The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-10

If Senator Mantle represents TIE
fOckmasters Of Montana he is quite as
blind to the actual facts of eXperien-
tation in the effort to make the price
of wool higher by taxing imports, as he
is to the folly and injury of taxing
lead ores to further handicap the pro-
duction of Montana silver. If he rep
resents them then, they, too, have
learned nothing from the experience OF
the thirty years that have elapsed since
congress, under the demands Of the
Ohio shepherds, began, for the first
time in our history, to attempt to make
two sheep bleat where one bleated be-
fore In these thirty years we have
had wool imports taxed under varying
rates, from the highest demanded by
the shepherds to the free wool of the
Wilson bill, and the most Indifferent
study Of rates and prices and Of the
expansion and direction of sheep farm
ing, should teach the most obtuse that
there are here, as everywhere, forces
at work that no taxation can help. On
the contrary, if one is to regard prices
as the fleet Of rates Of taxation, all
these efforts have resulted in nothing
but injury
What has congress tried to do for
the hockmaster in these thirty years?
Wool, free prior to 1861. was then
charged with a revenue duty In 1857,
Mr. Brigham, of Ohio, the same person
who is now, if we mistake not, assis-
tant commissioner of agriculture, pro-
cured the enactment of tax of 10
cents a pound and IL per cent addi-
tional on woods of the first class, and of
tional on those of the second class.
Wool prices had sharply declined from
70 cents in 1865 to q in 1866, recovering
to 81 in 1867 before the change in rates
took effect. Those rates remained in
force until 1888, and, in the Intervening
years the prices had varied from 25
cents in 1876, the lowest, to 67, the high
est in 1872. In 1882 the range was from
81 to 48 cents, and in 1884, after the
act of 1888 had taken off the additional
ad vaIorem rate, the range 33-4S, fall
ing by 1886 to 1894 In 1890, the clamor
grew for more protection, the prices
having continued to fall to 1926 cents,
and the fall being attributed to the re-
moval of the ad valorem rate. The Nc
&h0 10 TO
cents on first, and u cents on second
class wool. This rate remained in force
until Aug %, 1894. When it went into
effect Montana medium bright, I'M
washed woods were quoted in Philadel-
phia. in June, at 1925 cents; in June,
1891, at 21-24; in June, 1892, at 2O-24; in
June, 1893, at 1921, and in June, 1894,
at 1913.
This scanning of rates and prices
from 1857 to 1894, during which time
wool was having all the protection
fockmasters demanded, shows that
prices fell with practical steadiness. If
there is any virtue in the protective
theory there should have been a sharp
decline in prices following the enact
ment of the German at which took off
all duties on wool. The effect would
show in the June quotations for 1895,
but the range was lib equal TO the
highest of the previous year and but
enc cent lower than the lowest. In
1896 we find the same grade quoted at
12-14, and the price this year is some
three cents better. Here then we have
the complete demonstration of the in
efficiency OF tariffs to maintain prices.
When we come to consider the real
causes of the decline in these thirty
years we find them in conditions that
no law can help. Montana f1ocks were
merely nominal in number until after
the Pacific roads had opened the East
ern markets to her wool. From 754. 6SS
sheep, in 1887, the number rose. with
the conquest Of the ranges from the
cattlemen, to 2,528098, in 1893, and
2,7S0, 90S, in 1894 Even with wool free
the number in 1896 was 2.718,83S. What
had been going on in Montana was &C.