New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Mr. North said it would be noted that the guam
tity OF cloths imported in the calendar year 1895
amounted nearly much the total importa-
OF such cloths in the three of 1891, 1892
and 1893 The heaviest importation in any single
year prior 1925 amounted IS PAS. i9j pounds. in
lse. The mporta;ons OF 1895 exceeded that by III
per cent, but it would be observed that the l47
per cent increase in the quantity had yielded an
increase of value amounting only to II per cent.
The total invoice value OF all manufactures OF
wool imported in 1895 amounted to s6OS19. S0 and
the duty-pad value to about so 10000 which
more than one-third of the total value of the do
nestle manufactures of woolen goods $3.50 600 0oO
in the year 1890. which Of industrial
tivity ana prosperity.
The figures also showed that the pound values
of imported woollen goods going down, while
the quantities imported rising. II the actual
values of the imported fabrics not decreasing
the character of the fabrics changng-there
a shifting 10 lower and cheaper qualities. thus
changing the basis on which the American manu-
facturer must carry on competition. The average
pound value OF the cloths imported in the year 1894
was 90 cents-the new rates wooens hav-
ing become operative until January !, lsS5-and in
the following year It only 50 cents. In the
three years % the total imporatons OF cloths
amounted 4..S90oo pounds. OF the total invoice
value OF S7.0lscO0. being an average pound value
OF $50 cents for the period In The year 1895 the
total importations OF such cloths had amounted TO
1000 0pO pounds. OF the invoice value OF s25,2s S.
being average pound value or t3 cents, or zoo
cents less than the average pound value of the
previous period.
LETTING IN CHEAP GOODS.
The fact was that the removal OF the weight
duties had let in large quantities of mean and
cheap goods which had heretofore been excluded
from the American market and "A new basis OF
competition had been established In these worth
less cloths-'the loves, and the meanest goods In
the whole world Mr.. North then exhibited a
number OF samples OF the shoddy goods made IN
Botey and Dewsbury. England. where the art of
manufacturing such goods-"thc first rudmcnts of
which American manufacturers have yet TO learn
has been carried 10 "A high degree OF perfection.
THE goods attractive In appearance but worth
ridculously low. Prices vary from one shilling
tc5 cents) shilling pence t31i2 cents) II yard.
one sample OF the shilling goods that he exhibited
consisted OF a cotton warp and filling Of worsted
waste and was handsomely finished. There Is no
new wool whatever in g." said Mr.. North "and II
single pound OF secured wool The importa,ions
OF these shoddy goods had already increased the
use Of shoddy and muneo In this country TO an
enormous extent
Mr. North next took up the subject OF under
valuations and said that the manufacturers did
duty imposed they did Of the ad yalorcm sys-
TEN and the mode OF collecting he duties The
nominal duties amount 10 10 and 81 per cent but
the manufacturers could and would produce facts
to show that the duties actually collected did not
exceed u 10 IS per cent. and In many cases ever
sisted Of goods consigned to agents Of foreign man.
ufacturers In tho United States and this Increased
the temptations and opportunities to defraud tho
revenue and deprive domestic manufacturers Of the