The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-26
Hides and Wool in the New Tariff

s
To the Editor of THE Owosso TIMES
knowing that you have always taker
warm interest in matters relatini
to the agricultural interests of the state
herewith submit an opinion of what
believe will be the result of the enact
ment into law of the tariff bill reported
by the committee on Ways and Meanl
to the house, so far as it will effect the
values of the articles mentioned.
Taking up the various schedules al
reported in the summary sent out from
Washington, hides and leather come
first. Hides of cattle are taken from
the dutiable list at 10 per centum ad
valorem and placed on the free list
This means reduction of rs cents tc
$l,25 per head on all the cattle market
ed throughout the country. 1t is rem
dered still more drastic in its operation
by certain reductions in the leather
schedule, which will increase the i'm
portations Of the various grades OF
leather and to that extent curtail the
demand for domestic hides. The profits
accruing from this reduction will be
divided between the importer and man
ufacturer and never reach the con-
sumner. The reduction of the duties
on boots and shoes may help those who
purchase high grade, French goods, but
rrys11 aE "a
worn by the mass of Americans, for the
very good reason that home made boots
and shoes of those grades are so superior
to foreign makes and so much better
adaped to American conditions and
feet that foreign grades cannot compete
with them.
The changes in other classes of skins,
such as calf, sheep, horse and goat, used
in the manufacture of shoes, gloves,
etc, are not given in the summaries l
have seen, so they are not referred to-
As the new tariff is expected to pro-
duce more revenue than the present one,
placing hides on the free list can not be
justified either on the plea of fair treat
ment to the cattle grower or increasing
the public revenues.
Next comes the wool schedule. First
and second class woods remain as at
present. These are known as clothing
wools and include all fleeces grown on
improved breeds and their cross-breds.
These are supposed to be protected by
duty of II cents per pound, but through
the inclusion of provision admitting
''skirted" fleeces, which are really
sorted woods, the duty is reduced
fully three cents per pound, or eight
cents That must be borne In mind,
when the wool schedule is being con-
sidered, because practically all the high
grade woods imported are ''skirted."
The rate of duty however, has proved
ample to encourage the wool-growers
by giving them a fair market for their
product.
The next class, known as carpet
woods. or class 3, at present are assessed
duty of four cents per pound on woods
worth 12 cents per pound, or less, and
seven cents on such woods worth more
than 12 cents. The new schedule pro-
poses reduction.of the duty to three
cents on all woods valued at not more
than 10 cents per pound, and If valued
at more than 10 cents per pound, but
not more than 16 cents. three cents per
pound and in addition one.half of one
cent per pound for each cent per pound
of additional value exceeding 10 cents,
and If valued at more than 10 cents, z
cents per pound. Let us see il we can
figure this thing out. First we have a
reduction of 25 per cent on all woods
worth 10 cents or less per pound. Then
the classification is changed 80
that it includes woods worth up to 10
cents; but half cent per pound is
added to such woods for each additional
cent per pound, they are valued at up'to
10 cents. Now if these woods are worth
16 cents. the cent additional value
would increase the duty three cents,
which added to the three cents
on the 10 cent valuation would fix the
whole duty at cents per pound, 80
that woods valued at IS cents will come
in at duty one cent below what is
now the rate on woods costing 12 cents.
This will figure up q reduction of fully
S3 per cent from the present schedule.
But, says the average reader, this only