The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-19
Congressman Fordney Writes Il
Wool Dealers.

tions connected with the tariff on
wool and prices for the coming year.
1t was hoped that Con. Fordney
might be present as the association
had extended him an invitation some
weeks ago to attend and give an adj
dress. His duties in Washington
prevented his coming home and so
he wrote the following letter to Sec
rotary w. j. Orr:
Committee on ways and means
OF the house of representatives, OF
which have the honor to be men,
Der, are, at present framing a new
tariff bill, to be presented to congress
on or about the fifteenth of March,
at an extra session, which will be
called by President Taft. Our COM
mittee has worked diligently on this
bill, every day except Sundays, since
the tenth day Of November last;
and it affords me pleasure to advise
you at this time. Congressman Hill
OF Connecticut, and myself have
been appointed subcommittee of
two, to prepare and report back to
the full committee the wool and
wooden schedules.
eve have been unable to agree
upon this report, for the reason that
| am demanding measure OF pro-
lection to this industry at least equal
to that now provided for by law.
Mr.. Hill desires to reduce the duty
on some of the products of wool. l
take the position that the prices of
wool obtained by the wool growers
of the Unitel States in our Ameri-
can markets are influenced and meas
ured and fixed by the price that the
finished products sell for in our mar
kets. That is to say that unless the
mYlufacturer is prosperous and
makes a profit on his investment and
labor, he will not pay to the wool
growers of this country a price for
his wool that will afford to the pro
ducer of wool reasonable profit.
In other words, in order that the
wool industry itself may be prosper
Gus, all products of wool must be
likewise prosperous, because the
price of one certainly Influences the
price of the other. therefore,, /
have prepared and will present to thu,
committee onssways and mans, Fri
day morning, a Separate report, ask
ing that the present Ate of duty on
wool of the first gEt as now fixed
by law, lie perjdonsE, be retained;
and that the duty On both washed
and secured wool Of the first class
namely 22c and 33c per pound be re-
tanned. The next step of advance
ment from the grade of secured wool
is combed wool, commercially known
as tops. The present rate of duty on
this grade of wool is higher than
that OF the duty on yarns, which is
the next step in advancement OF
manufacture. / will therefore rec
ommehd different rate of duty than
tna5 now provided for by law on this
grade OF wool, SO as to bring it where
il belongs between secured wool and
yarns.
"Wool of the second class now
pays duty, both on washed and un-
washed wool, of 12c per pound. |
This is not an equitable manner for
the collection of duties. 1 will
therefore recommend that wool of
tie seconA class pay lie per pound
on '.nwashed wool, and higher rate !;
Of fGty on washed wool o. the second |
clasr I am recommending a slid
ing scale of duties on wool of the
third class, or carpet woods, which |
will make it little more equitable
Cr evenly divided than under the
present law.
II am also recommending che re-
tention of the present rates of duties
on wooden goods. In short I am
for duty on this impor,-
ant product OF American industry
that will insure to the producer, IN
this country, a reasonable profit Tor
his labor and capita! invested.
This industry, last year, brought
TO the American people 100000
900, when place. Al the hands of the
about $22, 100000 of
which was imported.
"As early as 1850, the number OF
sheep in the United States was 40
)UU,U his HuluDef AT SOlue Illue
/ little later reached $4,000, 900
head of sheep and under the Wilson
.ariff law when wool was placed up
IN the free list, tae number Of
sheep in the United States dropped
lack to 35,00G,0G0 mead. Since the
Enactment OK the Dingley tariff law,
which 8, Sc Substantial protection tc
he wool industry, RI number of
heep IL he country has increased to
6,50C zoe read OF sheep, raised foi
ne growing Vi Yool, lambs not liz
ludcd, when this census was taken;
nd it Is estimated that there are IN
he United States today about A. .
100000 head of sheep, notwith-
landing the fact that mutton sheep ,,
re and have been for several years
'ast, bringing a high price in the
market, which tends to keep down
he increase of the flocks in the
United States, for it is profitable to
aise sheep for meat.
Michigan is the second state In
he union in the production of wool
asst of the Mississippi river, Ohio
anking first therefore, in represent I
ng, in part, the great state of Michi-
an in congress, I feel 1t my duty to