New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-09
NATIONAL WOOI-GROWERS MEMORIAL.
DENIED A HEARING BY THE FINANCE COMMIT
TEE. THEY SEND THEIR PROTEST


TEE THEY SEND THEIR PROTEST
TO THE SENATE
Washington Feb. S-The memorial 81 the Ma
tional Wool Growers Association laid before the
Senate this morning by Mr. Sherman rectes that
the association called to meet in Washington 10
present to the Senate Finance Committee argu-
ments In opposition to those provisions or the " IL
bill proposing to put wool on the free iist
and reduce the duties woollen goods The
request OF the association was presented on Feb
ruary to the chairman Of the Finance Committee
and declined the memorial states. with the
Information that written communications would De
duly considered. An oral discussion was greatly
desired give wool growers an opportunity to meet
questions that might be propounded but that being
denied the association submits It's memorial
IL says it represents than l,o100o) flock
masters owning about 100000 sheep. with an in
vested capital OF the aggregate value, under normal
conditions Of s5N0OoO0o0 expending annually for
labor $4,000. with annual product in wool
etc. of more than sllo@oOCO exceeding by more than
SIS Oo0cO the total product Of American mines OF
gold and silver In the year 1882.
The investments thus made in and for sheep
husbandry invited Dy and never would have
been made but for the acts Of Congress OF March
3 1861 March 3. 1888, and October /. 1890. all CIV
ing protective duties on WOOL intended 20 secure
fair prices. Under them sheep increased from
% 477o5l in 1870 to 47.273553 in January. 1893 and
the wool product from 100 i02.3s7 pounds to &c., -
lJ6 6G6 pounds. WITH continued adequate protection
for five years the number OF Am .rican sheep would
reach over 100000. producing 6c0.o,ooe, pounds
OF wool, thus supplying all OF every kind need ID
for consumption in the United States besides fur
nsh!ng abundant supply Of mutton. In view Of
these considerations the memorial presents the
following propositions:
!. Without protective duties for wool, sheep
husbanlry In the United States Will be sub
stantlally destroyed.
,. The substantial. destruction by free wool
Of the American sheep husbandry would be a
grievous wrong to all engaged in that Industry
To put wool on the free list would be exercise
OF power by Congress resulting in bad faith to
those whose capital has been invested In sheep
husbandry.
,. The wrong done by free wool will not be
alone 70 wool-growers. !, would be disastrous TO
all agricultural Industries. The destruction OF
Hooks Of sheep Will withdraw the demand they
now make for pdsturags. hay. corn. and oats The
of Mos WE N ~ maxi re tan
wool. rhus importing those things INTO country
~ Frna wo" woad by , an ~ All pner in
lustr!es ana useful emp.oymen;s, Nearly one-haf
IN" poprlatiOn II engaged In agricultural pursuits
Inc destruction OF the WOOL industry wou1 I'M
pair their ability TO improve farms. 10 erect build
mas. To pairchiz" merchants, groc"rs schools coli
) Free wool viii impair ,hc abilit, of tn" Gov
ernm"n, 10 maintain In this country n suillCen
amount OF gold 10 supply the demands and 10 avoid
parlcs Tn" destruction OF the wool industry will
pay for foreign woods Of $@c0.Wo or more. II 10
foreign woods had been imported during the last
ten years there would hav. been panic.
o.. Sheep hushandry and It's alilel Industry Of
wool manufacturing have stronger claims pro-
lection than any other American industry II Is tn.
O'v absolutely National industry reaching into
every State aud territory: its magnitude Is greater.
It's products cannot Toe controlled b. combinations.
u gives greater compensatory benefits for the al
icp"I burden OF taxation than any other industry.
mi rs ming glory is that IL appeals To patriot
I'm for protection az a means OF adding TO National
NrtI'r utiiiz.s uutOrl millions -! Of lanl
which would otherwise be OF little value.
:. The existing duties on WOODS are. in view OF
the changed conditions since 1890. the classficao
of woods and the method Of administering the Nc
kinlcy law. no longer protective but are for reve-
nue. only.
II can be demonstrated. the memorial SAYS. that
free wool viii not permanently give cheaper cloth
The association protests against free wool BE-
cause II Is proposed to thrust II upon the country
substantially without any request from the people.
The petitions for " so few in number as to he
utterly insignificant. 1t may well be doubted
whether any measure ever before Congress brought
ont SO many protests Free wool attacks the agri-
cultural Interests and those interests were now
depressed than any other. Instead of being
singled out for hostile legislation. they were. as a
matter of justice and sound policy. entitled 10 the
fostering care OF Congress.