The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-01-07
The Ways and MefnS Committee
Reaches an Important Item
of Tariff.


WASHINGTON. Jan. THE hearing
of the wool schedule Of the tariff
brought many farmers and manfactur.
ers to the ways and means committee
room. The first speaker was John. q.
Clarke of the Washington County (pa)
Wool Growers association. He spoke
strongly of the effects of the free wool
clause of the Wilson law, which he de.
clared had Frustrated the business in
the United States. The experiment of
free trade had been crime. The
value of lands had declined and sheep
men in all parts of the country had
been driven from business. The sheep
raisers asked only moderate duty that
would enable them to continue in busl-
ness.
The Democratic members Of the COM
mittee probed the witness for some
time. Mr.. Wheeler Of Alabama asked
if clothing for the working men had
not been cheaper under free wool, TO
which Mr.. Clarke replied that most of
the clothing sold now was shOddy.
Importations of shoddy had increased
under the law.
One hour was given to Judge William
Lawrence, pres dent Of the National
, Wool Growers association, to present
the views Of that body.
The statement was an exhaustive e.
view of the wool industry under differ
ent rates dur.ur the last half century.
Speaking of the effects of the Wilson
lac. ln Innlarrl tiNst had cfn
one. third of the WOOL growing business
and closed one half of the mills in the
country. There had been no adequate
protection on wool since 1867.
Tho Political Aspect of the Case.
Referring to the political aspects of
matters, Mr.. Lawrence said that the
election of Mckinley had been accom-
plished by the wool growers in half
dozen doubtful states who would have
voted for Bryan ana free silver had
they not considered protection Oh wool
more important than free silver. If
this protection were not given, there
would be a free silver congress two
years hence, and in four years a free
silver president and congress.
it's author had been moderately pro-
tective on wool, but the addition of
the skirting 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 decreased 100000 a year, with a
loss of $50, ,OOO, 900 according to official
statistics. Unofficial and more ac-
curate figures proved tho loss to wool
growers through the Wilson rates to
have $l7S, 200, 900. Mutton sheep, which
should be raised in this country, were
being imported from Canada.
What Wool Growers Want.
The schedule asked by the Wool
Growers association was IL cents q
washed and 81 cents on secured Aus.
tralian unwashed woods to be consid.
cred as washed.
On account of it's superior ightness
they said, the Australian had an advan
tage over South American, losing com.
paratively little weight in washing
The dropping of the skirting clause wa.
asked, as to secure its advantages the
parts of Australian wool imported
amounted to only half the fleece Tt
do away with this clause, it was said
would give employment to 5000 men il
this country.
Would Like to See 1t Higher.
PERSONALLY, would like a mucl
higher duty than II cents" said Mr.
Lawrence, "but the growers limit thei
demands to that figure"
When the speaker asserted that Aus
tralian wool could be put on shi]
board at cents pound, Mr.. Wheels
of Alabama, commented "and that i
the wool OIL which you ask "a cent
duty"
Wei. "a and . is 33 cents and tina
wool will bring from to cents NOR
than ours in Ohio, which would leav
us only about 25 cents. Ii people vii
use luxuries, they should pay a lux
urious duty"
Would pound of Australian woo
be brought into this country At Z
cents" asked Chairman Dingley.
There would. Any way, it woul
transfer our trade from Australis