Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-18

first class at 40 per cent. and ON 4
second class of carpet woods at 10 per
cent and on cloths at 60 per cent. and
on wearing apparel at the same rate.
"On reconsideration a compromise
measure was passed by the Senate
which was compromise between the
House bill and the Senate sub-bill and
in which the rate on first class WOOL
was fixed at 30 per cent, on carpet
woods 10 per cent, and on cloths ana
wearing apparel So per cent In con-
ference between the Houses the rate
on al classes of raw wool was fixed at
% per cent, this being an increase on
carpet wooIs of 9 per cent. as fixed IN
the House bill and of ~ per cent. as
fixed in the Senate bill. The confer
enee rate on cloths and wearing APP
parel was fixed at 40 per cent. No eN-
idence as to the cost Of production
here or abroad was published and the
committee amendment in the Senate
was adopted without reference to or
consideration of a committee.
Il do not mention these facts TO
criticize the methods Of preparation
OF the bill; but / must needs refer TO
them 10 show that the congressional
proceedings make available fer me
no accurate or scientifically acquired
nfolmation which enables me to de-
termiue that the bill supplies the meas
ure of protection promised in the plat
form on which ! was elected.
"Wi.hout any investigation of which
the details are available, an aVowed
ariGf-fer-reVenue, and multiplication
bin is by compromise blended with
progressed protection bill. Rates be-
tween those of the two bills are adopt
Ell and passed. except that in some I'M
pGrtant instances rates are fixed In
the compromise at figure higher,
and in others at a figure lower, than
were originally fixed in either House
The principal followed in adjusting the
amendments of existing law is, there
fore. not clear, and the effect OF the
bill is most uncertain.
"The Wilson tariff act of 1894, While
giving the manufacturer free WOOL
provided as high duties on leading
manufactures of wool as does the
present bill, which at the same tine
taxes the manufacturers raw material
at % per cent. Thus the protection
afforded To manufacturers under thS
Wilson bill was very considerably
higher than under the present bill.
During the years in which the Will
son bill was in force, the WOODEN
manufacturers suffered Many mills
were compelled to shut down. These
were abnormal years, and il is not nee
essary to attribute the hard times
solely to the tariff act of 1894. But
it was at least an addition to other
factors operating to inlure the WOODEN
business 1t is the only experience
we have had for a generation OF
radical revision of this schedule, ana
without exaggerating its Importance,
one pledged to moderate protection
policy may we'll hesitate before giving
approval without full information 70
legislation which makes more radl-
cal reduction in the protection actually
afforded to manufacturers of wool
than did the Wilson act. Nor does
this hesitation arise only for fear of
injury to manufacturers. Unless
manufacturers are able to continue
their business and buy wool from do
nestle wool growers, the latter VIII
have no benefit from the tariff that is
supposed to protect them, because
they will have to sell in competition
with foreign woods or send their sheep
to the shambles. Hence the wool
grower is as much interested in the
protection of the manufacturer as he
is in his own.
ut may well be that conditions If
manufacture in this country have
changed SO as TO require much less
protection now for the manufacturers
than at the time of the Wilson bill;
but in view of the possible wide suffer
ing involved by hasty action based on
insufficient knowledge, the wise course.
in my Judgment, is to postpone any
chnge for a few months needed to
complete the pending inquiry.
when | have the accurate informa-
ton which justifies such action / shall
recommend to Congress as great re-
duction in Schedule K as the measure
of protection already stated will per
nit The failure of the present bill
should not be regarded, therefore, as
taking away the only change for re-
duetion by this Congress.
More than 1.O00,0 900 of our country
men are engaged in the production
of wool and the manufacture of WOOL
ems; more than LOCO, 0o0,000 of the
country's capital is invested in the
industry. Large communities are al
most wholly dependent upon the pros
pect of the wool grower and the wool
en- manufactured. Moderately esti-
mated, 5000 600 of the American peo-
pie will be injurously affected by any
ill-advised impairment of the wool
and wooden industries. Certainly we
should proceed prudently in dealing
with them upon the basis of ascer-
tanned facts rather than hastily and
without knowledge to make reduc-
ton of the tariff to satisfy a ropu-
lar desire which | fullv recOoniZa for