The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-14

Inc wool dealers ana manufacturers
,of wooiens had their hearing before
the committee on ways and means at
IW0shlBgt on, on Tuesday, and plead for
the retention Of the present scale OF
duties on all wool and woolens, or for
Ia very slight reduction, II any was TO
be made at ALL The manufacturers do
mot ask for free wool, for as one oil
them said to-day in answer to ques-
ltion from one OF the members OF the
they realize that all the
lbeneiictaries OF protection must stand
together. The continued fall in the
price Of wool under the operations OF
The Mckinley tariff has been very
thug to the supporters
Iof that law, who promised the farmers
that II would give them increased
prices for their wool.
The farmers who have been selling
their sheep for mutton and reducing
their ilocks may DO Interested In tho
Explanation given by one OF the manu- :
,facturers, who explained that the re-
lduction in price was due 10 the great
stimulus given TO the wooden manu-
Industries OF tho country
by the passage of the Mckinley act.
which had resulted in such great de-
mand for wool TINT the fatmers had
llltTtuseu NOV ks " sutll an eAltllL hb "
more tllan supply this increased mar.
ket.
| II. i. james a wooden manufacturer
of Rockville, Conn, said the severa
mills there were closed. His firm sem
out samples as usual this year, but
customers did not order They re
piled that the goo0s were satisfactory
but they could not order, us the actor
of Congress on the tariff question
would have such bearing on prices
that they could not take the risk. The
hands they employed were coming tt
them begging for work. They coulC
Ionly reply that this committee hae
charge of the tariff, and whatever helI
came must come from 1t.
Charles Heber Clark, secretary Of the
Manufacturers Club of Philadelphia,
on behalf of the directors OF tho club,
stated thut there we're strong reasons
why no radical changes in the tariff
law should he attempted at present.
Since the beginning OF the present
year a wave of commercial depression
had swept over the country. In so far
las this depression affected manufac-
turing establiehmentsh he believed 1t to
be, in a considerable measure. due to
1.-The apprehension entertained by man
would DO fultillment of the threat of
radical changes In the duties upon
Imported materials. While that threat
remained, no manufacturer can engage
with confidence In any operation ex-
tending considerably into the future.
He would not buy material in guam
titles whom n change OF the duties
might involve him in heavy losses be-
lore he had turned the material Into
fabrics. Large numbers OF mills had
ceased operations completely, and a
much greater number were running
upon short time. while the smallest
hope OF better things remained. II
might he doubted IL more than one
manufacturing establishment In 8
hundred vas at this moment working
with the Same number of persons. the
same Lumher OF hours week, as were
employed in September, 1882 said Mr.
Clark:
| idle men and women swarm in the
streets OF the towns In which these in
dustries are planted, and while en-
lployeTs are helpleEs in the presence oil
difficulties which threaten many ol
them with ruin, the unfortunate labor
ers, cut OIL from opportunity to ear
their bread. observe the approach ui
winter with dread of the hunger and
cold from which they must suffer un
less relief shall come to them in the
shape of revival OF Industrial opera
Itions. We express tho opinion that
this relief may Le afforded instantly
by All authoritative assurance that
your committee will not assatl the
tariff law in sIch a manner US to ex
pose manufacturers to unequal com
petition from Europeans working witt
lower wage scales