The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-06-15
THE SENATE ON FREE WOOL.
How the Views of Great Men" Differ
on this Important Product,

How the Views of Great Men" Differ
on this Important Product,
Wednesdays and Thursdays ses-
sions of the Senate were devoted
to the discussion of the wool sched-
ule of the tariff bill, and quite a
number of Senators aired their
knowledge, or lack of knowledge,
on the subject of wool. As it
CHANGED none of them attempted
to explain how it was planted, "
when harvested or whether it
was threshed out or just simply
'picked from the stalk. Evident
ly sugar and not wool is the Ameri-
can statesman's strong point"
In the course of debate Mr. Shoup,
with a vim and courage not at all
in keeping with the ethics and con-
seryatism of the American House
of Lords, undertook to assert and
prove that the fall in the price of
wool has been worldwide for twen-
ty years, and that in the United
States it ruled higher than else
where by the amount of duty lev
led. The demonetization of silver
had much to do with the fall of the
price Of wool in the worlds market.
He cited market quotations to show
that the difference between foreign
and domestic prices had been COM
ing nearer together since the cleo
tion of a Democratic President. He
analyzed the cost added to the price
of a suit of clothes by the duty on
wool to show how small proper
ton of the finished product the du-
ty is.
Mr.. Mitchell, of Oregon, next
followed, devoting quite while to
the pleasing task of airing his
knowledge" and expressing his
views, in opposition to free wool.
He argued that the Pacific Coast
would be more injuriously affected
by free wool than any other part of
the country. Free wool meant alb
solute destruction to the wool-grow-
ing industry of Oregon, an industry
which had grown to be of vast inn
portance to the state, A large
portion of Oregon was more useful
for sheep grazing than for any 9TH
er purpose.
Mr. Frye declared that Australia
could produce enough wool to sup
Ply the entire consumption of the
United States. Australian wool,
he said, could be laid down in New
York for 5 cents per pound. Yet it
was the deliberate intention of the
Democratic majority to subject ev-
cry farmer in the United States,
whether he fed his sheep six months
in the year in Maine, or allowed
them to run wild all the year round
in Texas, to such annihilatory com
petition from Australia When
this discussion endnd Mr.
Quay took his manuscript from his
desk and began the eighth install
ment of his famous speech begun
just two months ago.
After Mr.. Quay had spoken ff-
eeen minutes, Mr. Harris, in charge
of the tariff bill, asked Mr.. Quay to
yield to him. He called attention
to the slow progress made with the
bill, two days already having been
spent in general debate on the wool
schedule. He then made request
for unanimous consent that the
wool schedule be proceeded with un-
der the five minute rule on the next
day, after Mr.. Aldrich, who desired
to speak, had finished. The request
developed the fact that Mr.. Lodge,
Mr.. Chandler, Mr.. Platt, Mr.. Teller
and others decided to address the
Senate on the general subject of
the schedule, and Mr.. Harris, with
reluctance, said he was compelled
to respect the request of these Sen
ators and would, therefore, post