Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-08
WOOL MANUFACTURES.
Representatives Thereof Heard by
Tariff Trainers.

WASHINGTON. January THE wool
manufacturers were 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 assoc
citation counselled moderation in fixing
rates, and expected only adequate pro-
lection such as experience had proved
was necessary TO enable them to continue
and extend the industry. They desired a
chance to reopen their mills, but they
neither asked nor desired excessive du-
ties being convinced that the best inte-
rests of the wool-growing and wool-manu-
featuring interests would be protected by
the enactment OF a conservative and rea-
sonable tariff. and that some promise Of
permanence would thus exist. Constant
change IN the tariff was an evil only less
marked than rate too low TO permit
competition with foreigners. The manu-
facturers hsd recently had experience
enough In this line to last lifetime.
1t was a demonstrated fact that the
wool manufacturers suffered in the tariff
revision of 1894 q discrimination more
marked and damaging than any other
manufacturing industry. Whether this
was done purposely or inadvertently was
not of present moment; the fact that IL
was done was shown, first, by the direct
effects upon them, and, second. by the
evidence Of the impOrtations. The months
Immediately preceding the revision Of 1894.
and The two years subsequent, included
the most disastrous period in the history
Of American manufacture. This state
ment was made without any reservation
or qualification whatever. During a great
IT af he Irt Of ba
and worsted machinery of the country
had been wholly or practically idle. and
much of the remainder had made goods
that were either marketed at a less or
were still in stock
The domestic market for woollen goods
has since been i'm a state Of absolute de-
moralization. At the present moment
there was more machinery in operation
than during the summer: but the general
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 1894; other causes had
been at work, and all Industries had SUI
fered. But there must have been a spe-
cial cause why the wool manufacture
had suffered far more than any other,
ana why the prospect of general busi-
ness revival brought no promise OF any
Improvement TO this particular Industry.
The special cause was revealed in the
records of wooilen imports. a table Of
which he presented.
The manufacturers, he said did not
resist the restoration Of the wool duty.
They afiirmatively favored a reasonable
duty on wool, because they believed in
tho policy Of protection. and were will
ing to make sacrifices. in order that that
nolicy fnfght lac aDuiiel to all prOlucts
which needed it.
Thomas Sampson, who operates a
small mill in Watervile stated to the
committee that If the conditions Of the
past few years continued al the woollen-
mills of the country must close.
G.. c. Moore, OF Maine, said that what
all manufacturers wanted was tariff OF
such moderate nature that IL would not be
upset in "A few years. The change from
the Mckinley to the Wilson bill had cost
his company $4,000. He said he had
been a Democrat ali his life and was one
of the original ''free-wool" men. lie had
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
Republican vote for Mckinley caused con-
siderable am sement. and Mr.. Grosvenor,
OF Ohio, remarked that he was getting in
good company. and hoped he would stay.
Robert Stuntz, of New York, a mat and
rug-maker, appealed for protection for his
comparatively new industry against the
cheap labor and competition of Germany.
The committee adjourned till tomorrow,
when Schedule C-Earthenware, Glass
ware. Marble, and Stone" will be con-
sidered