Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-01-11
WOOL AND TARIFF.
WHY CHANGES IN DUTY SCHEDUESL
ARE UNDESIRABLE.
Unstable Conditions Would He Injurious
Alike to manufacturers and to American
Farmers Engaged In sheep and Wool
Growing.

the years domestic wool clip by Mr.. S.
N. D. North of the National Associa-
ton of Wool Manufacturers. ReciprOc-
ity schemes and methods for the bene-
fit of one industry at the expense of
others have thrown upon Congress an
avalanche of literature. and some OF
the recommendations indicate that
selfish constituents are willing to sac
rifice the sheep raisers if they can
thereby secure personal profit. That
no change is desirable in the tariff on
wool will appear obvious after little
study of experiences in this industry
under the last three revenue bills. Dur
ing the wise operations of the McKin-
ley law domestic ranches increased and
the home production of wool rose to
348. 53S,13S pounds in 1893. while i'm
ports were but 55.152, $50 pounds. I'm
mediately after the enactment of the
Wilson bill foreign wool was thrown
upon this market in such abundance
that imports rose to $50. s52 .O26 pounds
in one year, an increase of $50 per cent
over the receipts from abroad under
the protective tariff, and exceeding
even the high record of domestic yield
Meanwhile the home grower found no
profit in competing with Australian
and other cheaply raised wool, so that
sheep were sold for mutton and invest
ors in the industry lost large sums of
money. Tine annual yield in the United
States steadily decreased until only
259, 153, Isl pounds were clipped in 1897.
With the resumption of a reasonable
barrier against outside producers there
came a renewal of domestic interest
in this crop, and each year brought
a larger total, until the report just
issued shows d clip of 302, SOP 1928
pounds.
This question of prices, has been the
most remarkable feature of the situa-
ton. although less bewildering when
studied in connection with the records
of IMPORTS and general business condi-
tiOns. According to the circular of
Coates Bros, one hundred grades of
domestic wool averaged 22.78 cents q
pound on May 1, 1892, when the coun-
try was prosperous under a sound tariff
law and wooden mills were actively
engaged. By September l, 1896, the
full effect of free trade was being felt,
and the same grades of wool averaged
1922 cents pound. This fall of 46
per cent in price was not only due to
the competition of outside production,
but also to the disastrous condition of
all industries and business under low
tariffs, which rendered the wage earn
ers unable to purchase freely of warm
clothing. With the reversal of tariff
policy and restoration of duty ON
wool there came prompt recovery in
this business, together with such conf
dence that the speculative influence be-
came prominent. Despite large stocks
there was imitation of prices and in De-
24.7O cents, nearly two cents higher
than in 1892. That the advance was
obtained too rapidly has since appeared
in the reaction to 17.06 cents, July 1,
1901. Numerous and heavy failures were
precipitated by these erratic huctua-
tons, not only among growers, but
dealers and manufacturers Misfor-
tunes must of necessity follow uasta BILE
conditions, and these irregularities are
directly traceable to tinkering with the
tariff.
1t is not difficult to understand why
the recovery in all departments of this
industry has been slow. and only with
in the last few months have distinctly
satisfactory conditions prevailed. In
addition to the enormous quantity of
wooden goods of all kinds that were ac-
cumulated by importers, the receipts
of raw wool from abroad during the
three years ending July 1, 1897,
amounted to 1877, 797, 4O5 pounds. No
amount of prosperity could absorb this
enormous stock in a short time, and it
was a short-sighted policy that permit
ted the violent advance of prices, which
was naturally followed by severe re-
action. Even after the food of cheap
foreign wool had subsidized home pro-
ducers and holders of domestic wool
made the mistake of initiating quota
tons all out of proportion to the gains
made in prices for the finished prod
ucts. Consumptive demand, it is true,
was greatly increased by the healthy
tone of ell business, but the rise in
price of wooden goods was slow. Manu-
facturers were compelled to resort to
the usual method under the cireum-
stances, which was a reduction in quail
ity. Shoddy and cheap substitutes were
used, while aduteration with cotton
was general Ultimately the lack of
orders produced a salutary effect on
the wool market, and prices were
brought down to a point where the
mills could do business at a profit.
Within very short time the situation
has developed signs of an encouragine
nature. and slight recovery in prices
is recorded Manufacturers have or
ders assuring full Oceupation of mills