The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-07

hearing on the wool schedule OF the
tarlrt brought many farmers aud man
utacturers 10 the ways and means com
mlt,ee room to-day. The first speaker
was John G. Clark, Of the Washington
county, PennsylVania, wool growers
association. He spoke strongly Of the
eTecls Of the free wool clause OF tae
wilson law, which he declared had
r.ostrated the business IN the United
s,a,cs. The experiment OF free trade
had been crime. The value OF lands
had declined and sheep men In all parts
%. the country had been driven from
business. The sheep raisers asked on
IL moderate duty that would enaoie
thsm u continue In business
The Democratic members OF the
committee probed the witness Tor some
time. M". Wheeler. OF Alaoama, aske9
II clothing for the workinGmen hau
not been cheaper under free wool, to
which MIR Clark replied that most OF
tho clothing sold now was saoddy. I'M
rnriatinas Of shoddy had increased un-
der the Law. 49,,
one hour was given to Judge VIII
ian Lawrence. the president ot the ma
tionaI wool growers associGton,;o pre-
sent the request Of that body The
statement was an exhaustive review OF
the wool industry under different taf-
IN rates duruE the last aatl century.
SDeaking OF tho effects OF the wilson
Iaty. he declared tina; Il he'd stopped
o1e-tbird Of the wool growing business
and closed onc-hals OF the mills In the
country. There rad been no adequate
l5s.5t 81. Ion on wool since lShi.
Political Aspect.
referring 10 the political aspects OF
tn. matter. Mr. Lawrence averred that
the election OF Mr.. Mckinley mad been
accomplished By the votes OF the wool
rrawers in hali dozen doubtful states
who would have voted for Bran and
free silver had the. no- considered
pgattytisn en wool more important
ihan f.ac silver. r. tails protection weri
not 0ivel there would be tree silver
Congress two years hence ana 10 four
years q free silver President and Con-
grcss.
its author. had been moderately pro-
tective on wool but the addition Of the
sl;l?tIng clause and advaldrem rates
made II disastrous Then came the
Wilson law. Cnder this law the mum
ber of sheep in the United States had
decreased three million o year, with
loss Of $50, ,O10o 900 according 10 official
statistics Unofficial and more occur
ate figures proved the loss 20 wool
growers through the Wilson rates to
have heea St1S 100000, mutton sheep
which should be raised IN This country
were being imported from Canada.
The schedule asked by the wool
growers association was twelve cents
a pound on all merino w0ols, twenty
four cents on washed and thirty-siN
cents on secured Australian unwashed
wools 70 be considered as washed. on
account OF It's superior lightness they
said the Australian had an advantage
over South American, losing compare
lively little weight In washing. The
dropping of the sKirting clause was
asked, as 10 secure Its advantages the
parts OF Australian wool imported
amounted TO only half the fleece. To do
away with this clause IT was said.
would give employment to 5000 men in
this country.
Personally, I would like much
higher duty thun twelve cents" said
Mr. Lawrence. but the growers limit
their demands to that figure.
When the speaker asserted that Aus
tralian wool could b. put on ship al
Melbourne at cost Of nine cents Il
pound, Mr.. Wheeler. OF Alabama, COM
mented, And that Is the wool on
which you ask twenty-faur cents
duty?"
We'll twcnty-rour and ninc IS thir-
ty-three cents and that wool Will bring
from four tO seven cents more than
ours In Ohio. which would leave us
only about twenty-five cents N people
will use luyuries they should pay a
luxurious duty"
The Difference.
Would q pound OF Australian wool
lie brought 4n,o this country at twen-
ty-rour cents asked Chairman Ding
ley.
There would Anyway. & would
transfer our trade from AhsFllil.
where we have TO pay In gold, to South
America. where We would exchange
agricultural implements and goods for
their wool"
Continuing. Mr.. Lawrence urged ihat
China wool should be clIsgcd rs nrst-
class, otherwise. there would be ln in
lux which would kill the American
business. incidentally, he referred to
the adyalorcm system as tile most
Internal scheme ever Invented by ras-
Gals on earth"
As u pan 70 preFeht HoOl % IN.
ports pending thc passage or biil
Judge Lawrence suggested thht Con-
Errss pass mt the present session . btf
u'einting That al articles imported AZ
ter The first day OF the hrss session OF
tac flity-hitr Congress DO subject 10
ne rates OF duty of any law Iassed by
that Lnngres9 when the ne'v retes are
an advance; bonds 90 be given Jv i'm
lofigrs for such payments before goods
can pe WNndshWn.
me senat9T from Montana, Gar
i9,t rsT5 on n,s Wy ,, tsnL iSH' ,h5t the senate