Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-12-31

or remote Besides, the classi sihcatlon j.
largely one OF opinion, and opinions diff
fer both in and out of the custom house
When third class wool is used for cloth
ing, it is clothing wool, and ! would cal
the committees attention to an Asso
ciated Press market report sent out OF
| December last, viz: "The Boston
Commercial Bulletin says of the WOO
| market: 2 4 coarse woods are
4 scarce and SO oALiED CARPET wooLs ARE
BEING LARGELY SOLD FOR CLOTHING PUR.
| POSES"
1t has been asserted, and will be again,
notwithstanding the wide distribution OF
Merino blood, that there are woods of
| pure native blood, which can not be used
for aiing PURPOSES, essential to the
contihhance OF 81 ne industry, and their
admission free OF duty would work no
harm to the wool grower. Such may be
the fact, but such wools are few in num-
ber and CON pas Ssiyely small in quantity,
and there are few people grown mighty
aud strong under the shelter of our pro.
tective tariff whose interests would be af-
fected somewhat if such woods we're taxed,
but the whole army, the hosts engaged in
wool growing, protest that the excep-
tions made heretofore in favor of such
woods have worked destruction to the
wool growers interests.
Still, this committee may in it's WIS
dom, concede something to the demands
Of this class, and, if so, the wool grower
asks that the valuation may be so low
and the description be so exact and ex-
plicit as to exclude from its effect all
woods having the crimp, or the black top
showing the hollow fiber of Merino wool
Nor should the value be fixed at some
foreign seaport or far inland town, but
we should do as other nations do, base
the duty on the value in our own markets,
of which we can have some certain knowl-
edge.
We do not invite the opposition of the
manufacturers to the wool tariff by criti
cisirg the tariff on woolens, although we
know it was the high rates of duty on
woolens which placed wool on the free
list, but beg to call the attention of the
committee to one feature of the tariff
which appears to me needs correction.
Our wool tariff compels our manufac
turers to use good wool and we put
prohibitory duty on shoddy; but, if the
foreign manufacturer will but adulterate
his shoddy with little poor wool, he
may ship it through our custom houses
under our tariff on woolens without be-
ing questioned.
SPECIFIC DUTIES ADVOCATED.
By referring once more to the above
table, we observe that during the first
four years given, the number of sheep in
the United States was steadily increasing
and the wool growers must therefore have
been prosperirg. During this time the
duty on secured wool averaged 81 $40
cents per pound, and, as the average
shrink ia domestic wool is about Sc per
cent, that was equal to specific duty of
ii 4-l0 cents per pound on wool in it's
natural condition. We must remember
the law then was effective and maintained |
the relative positions of domestic and |
foreign secured wool values, If thieysis
done in the new legislatien, Il ri mt prig
possible but probable thas dnty iii 10 /
cents per pound on wool, AN ite natusat |
condition would restorsathe wool gg,s,wIug |
industry to prosperity.
But, if the law is indefinite or sopivo
cal, if it contains classification, provisos, !
or stipulations by or through which the
duty may be evaded, 10 amannt thas
would be named will be 5aifioient H. p1o-
tect the wool growers.
1t will be far better for the wool grow
or and the future of the policy of protec-
tion to give him less amount and make
it effective, than to seem to be liberal
with high duty which in whole or in
part may be evaded.
Trusting, gentlemen, that you will an
swer Col. Blacks query by making no
distinction between the men in the field
and the men in the factory in proposed
legislation, am yours, etc,
GEO. H. WALLACE,
Late Pres. Mo. w. G.. Assn. and ex Con-
sul-General to Melbourne, Australia.