New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-13
THE TARIFF ON WOOL.
GROWERS AND MANUFACTURERS PRESENT
THEIR CASE.
MEANS COMMITTEE-ADLE MEN REPRESENT
TINS IMpoDT,ST INDt-STRy
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

portant. These combined industries. which rep
resent Invested capital amounting to hundreds
Of millions. and upon which millions OF
persons are dependent for the means OF sup
port. had strong and able men to plead their
cause, and the arguments and propositions tina, they
advanced we're buttressed by facts which cannot
be gansald; and yet these men were made to feel
that their appeals and arguments were addressed
to a jury. "A majority OF whose members had already
decided to bring in an adverse verdict
Not all the arguments to-day, however.
were submitted by the friends ana advo-
Gates Of the existing tariff. IL seemed
wholly and peculiarly appropriate under the
circumstances that the Ways and Means Com
mittee should temporarily suspend the cohsid-
Grafton and contemplation OF the appeals ana ne
cessitIes OF American producers and tho parayZed
and PROSTATE condition Of American INDUSTRIES IN
order to listen to the arguments and appeals ana
take into consideration the demands of an Austrian
subject. who Is manufacturer In his native
country and therefore strongly objects TO the eN-
listing tariff Of the United States because he thinks
that the rates of duty imposed upon the goods
which he manufactures and sends TO ths couh-
try are so high az to restrict his sales and prevent
him from enjoying the profits which he would
be able 10 obtain II the duties woolen goods
should be reduced TO 3J per cent a1 valorem as he
desires.
Mr. Lat,ko is an official representative OF the
Austrian Empire at the WORLDS Fair, ana the
paper which he read this afternoon III support Oh
the proposition that It is the duty Of Congress to
reduce the tariff rates for the benefit oil foreign
manufacturers showed that he IL man oil great
ability and intelligence well AZ OF remarkable
shrewdness lie frankly admitted that the average
wages paid In manufacturing Industries III Europe
ar about ne-half much "a in the nltcd states
and that wages lower in Austria IMAM IN any
other country OF Europe lie also admitted that
the productiVeness OF the labor. hand Tor hdnu j.
b the countries, Nnt''N'r' hi-
vantage is being in favor Of the United states
Tfi. admission from foreign manufacturer WI"
(. thoroughly Informed In regard to IN" INDUSTRIAL
capacity and conditions Of American labor rs Wei
as that Of Europe. and who has evidently oern a
most thorough student and careful and Intelligent OBJ
server must have been the reverse OF gratifying 10
Chairman Wilson and his free-trade colleagues
who have been earnestly trying ever since hearings
began 10 maintain the proposition That the Amerl-
can artisan operative can ana does turn Out
enough more OF the products Of labor In given
time than can or does the European artisan or
operative to make good the difference In wages
and therefore that the labor cost OF
production OF any article Is about the same
in the tinted states that It is In Europe In fact
Mr.. I.atzkO's statements as IA whole. were more
favorable to the protective system than might nave
been expected and in that regard they must nave
been distinctly unsatisfactory to the Drinocra'c
members Of the committee. who did not receive
encouragement cordial and hearty as they might
have felt TO he due from their foreign ally
Mr. Iatzko submitted some interesting hgires IN
regard 10 the cost OF production Of certain grades
Of worsted cloths In Austria and the United states
respectively. OF which he said could no" ne
laid down I'm New York at 81 ~ yard and. I'm case
the duty should bc repealed and the al NaIorem
duty reduced to p, per cent al valorem' at 81" "A
ward The latter sum. according 10 his computa-
tlons and estimates. would exceed by " cents
yard the cost of manufacturing the same Kihd anu
quality OF cloth In the United states II wool should
be admitted free Of duty.
but you could not then prohtably compete WIN
the American manufacturer. could you?" asked Mr.
Reed.
..W.ll IN. reduction would help our trade.
certain number OF people will always buy Imported
articles even when they can obtain goods or
domestic manufacture equally good In quality app
pcarance and every other respect"
Then that preference Of certain number or
pcop. FOR the imported article may be Il factor
which should be- considered In the framing OF n
tariff may 1t nOt?' asked Mr.. Reed
Mr. Lntzko admitted that this suggestion was
correct but he alS) clearly Of the opinion that
his own business would be- benefited and the I'M
por,ations OF goods from Austria into the United
states vastly Increased by the reduction Of duties
TO the rate advocated by him tn" Democratic
members of IN. committee. although disappointed
In some degree In Mr.. Latzko's arguments listened
with attention. and nope OF them offered the s"s-
ees,ion which several 81 them have repeatedly ana
som. times rather onenslvely made to American
manufacturers and producers who have appeared
before the committee to oppose "A reduction or
duties and a continuance OF the injurious agitation
which has caused and is causing so much distress
throughout the country. Not one OF them opener
his mouth suggest or hint when MI l'atzko
was eloquently pleading for reduction OF duties
for the benefit OF American consumers. that MS
arguments and appeals were inspired by or In the
] 40 selfish motives or
sAerntions.
Mr. Intzkos statement was undoubtedly a relief.
however TO the Democratic members who must
have become weary Of hearing manufacturers.
worktngmen and producers Of all classes uhahi-
mously declare that the existing depression and
distress are due in the main to Democratic threats
OF tariff smashing and the fear and uncertainty
which have been thereby produced. These d'clard-
tions were as unanimous and emphatic to-day as
they had been any previous day. ana th-y were
sunnorteL by an array OF facts which was as I'M
pressive and invncibe as IL was gloomy ana threat
enIng Three-fourths OF the woolen mills are
closed tens Of thousands OF Industrious and honest
working men and women idle with little or
no prospect OF employ ment before winter over
takes them and their families; the WAGES OF large
proportion OF those who are stu WORKING nave
been reduced outright. or by the shortening oil the
! time employed wool Is drug In the MARKET pe-
| cause manufacturers cannot obtain orders Tor
goods Moreover 1t declared to-day that the
published reports OF "A revival of Industry are de-
ceptve and misleading. and that the cohhi"oh VI
affairs is worse to-day than ii was "A month ago
and that 1t IL steadily growing worse from DAY
day.
| Every manufacturer Of woollen goods who spoke
to-day strongly opposed the repeal OF the duties on
! wool declaring that II would be ruinous 10 the
wool-growers and hockowners OF the United States
and OF benefit 10 American manufacturers VI
consumers. IL IT should not ultimately 10 'ne"
harm, The came position was taken by Mr. JUS
tice Of Philadelphia as the representative OF 'he
| wool-growers and wool dealers. and by secretary
| Clark Of the Manufacturers Club OF Philhiepha
an organization which IL composed of men enSag'u
| in "A great number and variety OF manufacturing
industries The association represents n total cap
ital OF hundreds OF millions OF dollars, employing