Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-03
TARIFF VITAL
TO THE WOOL
INDUSTRY
LOW DUTY SPELLS RUIN
COMMITTEE is TOLD
Representatives of Sheep
Growers and Manufacturers
Appear With Protest Against
Change in Dingley Law,
lBy Morning journal Special Leased wirsI

IBy Morning journal Special Leased wireI
Washington, Dec During con
sderation of the tariff on wool, wool
en- manufactures and carpets. which
was begun by the house ways and
means committee at today's hearing
General Charles H Grosvenor, for
mer congressman from Ohio, appear
ed for the wool growers of Ohio,
You can't reduce the duty on wool
as it stands without destroying the
industry" he told the committee.
THE industry is now fairly profit
able"
General Grosvcnor said that under
the low rate of duty on wool imposed
by the Wilson bill, the number of
sheep raised in one county of Ohio de-
creased from $4,000 to $4,000 within
four years.
representative Clark, of Missouri
later secured the admission from the
former representative from Ohio that
this reduction was at least in part due
to the increased value of land in Ohio.
General GroSvenOr asserted that
the production of wool increased when
the Dingley tariff was enacted. He
said that a reduction in the tariff on
wool has never made the price OF
in this country cheaper Cen
eral Grosvenor said he favored tariff
revision and voted for it,
The sheep breeders of New York
were represented by e. l.. Dana, of
Avon, n. Y. He claimed that the
present tariff on wool is the lowest
under which the sheep industry can
survive.
Theodore Justice, of Philadelphia,
VINO claimed that he represented the
consumers, said that the existing tariff
Is satisfactory as revenue producer
Archibald Moore. a wool dealer Of
West Virginia. ana p. q. Johnson,
the Idaho wool growers,
both spoke against reduction in the
wool tariff
William whitman, of Boston, rep
esenting the National Wool Manufac4
urers and the American Association
# Wooden and Worsted Manufactur-
rs, spoke against any tariff agitation !
IS being more harmful in it's effects |
han could be compensated for by any |
hanges the Woolen industry may de- !
ire. He said that there is no wool |
monopoly or trust and that a reduc-
ion in the tariff would result in a re-
uction in wages.
Nearly the entire afternoon session
'as taken up in the questioning of Mr..
Whitman. Representative Crumpack
r. of Indiana, read statistics which
howed that the duty on cheap blan-
cts equals an ad valorem ruty of 165
er cent; that the duty on cheap
orsteds equals 1875 per cent ad va
rem and l05 per cent on cheap
ress goods.
DO you believe more than 100 per
INT duty is necessary to protect any
of woolens % asked
.r. Crumpacker.
Mr.. Whitman again expostulated
lat the reduction in duties would be
sastrOus to the wooden trade.
Chairman Payne asked Mr.. Whit
an to file a statement showing a
inform duty of - is proper.
Champ Clark, of Missouri, took up
e questioning and endeavored to get
c witness to state the average earn
gs Of the wooden industry. Mr.. Whit
an would not vouch for the accu- a
ccy of some figures which he quot
], giving the average dividends at
ON to per cent. He admitted !
at he desired protection rather on '
count of the uncertainty of the fu
re than because of any urgent ne c
ssity for it at this time.
Mr.. Clark questioned Mr. Whitman r
tn regard to the part he played 90 y
g framing OF the Wilson and Ding Z
7 tariff bills. securing the admission
at Mr. Whitman had been very ac- q
-e In suggesting the wording Oi va y
'us paragraphs. u
The place you get in your wei rk Is o.
{ in the house of representatives or .
the ways and means committee but Z
is in the senate, isn't it," inquired v
r. Clark n
No" replied Mr. Whitman. but ] u
ow what you have before YOU. n Il q
anonymous pamphlet 81
The pamphlet to which he referred h
Is later placed in the record at Mr
irk's request. and he gave tine name "
the author as Frank 2. Ben lett OF u
stOn. II purported to infol m the u
asent ways and means committee as n
"how tariff laws are framed and j.
" an exorbitant duty upon wool
,ducts was concealed in the Ding 50
law by the cunning man pulatiou 81
:. " ID. North and Wiliia m Whit Il
n. II declared that Mr. Eorth. who b'
now the director of the census was y
gaged as a clerk FOR the senate fin
- committee while he Was secre- al
y of the Association of wool Man a.
cturers. Of which Mr whitman II bl
erts. vas the principal fa tor The a.
,klet also stated that Mr. y 1rth vas pi
scented with $1,000 for MS services 81
lie he was with the committee by
Whitman and his associass, M
dr Whitman told the c-M'tfef o.
Z the s.. 200 was given tQ ~ >,st On
ause his salary was verT - ~
continued on Page 2. 81