The herald., 1897-01-07
1|NktRERS OF TAE TARIFF
Listen to the Plants of the Wool
Growers
ALL THE FINANCIAL EVILS
Laid at the Door of the Free Wool
Clause
IL THE FINANCIAL EVILS
Thirty-six Cents Duty on Nine-Cent
Wool Is Thought to Be About
the Proper Rate
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The wool
schedule furnished the text for the speak
ers before the ways and means commit
tee today. Judge William Lawrence of
Ohio, the president of the National
Woolgrowers' association, and Theo-
dore Justice, Philadelphia wool dealer,
consumed most of the time. The recon-
rate of IL cents on unwashed woods, "a
cents on washed and S6 cents on secured.
the Australian unwashed to be classed
as washed and all rates to be advanced
Ia cents year for six years. Mr.. JUS
tice presented great array of Stats
tics to show the ruin of the wool bust
ness by the Wilson law. He combated
the rates demanded by the growers as
too high and stated that the decreased
prices of goods to consumers under the
Wilson law was equivalent to the re-
duction of the tariff
John C. Clark of the Washington coun-
ty (Pa) Woolgrowers association, spoke
strongly OF the effects of the free wool
clause Of the Wilson law, which he de-
clared prostrated the business in the
United States The experiment of free
trade had been a crime. The value of
lands had declined and sheepmen In all
parts Of the country had been driven
from the business. Sheep raisers asked
only for a moderate duty that would en-
able them to continue business. Demo
cratic members of the committee probed
the witness for some time. Wheeler OF
Alabama asked II clothing for working
men had not been cheaper under free
wool n Uhfcf, Ola vlr thot ~
the clothing sold now was shoddy. The
importations of shoddy increased under
the law.
An hour was given Judge William Law
renee, president of the National Wool
Growers association. to present the re-
quest Of that body The statement was
an exhaustive review of the wool Indus
try under different tariff rates during
the last half century. The Wilson law,
he declared, stopped third of the wool
growing business and closed half the
mills. There has been no adequate pro-
lection ON wool since 1876.
Lawrence averred that the election Of
Mr.. Mckinley had been accomplished
by the voters of the wool growers in half
dozen doubtful states, who would have
voted for Bryan and free SILVER had they
not considered protection on wool more
important than free silver If this pro-
lection was not given there would be a
free silver congress two years hence and
four years free silver president and
congress. The Mckinley bill as it came
from fts author had been moderately
protective on wool. but the addition of
skirtlng clause and ad valorem rates
made 1t disastrous. Under the Wilson
law the number of sheep in the United
states decreased three million a wear.
with loss Of $6o,000,00o. according to
oiiioial statistics. Unofficial and more
accurate figures proved the loss to wool
growers through the Wilson rates to
have been $17s, 600 Mutton sheen
winch should be raised in this coun-
try-Were being imported from Canada
The schedule asked by the Wool Grow
ers' association was II cents per pound
on all merino wool, "a cents on washed
ana 90 cents on secured. Australian un-
Washed wools to be considered as wash
ed. On account of its superior lieht-
ness, they said the Australian product
had the advantage over the South Amer
ican, losing comparatively little weight
IN washing. The dropping of the skirt
ing clause was asked so as to secrre lie
advantages. as parts of the Australian
wool imported amounted to only half
neece. 10 DO away with this clause it
was said would give employroent IN fiva
thousand men in this country.
Personally would like much hicb-
er outy than IL cents" said Mr.. Law
renee. but the growers limit their oe
mards to that figure"
Wnen the speaker asserted that Ans
tralian wool could be put on shin NJ
Melbourne at cost of cents a pound.
Mr. /" heeier or Alabama commented:
And that is the wool on which Won ae,,
"a cents duty?"
Wei, q and is 33 cents, and the wool
VIII bring from to cents more than
ours In Ohio, which would leave us only
about 20 cents. If people will use Ink
uries they should pay luxurious duty."
would pound of Australian wool be
prought into this country at "a cents?',
asked Chairman Dingiey.
Any way it would transfer our trado
from Australia, where we have to nav in
gold, to South America where we would
exchange agricultural implements and
goods for their WOOL"
Continuing, Mr.. Lawrence urged that
China wool should be classed as first
class; otherwise there would be an in
lux which would kill the American in
terest. Incidentally he referred to the
ad valorem system as "the most Internal
scheme ever invented by rascals on
earth"
AS plan to prevent a flood of imports
pending the passage of bill. Judge
Lawrence suggested that congress pass
at the present session a bill declaring
tbdl al afllcl+s imported after the first
day of the first session of the Fifty-fifth
congress to be subject to the rates of
duty of any law passed by that congress
when the new rates are advanced: bonds
to be given by the importers for such
payments before goods can be with
drawn.
The senator from Montana (Carter)
on my right says that the senate might
pass such a bill by October" interrupt
ed Mr. Dingley.
AS Mr.. Lawrence was explaining that
under the schedule proposed by his as
soeiaticn. American wool-growers would
supply the home market in four years.
Mr.. Dalzen inquired how much revenue
would be secured
"a little more than by the Mckinley
law Eight or ten millions during the
four years" he replied.
And finally get none" interposed Mr..
Wheeler.
"Whysshould We want any?" retorted
Mr.. Lawrence, amid laughter Il mean
from WOOL" he amended. 1.-The country
will be prosperous and we cam get rev
enue from other sources
Dir. Turner of Georgia inquired If the
schedule had not really heanu draurr