labor
in this country and abroad. Touching
the first proposition he asserted COM
parison in the markets of London and
this country for the last twenty five
years showed that the prices of unpro-
varied less than half cent from the
prices of protected woods sold in New
York, Philadelphia and Boston. He
then took up the proposition that the
ad valorem duties fixed by the bill We're
insufficient to compensate manufactur.
ers for the difference in wages in this
country and Europe. He said the labor
cost of manufactured products in this
country differed little from that in
Europe. The price per hour and week
might be greater, but this was fully
made up by the use of better machinery
and methods. The same dollar spent in
high priced labor here produced as much
as one dollar spent for low priced labor
in Europe.
Mr.. Montgomery was followed by Mr.
Brookshire of Indiana in an attack OF
reciprocity.
Mr.. Ray of New York devoted hi.
time to political talk, which at time.
seemed likely to overstep the proprieties
Mr.. Coombs of New York spoke TO,
free wool.
The committee then rose and the house
took recess.
The evening session to be for the con
sideration of private pension bills.
The evening session, held for the con
sideration of pension bills, far exceeded
its two predecessors, not in re
gard to the amount of busi
ness transacted, but in regard t
the lack of decorum and might we'll b
placed in the category of farces. A poin
of no quorum, call of the house, a ted
GUS wait and that was all. This is tn
third pension evening when tn
, house adjourned without enactin
| single pension bill and the friend
of pension legislation are Indignant
They state they will make an Ell
deavor to repeal the rule which n
: quires the house to adjourn at 1920 an
: will insist on the house remaining j
session until adjournment is ordered.
Senate.
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