The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-08
WOOL MEN TELL THEIR WANTS
A REASONABLE TARIFF is ALL
THEY ASK, SAYS NORTH.

Interests of the Wool Growing and
Wool Misunderstanding Interests
Would BE Benefitted by Some
Promise of PermRncncy-COnsta
Change In the Tariff Recognized as
nm EViI-The Domestic Market I'm IA
state of Decentralization.
Washington Jan. THE wool manu-
facturers were well represented before the
ways and means committee to-day.
S. N. d. North of Boston, secretary of
the national association, presented the
views of that body. He said the associ-
alton counselled moderation in fixing rates
and expected only adequate protection,
such as experience had proven was neces-
sary to enable them to continue and ox-
tend the industry. They desired a chance
to reopen their mills; but they neither
asked nor desired excessive rates, being
convinced that the interests of both the
wool-growing and wool-manufacturing in
terests would be protected by the enact
ment Of a conservative and reasonable
tariff, and that some promise of perma-
nence would thus exist
Constant changes in the tariff was an
evil only less marked than a rate too low
to permit competition with foreigners
The manufacturers had recently had ex-
perience enough in this line to last a life
time. 1t was a demonstrated fact that the
wool manufacturers suffered in the tariff
revision of 1894 a discrimination more
marked and damaging to them than any
other manufacturing industry.
Whether this was done purposely or in
advertenHy was not of present moment,
the fact that 1t was done was proved, first
by the direct effects upon the manufac-
ture, and second by the evidence of the
importations. The months Immediately
preceding the revision of 1894 and the two
years subsequent included the most disas-
trous period in the history of Amencan
wool manufacture. This statement was
made without any reservation or qualih-
cation whatever. During a great part of
this period the bulk of the wooden and
worsted machinery of the country had
been wholly or practically idle, much of the
remainder had goods that were either
marketed at a loss, or were stlil In
stock The domestic market for woolen
goods had since been in state of abso-
lutte decentralization. At the present mo-
ment there was more machinery in opera
ton than during the summer; but the gen
eral condition Of the manufacture was as
bad as bad could be. The manufacturers
were not so blind as to attribute the whole
of this prolonged paralysis to the tariff
revision of 1884, other causes had been al
work and all kinds of industries have
suffered. But there must have been a spe-
cial cause why the wool manufactures had
Nhnn NJ
why the prospect of a general business
revival brought no promise of any I'M
provement to this particular industry. the
special cause was revealed in the records
of wooden imports, table of which ne
presented The manufacturers, he said,
did not resist the restoration
Of the wool duty, they affirmatively fav-
ored a reasonable duty on wool because
they believed in the policy of protection,
and were willing to make sacrifices In or
der that that policy might be applied TO
all products which needed it..
Thomas Sampson, who operates a small
mill in Waterville, Me-, stated to the com
mittee that il the conditions of the past
few years continued all the woollen mills
of the country must close.
G. c. Moses of Maine said that what all
manufacturers wanted was a tariff of such
a moderate nature that 1t would not be
unset in a few years. The change from
the Mckinley to the Wilson bill had cost
his company 100000. He said that he had
been a democrat all his life, and was one
of the original free WOOL men. He 1ad
changed his mind regarding wool. how
ever. having become convinced that con-
ditions here did not warrant the admis-
sion of that product free of duty. His
statement that he had cast his first re-
publican vote for Mckinley caused con-
siderable amusement, and Mr.. Grosvenor
of Ohio remarked that he was getting In
good company, and hoped he would stay.
Robert Stuntz of New York, mat and
rug maker, appealed for protection for his
comparatively young industry against the
cheap labor competition Of Germany
THE committee adjourned Tomorrow,
schedule B--earthware glassware, marble
apa stone will he considered,