New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-07
THE WOOL-GROWERS HEARD
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ROOM
CROWDED TO OVERLOOKING.
THE ENORMOUS LOSSES TO AMERICAN FARMERS
AND wAGE-EARNERs CAUSED BY THE WILSON
LAW POINTED OUT-MEAsUREs sUG-
GEsTED BY THE NATIONAL WOOL
GROWERS ASSOCIATION. 81
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuxaY

GROWERS ASSOCIATION. a.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TRrBvSRy
Washington Jan. s-The depth and Intensity u
the interest felt in the welfare and prosperity OF
the wool and woolen industries OF the country were
fairly indicated at the airing before the Commit
tee on Ways and Means to-day. The spacious COM
mttee-room crowded TO the walls throughout
the entire sitting. and many persons who desired
to do so were unable to obtain admittance on ac-
count OF lack Of No other branches OF
American industry. with perhaps two three
exceptions. were dealt so severe blow by the Will"
full and wanton tariff legislation OF 1894 az were
those represented by the wool growers dealers Inn
porters. WI rkingmen and manufacturers who packed
the committee to-day. On account OF tho
great magnitude. wide distribution and extreme i'm
portance Of the wool-growing and manufacturing
industries. the committee had wisely decided TO
give two days to hearings Schedule X. the manu-
1actures OF woolen goods to have the second day.
THE INDUSTRY NEARLY RUINED.
The hearing to-day orened by John G.. Clark.
OF the Pennsylvania Wool Growers Association.
His statements respecting the present condition OF
the Industry In that State exceedingly inter-
esting and would have been altogether dshearten-
ing but for the ray OF hope which penetrated the
gloom on the morning after Election Day. Mr.
Clark only expressed the verdict OF the people when
he declared that the placing OF wool on the free
list was crime against n great National and
agricultural industry" Thousands OF focks had
been sent to the shambes and the production OF
cereals and other crops had been greatly increased
TO burden an already oversocked market and bear
down prices OF all agricultural products Even
before the enactment OF the existing law the do
nestle production OF wool had not amounted &,
one-haif the home consumption. but under adequate
protection the domestic production would equal the
consumption The wool-growers. he said. were not
extravagant In their demands.
In reply 10 question by q Democratic member
or the committee as to whether the "poore.
classes are not now able 70 buy their clothiny
cheaper than when the tariff Of 1880 In force
Mr. clark said: Il have heard good many me,
VINO live on the wages they earn By days wore
say that the dearest clothing they ever bought was
the cheap clothing they had bought within the
last three years and which began fall into rags
as soon as they began to wear It,"
The next speaker was ex-Ccngressman Willia.1
Lawrence OF Ohio. and OF the National Wool Grow
ers' Association the well-known and earnest cham
pior OF the woo-growing industry. Judge Law
rence's zeal. devotion and enthusiasm sometimes
carry him further than many others are willing to
go or regard II practca BILE 60 In order 10 pro
tect and defend his chosen industry from foreign
competition but It cannot be denied that he has
studied his subject carefully and deeply and invest
gated all It's ramihcatons most thoroughly. and -
therefore fully equipped with facts and testimony
to support most Of the statements he makes Ills
| of the elaborate and exhaustive written bries
which was submitted by him to-day IN behalf O.
the woo-growers of the country and in support OF
| the provisions contained I'm draft of bill which.
| 1t Is understood was prepared by him and Up
| proved by a committee composed of members o.
the National Wool Growers Association
| WHAT THE WOOL-GROwHRs DESIRE
The more important provisions OF the measure .,
| outlined by him to-day follows: A duty q
u cents a pound on all unwashed clothing woo,
except Australian, which shall pay a duty OF
cents pound; duty of "a cents a pound on al
washed clothing woods duty of 80 cents poun
on secured clothing woods; transfer the combn-
woods now fol ming Class III TO 10 Glass I, cothin.
woods; duty Of cents a pound on carpet wool.
a large proportion OF which used In the man.
facture Of clothing and blankets: drop the prov,
sion of the act OF 1880 which allowed the import
ton OF skirted fieeces without payment OF doub
the rate other unwashed woods: allow the ir
portation free OF duty for years OF breedlr
from Mexico
This bill. Judge Lawrence said. vas so moder:,
in its requirements that the wool growers hoped no
10 encounte: any opposition from the allied indu;
try OF manufacturing. The per capita consumptic
OF wool Is about nine pounds and after four yea.
under the operation Of protective tariff with ad,
quate rates, the American wool growers would y
able TO produce ali OF the wool. of every variet,
including carpet woods. required TO supply all Il.
needs o. the American people, and the manufa,
turers already have all the machinery necessary
manufacture all the woollen goods needed for hon,
consumption" Judge Lawrence asserted tina, tr
existing Law has not only created havoc in the WOO:
growing industry. but had virtually destroyed on.
third OF the woollen manufacturing Industry OF n
country.
AID VALOREM DUTIES DENOUNCED
I'm the last three years" he continued THE WOOL
the WilsoH-Gorman law. OF less than sl,9eo0..
900. Never before in the history Of this Repnbli,
cruel n blow inflicted upon any Industry"
Judge Lawrence said that the wool provisions of tn
act or 1888 were defective In some respects. arr
that. owing to changed conditions the duties the
imposed-1l crrtr, p cents and 80 cents pound q.
clothing woods, according TO their condition and 2.
per cent ad vaorcm carpet woods valued AZ Ie~s
than 10 cents pound-would be inadeoua.e
He had no patience" with people who advocate.
a system OF ed vaorem duties. which he regarded q.
the most damnabe system that was ever invcn,,,
by rascas on earth" lie also advocated IN.
placing OF China woods IN the class of clo,hi-y
woods. and called attention to the heavy increase
OF importations These woods. he said were value.
at only ) cents pound and one pound would MAX: .
as much cloth as two pounds OF Ohio woods
Judge Lawrence dwet the enormous ircre...
In the imporaons OF rags and shoddy which hae
reached startling proportions since the enactmen,
of the new law. and also the necessity OF Levy
Ing high duty on tops" which are composed a,
secured WOOL prepared for spinning. On shoddy
and rags there should be prohibive duty
Judge Lawrence had highly Ingenious mn,
wholly impraoticable. scheme to prevent heavy i'm.
portaions of wool and woollen goods in anticina
ton Of the enactment OF a new tariff law ~.
would have Congress pass on the first day OF tn.
next session n bill providing that no such goods
thereafter imported should be Withdrawn from,
bonded warehouse for consumption until the i'm
porter. after paying the duties thereon required
by existing law. should file a bond with suffcien.
sureties TO pay any additional duties levied on suc;
goods at the next session OF Congress. lie had no;
attempted 10 compute the probable revenue thu
bill proposed by the wool-growers would Yield bu,
he thought II would be little more than unde-
the act OF 1880. The chief object In view how