New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08

MANUFACTURERS HEARD By THE WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE

STILL. MORE UNPLEASANT TESTIMONY FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERSHIPS AND FIGURES
PRESENTED TO SHOW THE EVILS OF FREE
wooL-s ~ D. NoRTHs ARGUMENT
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE.1
Washington. Jan THE manufacturers OF
woollen goods had their innings before the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means to-day. and again inc
big committee room crowded. The nearing
was an interesting and instructive one. and II Is
to be hoped II not expected. that the Democratic
members Of the committee who helped TO frame the
Wilson bill OF 1894 and were present to-uaS
Messrs McMn. OF Tennessee; Turner OF "eoI
gia and Wheeler. of Alabama-wiIl pront ny IT.
although none OF them appeared disposed 10 ac-
cept the yer lict Of the wool manufacturers as 10
the value Of the boon bestowed upon their industry
In the shape of free WOOL and bare. INADEQUATE
adj valorem duties wooen goods
The Democratic members still cling 10 their
theory that the ad valorem system IL an ueai one
in practice as well as In theory. why should 'nes
not then continue to stand their ground ON inc
question of free WOOL despite the unanimous
verdict Of the manufacturers. as well as Oh 'hs
PRODUCERS dealers and importers after. and as the
result Of dear experience that IL Is an unmiHeo
and unmitigated evil? They did not appear 10 De
moved in the least to-day even by the statemen,
OF n Maine manufacturer OF woollen goods anu MI
importer Of foreign woods FOR MS factory WIN an
nounced that he had always been A Democrat
(having voted for every Democratic candda'e 'o'
President from Buchanan TO Cleveland,, ana was
IAN original cree-wool man." that the free WOOL ex-
perience of the last two years and -FOUR moh'"s
had the concern In which ne Is ih'e'eS'e"
10000 Theoretically he said. II am stiiI Il
free-w wool man. but the theory Is too expensive 10
carry into practice"
UNPALATARLE FACTS FOR THE DEMOCRATS
These statements must have been unpleasant to
the ears of Messrs McMillin. Turner and Wheeler.
who have always regarded free WOOL AS the Key
stone of the ";ariff-reform arch. but they strove
earnestly and It may he added. vainly. TO wiring
from him and other representatives OF the In
dustry admission that free wool had benefited
anybody, whether producer. manufacturer. dealer
consumer. that any of the manufacturers
in favor OF continuance and perpetual
ton OF the free-wool policy. 1t is true that free
wool offers some advantages to manufacturers. they
admitted chiefly that OF having "A wider range OF
choice among foreign woods but these advantages
were insignificant as compared with the dsad-
vantages resulting from the free-wool schedule.
A curious and interesting feature OF to-day's hear
ing was that presented by manufacturers OF mate
rails for shoddy and Of shoddy itself II appears
that these Industries have assumed large proper
tions in the United States since the enactment OF
the law which. among other things, reduced the
duty shoddy from 80 cents a pound to 10 per
cent ad valorem on mungo from 10 cents pound
tc Is per cent adj vaorem. and transferred rags
from the dutiabe list at 10 cents pound TO the
free list The reductions OF course. have resulted
In enormous importations OF shoddy and It's COM
ponen,s The blessings which free wool has be-
slowed on the people OF the United States In these
respects were fully explained to-day.
MANUFACTURERS CASE OPENED.
The case OF the manufacturers was opened by
S. y. d. North. OF Boston, and OF the National
Association OF Wool Manufacturers who had been
assigned by the Executive Committee OF the asso-
citation to perform that duty. His brief was pla A.
clear and impressive statement of facts bearing
on the present condition of the industry and show
ing how it had been affected by the legislation OF
1924 There was little attempt TO exploit
theories. but there was clear recognition or the
difficulties OF framing tariff wool and woolens
which would he Just and satisfactory to the wool
producers and manufacturers we'll as to the
great mass Of people who are consumers OF woollen
fabrics- r..r..
Mr. North said that the National Association
advised moderation. They desired sufficient pro-
lection TO enable them TO reopen their mills, but
they did and would not ask for excessive rates
OF duty. Above all, they hoped for measure OF
legislation which could not be easily or soon over
thrown. The months Immediately preceding the
revision of 1894 and the two years since covered
the most trying and disastrous period in the history
OF the wool manufacturing industry OF the United
States. The bulk OF the woolen machinery had
been wholly or partially idle. and much OF the
remainder had made goods which had been market
ed at "A loss. still in stock. More machinery
is now running than last summer. but "the general
condition o. the industry Is as bad as bad can be-
IMPORTATIONS ENORMOUSLY INCREASED.
Mr. North then called attention TO the enormous
increase OF i'nportations OF wooen goods under
the tariff o. 1884, and submitted the following short.
but as he said. eloquent table. showing by
calendar years the value of the importations OF
all woo!len goods and the quantity and value OF
importations OF woollen cloths for the years 1881
to 1890, both inclusive: