New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-18
~ INJERY CONFESSED.

An amendment OF great Importance was
offered 10 the Tariff bill by the Democratic
committee one which was In effect confession
of the destructive results To be expected from
the bill. Chairman Wilson proposed 10 post
none until August the admission Of wool free
Of duty so that the wool growers might nave
n chance 10 get up their spring Kids ana so
that "they would not be forced To sell their
wool in anticipation OF its going on the free
list" At the same time he proposed To post
pone until December the reduction IN duties
on woollcns giving manufacturers chance
10 work off their stock Of goods" He explained
that Wholesale and retail trade are In an I'M
certain frame Of mind, and IL Is question
whether woollen mills shall be idle In the win
fer or whether they shall be assured that they
can 90 ON filling Orlcrs." These, be II reincin-
bered are the reasons given by the Democratic
majority OF the committee for proposing the
change Of time More fatal concessions could
not well be made Yet the Democratic majority
I'm the House, under the lead OF Free Traders,
hoyc defeated the amendments Of the com
mIttec.
If DELAY is necessary TO enable growers 10 sell
their spring clip OF wool, the amendment meant,
from the Democratic point OF view, that the
robbery of the whole people for the benefit OF
wool. growers should be continued six months
longer. That would be palpable wrong to
the Deople if Democratic theories had any
value: an Outrage to consumers, who would be
compelled to pay more for goods made from
wool thus sold. and an injury to growers them
selves H. according to Democratic theories free
wool would give them a larger market and n
better demand II this were true, delay OF the
= ,P oh clothipp for tlp UpODlp and
better demand for wool would be inexcusablc.
But the delay Of reduction In duty on woollens
would be n greater wrong, because 1t would
last over ten months. The obvious intention
was to retain the Mckinley tariff as far as pos
sible until after the election Of Congressman
next fall so that the people might then vote
without realizing the full effects OF the new
tariff. To gain this political advantage, the
shrewder Democrats proposed to rob both the
woolgrowcrs and the manufacturers Of the
promised benefits Of reform.
Chairman Wilson virtually confessed that
Democratic theories were false when he asked
delay OF Free Trade to enable growers TO sell
their wool this year, and delay of reduction In
Guties on goods in order 10 keep mills open this
winter and next spring. 1t was another fatal
admissic ion for him that the mills are closed
row, AID the Wholesale ana rciiil trade uc-
pressed. because of threatened changes Of duty.
rhe ci.nge proposed by the bill as reported
was ~ 10 take effect for several months, and
II + wv confessed that this prospect of II
cha closes mills and stops trade. Does not
III, . irman see that II must have the same
efrce, Lext summer and fall in anticipation Of
re duties December !? Even in his po-
Idea, scheme he Numbered. because the pros
trit,oo would then come just when people would
be- pre- )arlng to elect the next Congress.
The lclay would not help the woosrower, rs
s.r ilson hoped. Manufacturers who take
cnler, that are to occupy their mills for several
inontl would realize next spring that the price
- W. oil would probably go down as the lst Of
Augu It came nearer and would therefore defer
purcl Asses. Knowing this. the growers would
De In haste TO sell as early as they could The
natural result would be II greatly depressed
market all through the spring and summer.
None Of the benefits promised as results OF free
wool would then be realized, but all the evil re-
sulb feared by Its opponents 80 the manu-