New-York tribune., 1893-12-10
CARPET MEN PROTEST..
IMPOSSIBLE TO MANUFACruRE UNDER THE
WILSON TARIFF.
DEsiocRATIc AND PoPUiIsr MUEMCHNHS
AGAINST CERTAIN PROVISIONS o. TIE
EiLI,-rALK WITH GARRETT
MANUFACTURER.

IN he IN a state of unusual agitation inns aI'ei-
noon The cause of this vas Impossible 70
oscertain They were not engaged IN game Vi
hide-and-seek one might nave suSpec'eu
who saw them lodging around corrluprS VI
plunging into the dark subterraneah regions "i
the Capitol at one place and suddenly popping
up again at another
what are You doing now one OF thehi was
asked.
"Oh only considering the verbiage ana cI'ii-
fx,ng The language of the BILL was the reply
over his shoulder as he slipped away 10 resume
the game. whatever it may have been Ana.
yet there was strong reason to suspect 'ha'
something different from "verbiage" was occu-
nvine his thoughts and those of his colleagues
In fact II WAS evident that they were all at sea
again.
Two weeks ago tonight they were in a tran
ouil, not to say complacent mood, feeling 'ha'
they had accomplished great work what mas
wrought this change? Perhaps President CleVe-
land and Secretary Carlisle could tell II they
would. Is 1t sugar or the whskey tax, or the
income tax. mayhap all three.
Again It may be that the Democratic mutter-
ings of discomfort from Alabama and louisiana
and the Virginias and Ohio and pennsylvania
and even from the Empire state. as well as
from other quarters have begun to sound in
the critical. not to say unfriendly attitude oil
the great Populist leader in the House OF Repre-
sentatives may be partly responsible. Mr. Simp-
son to-day said that free wool was discrimi'
nation against the farmers of the West and that
II a greater cut were not made in wooller manu-
features the Popusts would protest. Free SAT-
The Kansas Representative complains, is another
blow at one of his home industries that ne pro-
poses opposing Mr.. Simpson asserts that SAT-
is finished product" and as much entitled 10
protection as other articles similarly classined.
Several members of the majority were in con-
ference with Secretary Carlisle at the treasury
Department until a late hour last night pre-
sumably in regard to matters that were sun
in controversy. but no information respecting
the results. IL any. could be obtained Piior 10
that meeting they had received some interest,"
ing and specific information in regard to the
probable effects of the proposed woollen schedue
so far as 1t relates to earpets.s meetng OF the
CARPET manufacturing industries OF the tmtco
States was held In New York City on Thursday
TO consider the proposed duties on carpets. AL
branches Of this great industry, in which many
millions OF capital are invested and more thah
30 900 wage-workers are employed, 1900 OF them
in the Stale of New-York. We're represented
After a full and thorough discussion OF me new
rates Of duty proposed, statement was pre-
pared 10 be submitted to the Committee on Ways
and Means 1t reads follows:
The Wilson bill fixes the duties on carpets al al
from 20 to IS per cent. ad yaorem making an an
average reduction in duties below the present law
the bill upon most other woollen goods is ~ per
cent. ad valorem 9subject to re'neuoh 10, oI
GINNING 1du ~ with the year 1856 thereby making
discrimination against carpets as compared win
sssscfSy Sssss TSSsH sSSHs S the
same rate OF duty should be fixed upon upon
her
proportion Of labor to cost OF p,Hanc,on s Of fh
manufactures of wool therein mentioned; a.; IN Inc
20 per cent. al vaorem. has been placed upon
wool. Dutch and two-py ingraia carpets gre1I
phia by numerous small carpet-makers consisting
mainly Of workmen who have been abe e., 10 save save
the nstament plan and set up in business Sr
sssats Of rhsse Ss kind h AZ g per r
duty most OF these little men VIII be ruined There
between % the different grades Of carpeng, as the
proportional cost of labor to the cost of production
Is iuly as great in the lower grades as In the
II is simply an irnpossibni;y for the carpet mills
ysorsn rate Of only ~ e IS per cent, cen, Foar.
have been an closed sce the middle of
and are st closed thereby throwing out Of worx
mills are in a position TO start up with the rates
of carpet duties OF the Wilson bill as it now stands
'ssti We tserefore request that you will fix single
ad yaloEsm rate Of duty Of 70 per cent upon az
I'm qser Srs s se smp ask tx na G
been accorded TO other woollcn goods.
This statement was signed. in behalf OF the
carpet manufacturers. by the Alexander Smith
& Sons Carpet Co., Stephen Sanford & Sons,
Hartford Carpet Co.. the T. S. Higgins Carpet
Co. Stinson Bros. and the Roxbury Carpet
Company, and the Hon. John Sanford, Of AM
sterdam. N. Y and Mr.. Stinson. of Phila-
nrta AL n. fn Wacl lfr,r~-
ton Through the good Offices Of Bourke
Cochran, Messrs Sanford and Stinson obtained
q hearing before Chairman Wilson ana several
other. members N the majority OF the com
mittee last night. and submitted many facts
and arguments In support OF the written state
ment. in which they sought TO correct some OF
the misapprehensions which Chairman Wilson
and his colleagues seemed TO have conceived.
Some of the facts Submitted by them appeared
to be new to Mr.. Wilson, and TO produce an
impression upon him and several Of his col
Leagues who pronisrd TO make the subject OF
the duties on carpets one OF further considera-
ton. 1t is doubtful. however. whether the
majority Of the comm ttee will consent 10 make
any change In the schedule.
In the course Of a c1 1Nersaton with a Tribune
correspondent to-day Mr.. Sanford said: THE
idea that free wool Is going to compensate the
caipet manufacturers FOR reduction OF duty
ranging from 80 to 70 per cent IS a mistaken
one Our firm makes tapestry Brussels carpet
on which 1t is proposed to levy a duty Of % per
cent ad valorem. Now the advantage that we
will gain by having our wool free or duty Is
equivalent to exactly 3sL cents a yard on the
highest grade of goods the standard price Of
which is 671a cent: a yard. That Is grade
which. except as 10 patterns Is identical with
the best grade of Enrish tapestry Brussels
the same number of thretds and wires and the
Same pile We know THAI the grades are identi-
cal because have made the most eful and
critical comparisons of both in every respect
Now. the Wholesale price in England Of that
grade is Is. Sd. yard, which is equivalent to 40
cents In our money. An invoice OF English
carpet laid down in New-York duty paid at
% per cent ad valorem, conceding that there
was no undervauation, would be 80 cents a
yard At that rate could not compete with
the Engshman even II our men would work
for nothing"
"what Is the labor cost Of production Of that
grade OF carpet in your ins?" was asked
THAT I cannot tell you and do not believe
that any manufacturer could. because there are
SO many materials used In the manufa cture OF
corv~ts the labor cost OF producing which the