The San Francisco call., 1897-02-13
WHAT W00L-GR0WERS WANT.
An Explanation of DUTIES Desired on
Various Grades Given by Presi-
dent lawrence

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 12.-The
National Wooi-growers' Association took
exception to the statement of their diff
culties with the manufacturers about the
wool schedule as voiced by Secretary North
OF the National Association of Wool
Manufacturers in his interview with a re-
porter of the United Associated Presses.
President William Lawrence of the wool
growers voiced his dissent as follows:
The committee of wool manufacturers pro-
posed as the highest rate they would aid in
securing du ties as follows:
Class 1, woods OF the value of Is cents per
pound or less, a duty of cents per pound; on
WOODS over l6 cents per pound 10 cents duty !;
In the Mckinley law of 1890, at IL cents per
pound, without any dividing line as to value,
double on washed, treble on secured.
TWo-On class Wools to the value of l6
cents per pound or less cents per pound; on
wools over 16 cents in value IL cents per
pound duty. But these wools then come in at
these rates wa3hed. treble duty for secured.
The rate in the Mckinley act was IL cents in
the same way, treble if secured.
Three-On class woods the ad valorem rates
OF the act OF 1890; on woods valued at 13 cents
per pound or less 81 per cent, and 80 per cent
over that value.
The committee of the National Wool Lgrowers'
Association declined TO agree to these rates,
ana thev were rejected by unanimous vote
of the association.
The National Wool-growers' Association
proposed, es the lowest rates of duties to
which they won agree. as follows:
One-On woos OF the first and second class
a duty OF IL cents per pound; double on
washed, treble on secured.
Two-On third-class woods, sometimes called
carpet wools but largely used in the manufac-
ture OF clothing goods, duty of cents per
pound unwashed, as they now compete with
and supplant the use OF merino and down
wools; double if washed, treble If secured.
Three-An additional duty OF cents per
pound on all skirted woods.
The skirting adds TO the value of the wool,
because:
First-It to c large extent saves the cost of
sorting-an expense OF at least three-fourt tn s
OF a cent per pound.
secondly rejecting the skirts or inferior
portions of the fleece, the skirted part to be
imported into the United States is rendered
more valuable. This was indorsed by vote OF
the National Wool-growers' Association unan-
lmously except one dissenting vote. There
was with this exception no division of opinion
among wool-growers so far as known The COM
mlttee OF wool man ufacturers ueclin ed to as
sent to the rates OF duty proposed by the wo OIL
growers and the conference of the committee
adjourned sine die.
The wool-growers claim that the duty of
eight cents per pound in ompetition with
sklrted Australian merino shrinking about 80
per cent in securing, would not give pro-
tected benefit OF four cents per pound to Amer
lean merino shrinking in securing 662s per
cent per pound. The import of third class
wool at less than eightcents would be ruinous
to wool-growers. AS to this all the wool
growers were agreed. With the compensato
duties which the manufacturers will receive
their industry would abundantly prosper un.
der these rates.