The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-22

self. In one hundred representative
cities where the number employed ex'
ceeds two millions and halt Of people,
fully one-third, by the most conversa'
tive estimates are without employ.
These are engaged In the protected in
dustries. Those who are not and who
thought they were beyond the touch oi
the tariff, now know the solid fact that
all industries are prosperous or none.
Spread this all over the country as you
must, and the result will startle even
the unthinking. 1t is not necessary for
US to bring this to public view. No In
genuity can keep it out OF everybody g
face and eyes. Workingmen all over
the country are expressing their deep
and sorrowed feeling. We will not
strive in any way to increase the tur-
moil which this bill has already created.
An end can be put to all this bill by the
defeat Of the bill and to the accomplish
ing OF this every energy should be bent.
The best way to put an end to this agi-
tation is to put an end to the causes.
The following are the important tea-
lures OF the subjects treated OF specially
by the minority members OF the ways
and means committee:
THE WOOL SCHEDULE.
In discussing the wooden schedule the
committee says:
"This schedule Ns proposed in the
committee bill is in como respects tho
most reprehensible. 1t proposes to de-
stroy at blow the great industry OF
wool growing which now ranks as sew
enth in the value OF its products among
the several branches of agriculture, and
which has heretofore been recognized
as an agricultural product, deserving
and requiring protection under every
administration aud by every tariff act
since that OF May 90, 1924. Nothing
short Of the total destruction Of this i'm
portant industry can bo counted upon
as the consequence of placing both wool
and mutton on the free list.
1t is fact established by experience,
that at the prices for wool now prevail
ing in the foreign markets our farmers
cannot continue the business OF wool
growing without absolute yearly loss
During the past year owing to the i'm
pending threat OF free wool and radical
reductions in the duties on wooden
goods, the prices OF domestic woods OF
all descriptions have fallen from so to
so per cent below the prices that pre-
vailed a year ago. Even at these figures
there has been little market for wool
and many farmers have still on their
hands this seasons clips, which at this
time last year was being rapidly con-
verted into goods at mills which now
stand idle. The value OF the sheep has
fallen equally with the value OF the clip.
The depreciation in the value OF this
species of agricultural property from
the two sources may be conserVatiyeIy
stated at S50,Q00000. The bill deals
with the wool manufacture in terms
scarcely less radical than those accord
cd the wool growing industry upon
which it SO largely depends.
REVOLUTION PROPOSED.
1t proposes to revolutionizo the man
ufacture of wooden goods by transfer
ring it from the basis of dutiable ma
terials to free wool, change more rad
ical than any textile industry in any
country was ever forced to make, with
out the most careful protection for a
safe and gradual readjustment. lgnor-
ing this feature OF the situation the
majority would compel our wool manu-
facturers to make this leap in the dark,
divested of the safeguard OF specific du-
ties and subjected TO lower ad valorems
than will offset the difference in cost OF
Vn in N
United States magnificent wool manu-
featuring industry in which over $780,
00O, 900 is invested. making every variety
OF wooden goods and demployingmoret than
q quarter OF million operatives. This
industry the majority offers up asa sac
ritice on the altar OF tariff reform"
The time allowed by this bill is of no
more service than no interval at all.
The manufacturer must loss an entire
season, for, if he manufactures goods,
his loss will be greater than though he
kept his mills closed. The terms Of the
bill Rre equivalent to an edict from the
committee commanding every wooden
manufacturer to shut down and keep
shut down until the bill becomes law,
and turning millions OF employees into
tne street. Inc Dill HAS Oeeu carefully
devised, apparently for the purpose OF
Gripping the domestic manufacturer in
advance, OF new tariff, SO that ho will
be left bruised and broken when the
time arrives for him to begin competi-
ton for the market under duties from
80 to 70 per cent less than at present.
The punishment meted out to our wool
manufacturers for daring to invest this
capital in this useful and important in
dustry is severe and condign.
METAL SCHEDULE.
Tho metal schedule presents some
features that illustrate in significant
way the illogical character OF tho bill.
Among these may be mentioned the
substitution in almost all cases OF ad
valorom Tor specific duties, the making
free a number OF articles called raw
materials" ths disregard of the rela-
tions that exist between more or less
finished products, and the totally made
quate duties named upon certain lead
ing articles.
Some ideas seem to have prevailed in
the minds OF tue majority to the effect
that duties should DO adjusted in pro-
portion to the advance OF the article in