The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-07
Its ~Blighting Effects Apparent i'm the
10 Breeders and WOrkingmen.
AN APPEAL FOR PROTECTION
ELABOR Il STATISTICS PRESENT.
ED BY NH. LAWRENCE, OF OHIO.
Schedule of Rates Submitted to the
Ways and Means Committee-Th eO-
dOrc Justices statement

C-N dli- u liz Nool S(lttu-
ule furnished the text for the speakers be-
fore the way and means committee to-
day. Judge William Lawrence, of Ohio.
the president of the National Wooigrow-
ers' Association. and Theodore Justice, a
Philadelphia wool dealer, consumed most
of the time. The recommendations of the
growers were for Il rate of L cents on UNI
washed woods, u cents on washed and So
on secured. the Australian unwashed TO
be classed as washed, and all rates to be
advanced one-half cent Il year for six
years. Mr.. Justice presented "a great ar
ray of statistics to show the ruin of the
wool business by the Wilson law. lie COM
bated the rates demanded by the growers
as too high. and stated that the decrease
in the prices Of goods to consumers under
the Wilson law was equivalent to the re-
duction in the tariff. The manufacturers
of woolens will have their inning to-mor-
row.
The first speaker was John CT. Clark, of
the Washington County Pennsylvania
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 Il crime. The value of lands
had declined and sheep men in all parts of
the country had been forced from the
business. The sheep raisers asked only IA
moderate duty that would enable them to
continue in business.
The Democratic members of the commit
tee prObed the witness for some time. Mr..
Wheeler. of Alabama, asked il clothing for
the workingmen had not been cheaper I'M
der free wool, TO which Mr.. Clark replied
that most of the clothing sold now was
SnOdGN. ImDCrtdtlOnS OF ShOddN had m
creased under the law.
LAWRENCE'S STATEMENT.
One hour was given to Judge William
Lawrence. president of the National Wool
Growers Association, to present the re-
quest of that body. The statement was an
exhaustive review of the wool industry un-
der different tariff rates during the last
half century. Speaking Of the effects Of
the Wilson law, he declared that it had
stopped one-third of the wool-growing
business and closed one-half of the mills in
the country. There had been no adequate
protection OH wool since 1861. Referring
TO the political aspects of the matter, Mr..
Lawrence averred that the election of Mr..
Mckinley had been accomplished by the
votes of the wool growers IN a half dozen
doubtful States, who would nave voted for
bryan and free silver had they not consid-
cred protection on wool more important
than free silver. III this protection were not
given there would be d free-silver Con-
gress two years hence and i'm four years
a free-silver President and Congress. The
Mckinley bill. as it came from it's author,
had been moderately protective on wool.
but the addition of the skirting clause and
ad valorem rates made 1T disastrous Then
came the Wilson law. Under this law the
number of sheep in the United States had
decreased three million a year, with a
loss of 500, 600. 900. according to official state
ments. Unofficial and more accurate figures
proved the loss to wool growers through
the Wilson rates 10 have been Sis, 200. 900.
Mutton sheep should be raised in this
country that were being imported from
Canada. The schedule asked by the wool
growers association was IL cents a pound
or, all merino woods, q cents on washed
and 80 cents on secured. Australian I'M
washed woods to be considered as washed.
On account of its superior lightneSS, hey
said. the Australian had an advantage over
South American. losing comparatively little
weight in washing. The dropping of the
skirting clause was asked. so as to secure
it's advantages. The parts of Australian
wool imported amounted to only half the
fleece. To do away with this clause, it was
thousand men in this country. Personally
/ would like a much higher duty than Il
cents said Mr.. Lawrence. but the grow
ers limit their demand to that figure"
When the speaker asserted that Austral-
ian wool could be put on ship at Melbourne
at a cost of 8 cents a pound. Mr. Wheeler.
of Alabama. commented, and that is wool
on which you ask "a cents duty
well. "a and 9 cents is 33 cents. and that
wool will bring from 4 to 4 cents more
than ours in Ohio, which would leave us
only about % cents" said Mr.. Lawrence.
''If people will use luxuries they should
pay u luxurious duty
Would a pound of Australian wool be
brought into this country at "a cents?'
asked Chairman Dingley-
There would. Any way it would transfer
our trade from Australia. where we have
to pay in gold. to South Africa, where We
would exchange agricultural implements
and goods for their WOOL
AN INTERNAL
Continuing. Mr.. Lawrence urged that
China wool should be classed as first class,
otherwise there would be an influx which
would kill the American business. Incident
ally he referred to the adj valorem system as
1.-The most Internal scheme ever invented by
rascals on earth" As q plan to prevent a
food OF imports pending the passage of "A
bill. Judge Lawrence suggested that Con-
gress pass at the present session a bill de-
claring that all articles imported after the
first day of the first session of the Fifty
fifth Congress be subjected TO the rates of
duty of any law passed by that Congress
when the new rates are an advance. bonds
to be given by importers for such pay
ments before goods can be withdrawn.
The senator from Montana Garter on
my right. says the Senate might pass such
a bill by October interrupted Mr.. Ding
ley.
As Mr.. Lawrence was explaining that
under the schedule proposed by his associa-
ton. American wool rowers would sup
ply the home market in four years, Mr..
Dalzell 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.
why should we want any?" retorted
Mr.. Lawrence. amid laughter. Il mean
from wool" he amended. The country will
be prosperous and we can get revenue from
other sources.
Mr.. Turner, of Georgia, inquired If the
schedule had not really been Drawn to shut
out the higher grades of wool. which Mr..
Lawrence denied.
In reply 10 questions from Mr.. Turner.
Mr.. Lawrence said the average citizen
cry advance in the price of woods. The
point was then ELECTED that the woolgrow-
ers' plan proposed an annual increase of
one-half a cent a pound
And where would we finally land" in
CURED Mr.. Dingley.
The increase would end at 10 cents a
pound" was the explanation.
The consumer was represented at the
afternoon session by Theodore Justice. n
wool dealer of Philadelphia. He stated
Wilson law had slightly benefited the con-
sumner by a reduction in prices. the saving
had been greatly outweighed by the loss I'm
purchasing power. The gain by the lower
while the loss amounted TO more than S..
The average loss to the woolgrower had
been Sis2. So. while the mill hands and la
horers OF the United States had lost Ss5.-
100000 during the past year. The Mckin-
lev law had given the cheapest priced cloth
figures showing the effects of the tariff Of
1861 under which fiocks had increased - per