The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-03
Committee Wants to Dig
Into Alleged Scandal in
the Tax on Wool.
BOUTELL HOPES
NORTH WILL TELL
Illinois Member Thinks If Aught
Is Wrong in Dingley Bill, II
Should Be Fixed.

The disclosures made to the Ways
and Means Committee yesterday re-
garding the manner In which the wool
en- schedules in the DingIey tarlR were
drawn up and the influences which
were at work viii undoubtedly result
I'm an investigation.
Representative BouteU. a member of
the Ways and Means Committee, In
dicated today that he was anxious to
get al the bottom of the entire mat
ter, and if the committee succeeds i'm
getting permission from the House 10
compel the attendance Of witnesses
and put them under oath. 10 is con-
sldered probable that considerable more
Eght Will be thrown on the matter
The Director OF the Census. S. n.
ID. North who. according 10 the tesli-
mouy yesterday kept certain OF the
woolen men in New England posted as
70 the progress being made in framing
the woolen schedule may be asked to
appear before the committee To ex-
plain his action, despite the fact that
he protests that he was not then in the
employ OF the Government
Il trust that the time will come.
said Mr. Bouteu today, when this
committee viii be in "a position to get
al the bottom of the facts Of the
charges that were made in regard TO the
Woolen schedule at the time the DingIey
bill was drawn up"
New Bill Vague
Mr.. BOutelI called attention To the
fact that paragr tph $50 Of the Mckinley
hii described specially the nature Of
the tax TO be imposed on wool. while
paragraph 364 Of the Dingley bill, which
superseded the Mckinley law. is vague.
unlnteliigible, and Omits the descrip-
lIon which characterized the Mckinley
bill
IL want TO know" said Mr.. BouteU
who is responsible for Changing the
Mckinley law"
At boutelis comment was brought
a bout aS result OF the Testimony OF
Andrew j. Soils, of Boston. who de-
claFed that as "a result OF the concealed
legislation the DiugIey bin duties refer
ring TO wool are imposed as high as
L4aJ per cent and ia some Instances
much higher.
He cOntradicled tie statement of afr
Whitman, made yesterday. that there is
no MoOleu trust. and said that as a
matter OF fact the partially finished
product OF wool used extensively by the
comes into this country
win tax entirely out OF proportion
with the tax ON the finished product
Slf- soils asked for certain m0dIHca-
uohs aHd reductions in the present
scneCule, and at the request of the COM
mlttee ne viii draw up new schedule
lot lne purpose Jt showing the commit
tee the great discrepancies that now
exist.
Would Aid Buyer.
Representative Fordney of Michigan
questioned the witness with a view
to showing that a reduction in the
schedule would be injurious to IN,
industry in this country. The witness
replied tnat Mr. Fordueys premises
were wrong, and that II Congress mad,
a reduction on imported wool. the peo-
PIE OF this country would buy vooIe-
garments instead OF paying FOR w00IaD
goods and getting cotton, a condition
~ lica DE claimed existed today.
Air Fordrey asked the witness the
nature ol his politics.
Il am a Republican kicker" reDlieC
NlT. Soils.
WOOL growers from the West aUpesr- I
Ca before Ehe committee TO prOtess
against any reduction iu the present
-aIln, and submitted figures TO shoU
-hat they could not compete with Tor
eisn lmportatiOus if the present rafes
were lowered.