The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-07
WOOL MEN SHOW UP
GROWERS AND DEALEHS BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE.

I
ming from Twelve Cents on Unwashed
to Thirty-Six on Scoured-Philadelphis
| Dealer Presents the Consumers Side Of
the Case, showing How q Man May &c,
| His Coat Altogether Too Cheap Far
Western Men Speak.
| Washington, Jan. 6.-The wool SEIZED
| ule furnished the text for the speakers
/ before the ways and means committee
| today. Judge William Lawrence of Ohio
| president of the National Wool Grow
ers' association, and Theo Justice, q
Philadelphia wool dealer, consumed
most Of the time.
The recommendation of the grower;
| were for a rate of IL cents on unwash.
| ed woods, "a cents on washed and 81
cents on secured, the Australian un-
washed to he classed as washed and
all rates to be advanced one-half cent a
year for six years.
| Mr. Justice presented great array OF
| statistics to show the ruin of the WOO
| business by the Wilson law. He COM
batted the rates demanded by the grow
ers as too high and stated that the de-
crease in the prices of goods TO consum-
| ers under the Wilson law as equivalent
| &c the reduction on the tariff
| The manufacturers of Woolens will
| have their hearing tomorrow.
| Washington, Jan. 6.-The hearing on
! the wool schedule of the tariff brought
| many farmers and manufacturers to the
| ways and means committee room today.
| The first speaker was John G.. Clark OF
~. ~1x~xr
| erS' association. He spoke strongly OF
| the effects of the free wool clause of the
| Wilson law, which, he declared, had
| Frustrated the business in the United
| States. The experiment of free trade
| had been a crime. The value of lands
| had declined and sheep men from all
parts of the country had been driven
| from business. The sheep raiser asked
only moderate duty that would enable
them to continue in business.
The Democratic members of the COM
| mittee probed the witness for some time.
| Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama asked if cloth
ing had not been cheaper under free
| wool. to which Mr.. Clark replied that
| most of the clothing sold now was
Shoddy. Importations of shoddy goods
had increased under the law.
NATIONAL WOOL GROWERS.
One hour was given to Judge William
Lawrence, the president of the National
Wool Growers association, to present
the request of that body. The state
ment was an exhaustive review of the
wool industry under different tariff rates
during the last half century. Speaking
of the effect of the Wilson law, he de-
clared that it had stopped one-third of
the wool-growing business, and closed
one-half of the mills oe the country.
all "a
on wool since 1867
Referring to the political aspect of the
matter, Mr.. Lawrence averred that the
election of Mr.. Mckinley had been ac-
complished by the votes of the wool
growers in a half dozen doubtful states
who would have voted for Bryan and
free silver had they not considered pro-
lection on wool more important than
free silver. If this protection was not
greSS two years hence, and in four years
free silver president and congress.
COST OF THE WILSON ACT.
The Mckinley bill, as it came from its
author, had been modera tely protective
on wool, but the condition of the skirt
ing clause and ad valorem rates made
it disastrous. Then came the Wilson
law. Under this law the number of
sheep in the United States had increas-
ed 100000 a year with a loss of $780,
000, 900, according to the official statis-'
tics.
Unofficial and more accurate figures
proved the loss TO wool-growers through
the Wilson rates to have been S17S. 7Go,
600. Mutton sheep, which should be
raised in the United States, were being
imported from Canada.
SCHEDULE ASKED.
ers association was IL cents pound on
all Merino woods, "a cents on washed
wcols, and So cents on secured, Au-
stralian unwashed woods to be consider
ed as washed. On account of its SUI
perior lightness, he said, the Australian
had an advantage over South America,
losing comparatively little weight in
Washing. The dropping of the skirting
clause was asked, as 10 secure its adj
vantages parts of Australian wool i'm
ported to only half the fleece. To do
away with the clause, it was said, would
give employment to 5000 men In this
country.
Personally. I would like much high
er duty thar j. cents" said Mr.. Law
renee. but the growers limit their de-
msnds to that figure
When the speaker asserted that Au-
stralian wool could be put on ship at
Melbourne al a cost of 8 cents pound,
Mt Wheeler of Alabama commented:
And that is the wool on which you ask
"a cents duty
well. "a and is So cents, and that
wool VIII bring from to cents more
tnan ours in Ohio. which would leave US
only about % cents. If people VIII give
us luxuries they should pay a luxurious
duty"
Gould a pound of Australian wool be
brought into this country at "A cents?"
asked Chairman Dingley.
There would be. Anyway, II would
transfer cur trade from Australia where
we have 10 pay in gold. TO South Amer
lea, where we could exchange agricul-
tUral implements and goods for their
wool.
Continuing. Mr.. Lawrence urged that
China wool should be cl2ssed as first
class. otherwise there would be an in
flux which would kill the American bust
ness incidentally he referred to the
ad valorem system as me most infer
nal scheme ever invented by rascals on
earth
MAKE RATES PROSPECTIVE.
As a plan 10 prevent a flood OF inn
ports pending the passage OF a bill Judge
Lawrence suggested that congress pass
at the present session a bill declaring
that all articles imported after the first
day OF the first session OF the Fifty-ffth