Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-09-28
PLAIN TALK ON WOOL.
Manufacturer Position Stated to Mr.. Viii
sons Committee.

A Washington special to the Inter
Ocean says: S. n. ID. North. secretary
of the National Association OF Wool
Manufacturers made an argument by
request before the ways and means
committee. The subject OF change in
the wool tariff, he said, is of vital in
terest to the manufacturers and wool
growers of the west. The following
are some of the points he made:
Assuming that tariff revision is in
evitable, it is of vital Importance that
the nature and details of the revision
proposed shall be made public as soon
as is compatible with the care and de-
liberation so important a matter de-
mands, and that the bill shall be
enacted and the existing uncertainty
removed at the earliest practicable
date. Fully rs per cent OF the woolen
and worsted machinery OF the country
is now idle. In the nature of things
most of it must remain idle until the
uncertainty as to the future condi-
tions OF the industry is definitely re-
moved. But to allow ample time for
preparation, no changes in the woolen
tariff should go into actual operation
earlier than Jan. 1, 1895.
Even with free wool the American
manufacturer will still be Handicapped,
to the extent of 122 per cent at pres
ent prices, in the cost OF his raw ma
terials. The worlds wool markets
are abroad and at the doors of foreign
competitors, while We must pay for
eign and domestic commissions and
freights. They have the additional
advantage OF perfect familiarity with
these woods and their uses. The COM
pensatory duties contain an element
of safety, particularly on the cheaper
grades of goods. 1t is the pound duty,
and not the low ad valorem duty col
lected upon small values which in
sures the domestic market to this
class of goods
The suggestion of the wool manu-
facturers' association is that in any
revision contemplated the uniform ad
valorem duty on woolen goods shall
be fixed at not less than Il maximum
duty OF so per cent, with duty OF 40
per cent on yarns; these rates to con-
template the retention OF the present
ad valorem duty of go per cent upon
clothing, almost the entire cost OF
which is labor. This suggestion is not
made as the basis of a compromise,
but with the profound conviction that
in view of the revolution proposed IN
the economic status OF the industry,
accompanied at the same time by the
abandonment OF the protective safe
guards of specific duties, thus launch
ing the manufacturer suddenly into
absolutely untried experiments, it Is
the lowest duty compatible with safety
tor years to come.
There are reasons why wooden goods
should be subject to the highest rates
of duty anywhere admitted into the
new tariff.
A. These are the goods against which
foreign competition has always been Sc
verest and most difficult to overcome
The wool manufacture abroad has reached
the highest state Of perfection. 1t is ths
one textile manufacture in which it has mol
yet been possible for Yankee ingenuity &c
excel the products OF countries which hav'
been engaged for centuries in developing
the industry.
b. 1t is the one textile industry in which
styles change most radically and frequently
These constant changes OF fashion impos
conditions which are the more onerou
from the fact that all fashions in woolei
goods are set abroad and must beimitatet
here.
c. Hence it happens that, whatever tn
rate of duty may be, the volume OF import
in certain lines OF wooden goods continue
to steadily increase. This fact is the con
: elusive evidence that the existing rates O
duty are not too high even for purel.
7 revenue tariff.
Wages in American wooden ant
worsted mills are, on the average