The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-03-28
HOP GROWERS
WANT RELIEF
DUTY REMOVED ON WARP BAGGING
The Duty Now Imposed Makes Ex-
penscs of Hop Industry Much
Greater.

lG mop growers o. tut country
have taken up the matter of endeav-
oring to get congress to remove the
duty on warp bagging used for bail
ing of hops, and have addressed a
memorial to the Hon. Serene Payne
chairman of the ways and means
committee. 1t is necessary that the
hop growers get immediate action
IL anything is done at this session of
congress, and to this end petitions
have been left in various parts of
the country which the growers are
requested to sign at once. Those in
terested and living in this vicinity
can add their signatures to petitions
by calling at the office of H. B. Scud-
der.
Previous to the year 1902 single
warp jute bagging of 16 threads or
less to the square inch was admit
ted under the provisions of para
graph 344 of the tariff act of July "a,
1897, the duty being $40 one one
cent per square yard.
The importation of single warp
jute bagging made in the year 1902
and thereafter have been appraised
under and made to pay duty under
the provisions of paragraph Sal of
tie tariff act of July "a. 1897.
This paragraph carries a duty of
SIS cents per pound and Is per cent
ad valorem.
On several occasions importers of
jute bagging have appealed to the
United States general appraisers for
relief from the excessive duty on
single warp hop bagging.
According to our information and
belief no jute bagging for bailing is
manufactured in the United States,
except in Walla Walla, in the state
of Washington, where small guam
tity of bagging has for some years
been manufactured in the state pris-
on by convict labor. This prison
made bagging may not be legally ex-
ported from the state.
The bulk of the hop bagging i'm
ported comes from India and is made
by native coolie labor.
Previous to 1902 much of the hop
bagging imported was manufactured
In Dundee, Scotland, by Anglo-Saxon
labor.
Even with the high duty provided
under paragraph 341 of the tariff act
Of July "a, 1897, and levied on i'm
portations during the year 1902,
1903, 1904 and 1905, there has been
no jute bagging suitable for bailing
hops manufactured in the United
States, except in the Washington
state prison, as stated.
The imposition of this high duty
has worked hardship on the hop
growers of the United States, and it
has in no wise stimulated the manu-
featuring of hop bagging, except in
the state prison of Washington.
The annual production of hops in
the United States runs from 100000
to 100000 bales.
1t requires five running yards (6A
square yards) of bagging for each
bale of hops, or total of 1852, 800
to 1.S75,000 square yards. The duty
under the paragraph 341 amounts to
about two cents per yard. Under
paragraph 344 it is approximate
one-half cent per square yard.
The total import tax in the one
case is sS1,250.OO to s37,50O0O and
in the other s7S12.25 to s9375.00.
1t is evident that the imposition Of
this high rate of duty has neither:
Stimulated the domestic manufao-
ture of the goods. prevented the i'm
portation of the coolie made goods of
India. provided and considerable
revenue to the government.
On the other hand this imposition
Of this duty has: Worked a hard
ship on the hop growing industry OF
the United States. 1t has caused a
discrimination against the hop grow
ing industry as compared with cot
ton growing. 1t has caused an ele-
ment of risk and uncertainty as to
import duties to be levied, which has
had a tendency to unsettle values in
the United States market.
This unsettled state of the marEer
is highly injurious to the hop grow
ers; as when stocks are short they
must pay excessive prices, and when
there is a surplus spectators gen.
orally buy up the overplus, whils Tie
growers are suffering from the ex-
eessive low price, cow current for
hops.
It cost American hoI growers from
800 to $685. per acre annually 'nr
ZACH acre of hops cultivated an
harvest ID. Ninet FER cent of tbs
expense is for lab'-.
No other indus.:y ponds such a