The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1902-01-02
WOOL AND TARIFF.
WHY CHANGES IN DUTY scHEDuEsI
ARE UNDESIRABLE
Unstable Conditions Would Re Injurious
alike to anafacturers and Il, american
Farmers Engaged in Sheep and Wool
Growing.


the years domestic wool clip by Mr. S.
N D. North of the National Associa-
tioE 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
34S, 53S, 13S pounds in 1893, while i'm
ports were but So. 152, 585 pounds Inn
mediately after the enactment of the
Wilson bill foreign wool was thrown
upon this market in such abundance
that imports rose to $50, S52, 026 pounds
in one year, an increase of $50 per cent
over the receipts from abroad under
the protective tariff, and exceeding
even the nigh record of domestic yield
Meanwhile the home grower found no
profit in competing with Australian
and other cheap1y raised wool, that
sheep were sold for mutton and invest
ors in the industry lost large sums of
money. Tne annual yield in the United
States steadily decreased until only
259, 1913 PSI 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
larger total until the report just
issued shows a clip of 302, 500, 32S
pounds.
This question of prices has been the
most remarkable feature of the situa-
ton. although
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 22.7S cents a
pound on May 1, 1892, when the conn
try was prosperous under 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 a 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 a duty
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-
cember, 1899, the average price was
24.70 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 L,
1901. Numerous and heavy failures were
precipitated by these cratic huctua-
tions, not only among growers, but
dealers and manufacturers. Misfor-
tunes must of necessity follow unstable
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 l. 1897,
amounted to 7S7, 797, 405 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 flood of cheap
ducers and holders of domestic wool
made the mistake of Initiating quota
tions 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 circum-
stances, which was reduction in quail
ity. Shoddy and cheap substitutes were
used, while adulteration with cotton
was general. Ultimately the lack of
orders produced "a sa1utary effect on
the wool market, and prices were
brought down to a point where the
mills could do business at a profit
Within a very short time the situation
has developed signs OF an encouraging
nature, and q slight recovery in prices
is recorded Manufacturers have or
ders assuring full occupation of mills
until well into next year, and within
few weeks their purchases of raw ma