The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-22
BY Minority Members Of The Ways
and Means Committee.
THE WOOL GROWING BUSINESS
Cannot BE Continued without an Also
lutte Ioss-A Claim That wool Manu-
factories wni Have 10 shut Down
Until tho Bm becomes Law.

wAsHISGToS, Dec. 22.-The following
ore the important features of the subjects
treated specially by the minority members
Of the ways and means committee:
In discussing the wooden schedule the
committee says this schedule as prepared
in the committee bill is in some respects
the most reprehensible. 1t proposes TO
destroy at blow the great industry of
wool growing, which now ranks as
seventh in the value of its products
among the several branches of American
agriculture and which has heretofore
been recognized as an agricultural pro-
duct deserving and requiring protection
under every administration and by every
tariff act since that OF May %, 1924.
Nothing short of the total destruction Of
this important industry can be counted
upon as the consequence of placing both
wool and mntton on the free list.
It is a fact, esta ablished by experience,
that at the prices for wool now prevailing
fn the foreign markets. our farmers can
not continue the business OF wool growing
without absolute yearly loss. The depre-
citation In the value of this species of agri-
cultural property may be conseryatively
stated at $50, 100000.
The bill deals with the wool manufac-
tnre In terms less radical than those ac-
corded the wool growing industry, upon
which Il so largely depends. 1t proposes
90 revolutionize the manufacture of
woolen goods by transferring it from the
basis of dutiable materials to free wool,
q change more radical than textile indus
try in any country was ever forced to make,
without the most careful provision for
q safe and gradual readjustment.
Ignoring this feature of the situation,
the majority would compel our wool
manufacturers TO make this leap in the
dark, divested Of tlS safeguard of specific
duties, and subjected to lower ad
valorems than will Offset the difference
: In cost Of production. We have secured
in the United States magnificent wool
manufacturing industry, in which over
$500, 600 900 is invested, making every
variety of woolen gools, and employing
more than $4,000 operatives This in
dustry the majority offers up rs a sacrifice
on the altar of tariff reform"
The time allowed by this bill is of no
more service than no interval at all. The
terms of the bill are equivalent TO an edict
from the committee commanding every
wooden manufacturer to shut down and
keep shut down until the bill becomes
law.
Metals.
Coming to the metal schedule the re-
port says: Some idea seems to have pre-
vailed in the minds of the majority to
the effect that duties should be adjusted
in proportion to the advance of the arti-
Gle in manufacture. The idea does not
seem, however, to have been very success
fully worked out. The change proposed
is referred to, and the report continues:
That which lies at the base of our iron
and steel industry is iron ore. The exist
ing duty thereon is 75 cents ton. The
revenues from its importation aggregated
IN the last fiscal year s507, ,076.l9.
1t is proposed to throw away absolutely
every cent of this large revenue by put
ting iron ore on the free list. The bill pro-
poses to put into competition with Ameri-
can ores foreign ores, some of which are
produced at a labor cost of one-tenth, and
none Of them at labor cost greater than
One-fourth of ours.
There are two provisions in the bill
which, when brought side by side. dis
close in significant way its sectional
character. Hoop or band iron or steel
bars an ad valorem duty OF 80 per cent
"except as otherwise provided for" The
''otherwise provided for has reference to
ties Of iron or steel for baling cotton,
which are placed on the free list.
+. Fin Plates.
Under existing law, the duty on tin
plates is go cents pound. The duty at
first proposed by the committee was 40
per cent ad valorem. but has been
changed to a specific duty TO 1.2 cents
pounds. II viii be observed that the pro-
posed new duty is | cent less than that OF
the present law. This means severe
blow to an enterprise, which under exist
ing conditions has grown TO immense pro-
portions, and which promises, under
proper protection, to be one of the great
industries of the country.
Discussing the question of steel rails
The proposed duty of % per cent ad va
loren Is characterized as indefensible.
The sugar bounty il next dealt with, and
the law of 1890 is held up for approval as
. contrast between congress and produc-
ers, under which large amounts of money
have been invested.
Cotton.
The cotton schedule is declared as show
Ing the same inconsistencies and lack Of
tion OF the other schedules IL is an i'm
portant industry. not only in New
England, but has become s ech in the
southern, middle and western states rs
well In the New England states 4O2 oi
these industries are found which give
employment TO i4s.sis people and dis
tribute annually among them the sum OF
t19.ooe, ,5oi
That the southern states appreciate the
benefits Of protection in this industry nc
least is manifested from the fact that
s7.lea people find employment In 90
cotton mills. and there Is paid to them
annually the sun-- in round numbers. II
Ss.o0o,00O The import duty imposed
under existing law j. scarcely sufIicirai
70 protect American labor ann capitol
from heavy i'aportations from England.
C9ai.
One of the most amazing propositions
OF ths bill, toe mingrlty say, is that
bitt:miooas coai sball bc sds On tno ne,
lisf and The q ,Co0,o00 ecch annuni thai
wa receive from its imDorfatloa b;