New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-11

DIFFICULT PROBLEMS Which toNrhONT THE
MAJORITY or THE WAYS AND MEANS CON.
MITTEE-rH- METAL. LUMBER. SILK
AND WOOL SCHEDULES.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rRisuSEj
Washington, Feb iO.-The majority OF the Com.
mIttee on Ways and Means has not yet finished III
preliminary review OF the schedule Of metals. and
will be some time before that schedule receives III
finishing touches. One feature OF IL which was
most severely battered In 1894 was that OF cutlery
and IL liz one that Is receiving careful consideration
by the committee. Some changes OF classification
as well as an advance Of rates and the restoration
Of specific duties throughout. will probably be found
necessary not only to protect domestic manu-.
facturers but also for the sake OF revenue
The consideration OF the lumber schedule has beer
suspended IN order to obtain some additional data
and also on account OF some opposition shown by
American lumbcrmcn who own stumpage In Canada
and fear that the rempostion Of the duty on lumber
may interfere with their business. IT has been sus.
gested TO them that II the duty on manufacturing
lumber should be restored, the Dominion Govern.
ment might reinpose the export duty saw-loe,
destined for American sawmills. The Importation
of saw-ogs (Which are free OF duty from Canada
large although the Increase has not been heavy
since the duties on imported manufactured lumber
were removed IN 1891
The clashng OF interests IN the lumber Industry
the attention OF the committee has been called. In
fact there Is hardly a schedule In which the samn
thing does not happen. The manufacturer OF An
article whose raw material" which he imports n
itself manufactured CIR partially manufactured
product, naturally favors low rate Of duty the
same, whereas the man who manufacture the same
kind Of raw material" either TO sell for use In
the manufacture Of the finished goods naturally de.
mands q higher rate of duty. This happens In all
the textile Industries, and the committee finds the
task OF reconcng the differences and adjusting
rates on an equitable basis by no means easy
one A difference OF this has arisen in regard
TO the silk schedule which Is giving some troubls
Of goods who imported raw material which
Is silk In a partially manufactured state assert that
the larger manufacturers who manufacture these
raw materials well as the finished products
are trying TO freeze them out
or course the perennial struggle between the WOOL
growers and the manufacturers OF woollen goods 10
again active Both sides are strongly represented
The representatives Of the wool-growers held con-
ference yesterday. and the representatives OF the
manufacturers held one last night. The former
agreed 10 dema nd a schedule OF rates on wool which
would be higher than that of 1890 the manufacur.
ers' representatives disposed 10 favor rates on
manufactured goods somewhat lower than those Of
1890 but on the condition that the domestic grower
should also consent 10 some concessions. Repre-.
sentatives of both sides saw ana consulted With
Chairman Dngley and other members OF the Wan
and Means Committee. and submitted their respec.
tive views A Joint conference OF the representa-
lives OF the WoO-growrrs and dealers and woolen
manufacturers was held to-day. and member OF Il
afterward said he hopeful that an equitable
has might be found on which all OF the Interests
concerned could he harmonzed. but he added that
the difficulties DE overcome in order 10 reach such
an understa nding appeared 10 be greater than ever
before In his experience.