New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-03
CLARK MAKES CHARGES
SAYS INFLTENCE CAUSED
HIGH WOOL TARIFF.
Finds That S. n. d. North, Census
Director, Vas Once Employed
By Manufacturers.


Washington, Dec. "A decided sensation de-
veloped at to-day's tariff hearing, when, by the
careful questioning of William Whitman. presi-
dent Of the American Association of Wool
Manufacturers, who appeared to urge the reten-
ton of the present tariff on wool, Representative
Champ Clark developed the fact that the woollen
manufacturers had obtained what Mr.. Clark de-
clared a dispropOrtionately high duty on
what are known as wool tops" and had subse-
quently paid to s. N y. North who was given
a place with the Finance Committee (of the
Senate) as a clerk when the DngIey bill was
framed the sum of $1,000. The fact that Mr..
North is now the Director of the Census added
to the gravity of the case which Mr. Clark
sought to make. did also the virtual acknowI-
edgment by Mr. Whitman of certain letters
entered as evidence by Mr.. Clark. One of these
letters, alleged to have been addressed to Mr.
Whitman ana signed by Mr.. North, read as fol-
lows:
Washington June 20. 1897
Dear Mr.. Whitman: It is lucky I was here
and just in the position I am. II has taken
me whole day to work the matter and get
II right. and with Aldrich away there is no one
on TIE committee who knows anything abou It,.
But Allison and Platt trust me- and I expect
they will both agree to what I have asked.
went all over the matter with them last evening.
With regard to the 5000 pa yment which Mr.
Whitman acknowledges he made to Mr.. North,
he explained to the committee that the latter
had for some time been employed as secretary
Of the American Association of Wool ManUfact-
urers at a low salary, and that after the Ding
ley bill was framed the association decided that
his remuneration should be increased, and ac-
cordingly paid Mr.. North the money as back
pay
Director North, when seen this evening, said
that he was aware of the testimony submitted
to the Ways and Means Committee. but that it
did not seem to him that he greatly con-
cerned in it
"Of course, you are aware" said Mr.. North,
that 1 was not in the pay of the government at
all. l was merely a sort of private secretary TO
Senator AldriCh. and such compensation as I
received was paid to by the American AssO-
citation of Wool Manufacturers, of which I
the secretary. Beyond that 1 have nothing to
say, except that ii seems to me the affair is one
for Mr. Whitman to deal with rather than my
self"
Mr. Clark's questions were based upon infor-
nation obtained by him from Frank P. Ben
nett proprietor of The Wool and Cotton Re
porter" The information was presented TO the
committee in the form of a pamphlet and was
entered as evidence by Mr.. Clark, Mr. Bennett
declared, and replies to questions asked by Mr..
Clark substantiated his assertions that wool
tops were produced by carding and combng the
raw wool and that wool yarns could be OBJ
tanned only by spinning the tops, It Mr..
Clark's contention that a properly adjusted
tariff required that the duty each successive
stage of manufacture should be at least a triie
higher than that the preceding stage. and
that, with this in mind, the duty yarns
should be higher than that tops.
Mr. Bennett shows in his pamphlet that,
while the duty on tops, which are valued at
over 20 cents pound is four times the duty
on wool and 80 per cent ad valorem additional.
the duty yarns spun from these tops. with
additional labor and expense, is only three and
one-half times the duty wool, with 10 per
cent ad valOrem. He says
The feat of Mr.. Whitman consisted in cum
ningly arranging the phraseology of the Dingley
law that the duty upon tops should be higher
than the duty yarns. The result of this is
that, while foreign tops are permanently
Guided from our markets, worsted yarns
near the importing point as 10 compete disas-
trously with small domestic spinners and throw
the trade into the hands of the larger spinners
like the Arlington Mills which control the price
OF tops That is to say. the American top user
like Mr.. Whitman, who has a spinning plant
can hold the price of tops above the ability of
the small spinner to purchase and thus monopo-
lie a considerable portion OF the domestic mar
ket for worsted yarns whenever the foreign
yarns near the importing point.
Mr.. Bennett asserts that the duty tops
arranged by Mr.. Whitman partly through the
aid of Mr North. and he submits a number of
letters which passed between the two, and which
seem 10 indicate that there was thorough un-
derstanding, although in his first letter Mr.
North saws: Il cannot, after what has been
said to me in reference TO my confidential rela-
lions with the committee, keep you posted, as
would like to do"
When he was asked by Mr. CLARK concerning
these letters Mr. Whitman admitted their au-
thenticity and explained that they had been
made a matter of court record in Massachusetts.
but had been stolen from the books. Mr. Whit
man would not admit that the duty on wool tops
was exorbitant. and insisted that the entire wool
schedule was fair He dsclaimed any Intention
Of Injustice when he made suggestions as to the
proper duty. and declared that he was acting
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