Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-05
HEARING ON WOOL COMPLETED
House Committee Continues Tariff
Hearings Until December 10.
SUBPOENA WITNESSES
Wool Growers from Different Parts
of the Country Give Their
Views ON Tariff Reduce
ton.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE house COM
mittee on ways and means yesterday dc
cided to continue the tariff hearings until
December 70.
Chairman Payne was authorized to Offer
a resolution in the house when congress
convenes on Monday which will give the
committee authority to subpoena witnesses
for those supplementary hearings. Tomor-
row is the last day Of the original schedule
of hearings, but on Saturday Herbert
Miles, chairman of the tariff committee
of the National Association OF Manufac-
turers, will appear before the committee.
Other witnesses also are expected to an
pear Saturday and Monday there will be
a supplementary hearing on the lead
schedule. The other sessions Will take
place on days designated by Chairman
Payne, 1t is believed some will be held
occasionally throughout the short session
of congress.
VIII Consider Tarin BiII.
TIL committee will begin the considera-
ton Of the new tariff bill as soon as the
record up to this time has been printed.
Briefs may be filed by parties interested
any time before December IS.
Chairman Payne would not saw what
witnesses would be summoned IL the power
to subpoena is granted, but It is generally
understood that ]. w. Van Cleave, presi-
dent OF the National Association Of Manu-
facturers, will be on the list.
An indication of the unsatisfactory condi-
ton existing at the present hearings was
given by Mr.. Boutell, republican member
from Illinois, at today's hearing on the
Wool tariff. He had received a very UNI
satisfactory reply from a witness.
1 understand that you are not under
OATH said Mr.. Boutell. but I hone that
some time soon the committee Will havs
an opportunity to hear witnesses which It
viii feel at liberty to cross-examine at
pleasure"
Chairman Payne was authorized to con-
tihue the hearings at an executive meet
ing OF the committee following the noon
recess Nc witnesses were examined after
| recess.
Hans Schmidt of Buffalo. a renresenta-
tive Of the wool pulling business. advocates
a greater differential in the duties on the
wool fleece and the wool on the skin
~contending that 1t was a necessity II the
wool pulling industry in this country was
10 survive. He claimed that under the
present tariff the packers are absorbing all
of that business.
For the National Wool Growers asso-
cation, j. NJ. Wilson of Wyoming asked
that the present rates of duty on wool be-
retained. He said that the wool growers
are in debt and asserted that every shop
In Wyoming is mortgaged.
Andrew ]. Soles, who asked for a gen
eral reduction in the wool schedule. said
that Australian lambs wool is a better
grade than the American wool.
A. s. Erickson, Utah wool grower. asked
for the continuation of the present tariff
on wool, as did d.. NJ. Campsey, a sheep
grower of Pennsylvania; L. ]. Ewing, who
raises sheep In New Mexico. and Mrs. E.
Bonnemort, a wool grower of Utah.
Committee Hears Woman.
Mrs. Bonnemort is the only woman who
has appeared before the during
the tariff hearings. She told of the diff
ficulties and hardships of the wool growers
of Utah during the operation of the Wilson
tariff law.
That was during a democratic admin
istration.' she said, but we are now en-
Joying the blessings OF a republican ad.
ministration and we appeal to the honor
able members of that party for protec-
ton"
The republicans enjoyed a laugh at the
expense OF the democratic members. Mrs
Bonnemort urged the retention of the pres
ent duties.
w. NJ. Cullen, who said he was a demo
cratic wool grower Of Ohio, and that nc
was a protectionist also, spoke against any
reduction in the tariff. Mr.. Erickson said
the Utah wool growers made an average
profit of 8 per cent. I'VE are not getting
protection to the extent of II cents Of thu
tariff" he said. THE foreign wool i'm.
ported is 'skirted' so that its shrinkage lie
only So per cent, compared with a shrink
age of Ga per cent of American wool"
The hearing on the wool schedule was
practically completed when the committee