The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-29
ARGENTINE CONVENTION.
Probable Effect of the Treaty on
Wool Interests

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-The follow
ing official statement of facts regarding
the Argentine convention is given out for
public information and to correct mis-
apprehension as to the effect of the
treaty on the wool interests:
The Argentine tariff system involves
not only fixed and high rate Of du-
ties on imports but also provides for an
aforo, or valuation, which is to be fixed
from time to time by executive author
1ty BY this system duties are often
eftectually increased without any new
legislation, and at the will of executive
authorities. The object of the govern
ment, therefore, was to obtain reduc-
lions of tariff on our exports as far as
possible, and to reduce the aforo in order
to establish a valuation beyond which
they could not go as a basis for fixing
valuation
The convention not only secures to the
United States exporters a reduction on
Oregon pine and Southern lumber in fact
all kinds of undressed lumber, but fixes
the aforo, and on Oregon and yellow pine
reduces it over 40 per cent. The duty
on cotton seed oil is reduced about 80
per cent On bacon and many food prod
ucts it Is reduced by 20 per cent. On
paratt1ne wax largely in demand there)
the charges were prohibitive, and the
duty Is now reduced 80 per cent and the
aforo reduced by 6212 per cent. On canned
salmon and other canned goods the re-
duction Of duty is so per cent and the
aforo is reduced by varying percentages
from 80 to so per cent On windmills
largely used) there is reduction OF SO
per cent and Of aforo 60 per cent. On
dried or eYaporated fruits (apples, ETC.,
etc. the duty is reduced 50 per cent. On
cotton ducking. white or colored, the
aforo is reduced SO 1-3 per cent On sail
Irvine and cotton rope the duty is re-
duced 20 per cent and the aforo SO 1-3
per cent.
ION the other hand the Argentine gov
eminent demanded reciprocal conces-
sions on the few articles she sends this
market. Among these was wool, and
American wool growers have expressed
fears that this would prove injurious to
the domestic interest. The total i'm
ports of woods into the United States for
1898 from all countries was 76 900
pounds. OF this, from Argentine came
only $4,000 pounds, which is a very
small portion of our aggregate importa-
ton. 1t appears that our wooden fac
tories require, Notwithstanding high du-
ties, a certain amount of foreign wool
to supplement the domestic product.
There is no proposal for any reduction
of wool duties in favor of any other
foreign country. 1t is evident that the
proposed reduction for Argentine woods
alone can have no effect on our market
prices. The majority Of the wool is Of
the coarsest class (for carpets, etc.,
which is not at all or but little supplied
by this country. If other countries i'm
posed the same high duties with our
selves upon raw woods imported for man
ufacture, this reduction Of duty
would turn the tide Of wool
supply to the United States.
But other nations have adopted the pol,
icy of free admission of wool. Conse-
quently, the Argentine wool seeks the
European free markets-France Ger
many, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, etc.
and will continue to do so.