Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-03

assertion that small sheep farmers"
can't make any money at the business.
II costs about as much to take care Of
900 sheep as four times that numDar,
and the demanding and securing just
freight rates from railroad companies
Is a pretty hard nut to crack. Our
San Antonio contemporary has about
hit the nail ON the head.
HOPE FOR THE WOOL GROWERS.
Captain A. r. Shepard, a prominent
stockman OF Buchel county. and vice
president OF the National Woolgrowers
association. returned from Washington
last week. While In Washington Cap.
tain Shepard attended the woolsrowers
convention and talked with large
number OF congressmen and senators
on the subject OF placing tariff on
wool While not over sanguine. he
thinks the outlook very encouraging for
the passage by congress OF bill plac-
Ing wool on the dutiable list. lie has
no doubt at nil that such o bill Will be
passed In the house, and thinks II very
probable that 1t will pass the senate.
The Popullst senators hold the balance
of power In the senate, and they are
almost without exception from the
woolgrowlng districts OF the West.
They have announced their intention
to vote for O duty on wool. There are
Captain Shepard believes will vote for
the bill because of the simple Justice
IL accords such an Important Industry
that was Disseminated against In the
Wilson-Gorman bill.
The senators and representatives
with whom Captain Shepard talked on
tho subject were of the opinion that
the bill would pass both the house and
senate, three Populist senators having
promised Captain Shepard to vote FOR
the bill. 1t was also the opinion ut
Washington that II the bill passed
congress President Cleveland would al
low 1t to become u law without his
signature. because II was Just meas
ure and would bring In much-needed
revenue.
Sixteen states were represented at
the woplgrowers convention. among
the number being the following: Mas
sachusetts, New York. Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Michigan, South Dlkota, Cobra
do, Wyoming. Texas West Virginia.
New Mexico and Illinois.
THE sentiment of the convention"
said Captain Shepherd. was unani-
nous In favor OF the levy OF specific
duty on wool, rather than nm ad val
orem duty. About 20 per cent OF the
entire clip OF the United States is
gotten west OF the Mississippi river,
the remaining 80 per cent, east.
lillilh WllUbul tNNtNllNn every uelN-
gate from west Of the Mississippi was
In favor OF straight or blanket duty
on wool for so many cents per pound.
the number OF cents per pound vary
ing, some of the delegates asking 10
cents, others as low as s cents on
every pound of wool entering the
United States.
"The delegates cast OF the Mississippi
river were unanimous in asking for
classification OF wool entirely against
the idea OF a blanket duty. claiming
that they could not get n blanket duty
sufficiently large TO protect the Ohio
or Eastern growers In the final action
OF the convention the votes OF those
representing the east of Mississippi
growers views were in the majority.
and duty was agreed upon as fol-
lows: All first and second-class wool.
MS heretofore classed. TO be merged
into one class and pay duty of y
cents per pound-thus wool formerly OF
the thlrd-class paying a duty OF
cents per pound.
From conversations 7 had with diff
ferent congressman, ] think both
branches of congress will be able TO
pass some kind of a tariff bill. placing
n duty on wool, but when II reaches
the president for his signature, am
OF the opinion that he viii allow II TO
become a law without his signature,
ms this course will be consistent with
whs. he has said about tile Wilson
bill. It being an unjust bill, levylng q
duty upon coal and iron, and leaving
wool unon the free list."-7San Antonio
Express.