The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-12-28


measure that the duty on secured wool
Is prohibtory. In general, they are as
sessed at rates as high as, or higher
than, the duties paid on the clean content
Of woods actually imported. They should
be reduced and so adjusted to the rat
on wool as to bear their proper proportion
to the real rate levied on the actual WOO
imports
Some Duties Prohibitory.
The duties or many classes of wool
manufacture are prohibitory and greatly
In excess of the difference In cost OF pro
duction here and abroad. This is true of
tops. of yarns with the exception of
worsted yarns of very high grade). and
of low and medium grade cloth of heavy
weight.
on tops up to So cents a pound in value,
and on yarns of 90 cents In value, the
rate is 100 per cent. with correspondingly
higher rates for lower values ON cheap
and medium grade cloths, the existing
| rates frequently run to $50 per cent. and
on some cheap goods TO over 200 per
cent
On the other hand, the findings show
that the duties which run to such high and
valorem equivalents are prohibitory, since
the goods are not imported, but that the
prices of domestic fabrics are not raised
by the full amount of duty On set OF
one yard samples OF l6 English fabrics
which are completely excluded by the
| present tariff rates II WAS found that the
| total foreign value was S4lSi: the duties
which would have been assessed had these
| fabrics been imported, $500; the foreign
| value plus the amount of the duty. $llS14:
or nominal duty of 1873 per cent. In fact,
however, practically identical fabrics of
! domestic make sold at the same time at
| 500. 20, showing an enhanced price over the
| foreign market value of but 81 per cent.
Would Reduce Duties.
| Although these duties do not increase
| prices of domestic goods by anything like
| their fun amount. IL is none the less true
| that such prohibi,ive duties eliminate the
| possibility of foreign competition. even In
| time of scarcity. so that they form temp
| taton to monopoly and conspiracy to CON
! troll domestic prices, that they are much
In excess Of the difference In cost of pro-
! ducton here and abroad, and that they
should be reduced to a point which ac-
! cords with the principle
The findings of the board show that in
| this industry the actual manufacturing
| cost, aside from the question OF the price
| of materials, Is much higher in this couu-
! try than 1t is abroad; that in the making
of yarn and cloth the domestic wooden
and worsted manufacturer has In general
no advantage In the form of superior ma
! chinery or more efficient labor to offset
the higher wages paid in this country.
! The finds show that the cost of turning
wool into yarn In this country is about
| double that in the leading competing
country, and that the cost of turning yarn
| into cloth Is somewhat more than double.
| Under the protective policy n great indus
try, involving the welfare OF hundreds of
thousands OF people has been established
despite these handicaps.
! In recommending revision and roduc-
| ton l therefore urge that action he ia
! ken with these facts in mind, to the end
| that an important and established indus
try may not be ieopardizcd.
| The tariff board reports that no cqulta-
BILE method has been found to levy purely
| specific duties on wooden and worsted fab
RIGS. and that, excepting for a compensa-
| tory duty, the rate must he al valorcm
| on such manufactures. 1t Is important to
| realize, however that no fiat al valorem
rate on such fabrics can be made TO work
fairly and effectively Any single rate
which is high enough to equaliHe the diff
| ference in manufacturing cost at home
and abroad on highly finished goods in
volving such labor would be prohihitory
on cheaper goods, In which the labor cost
is smaller proportion of the total value
| Conversely, rate only adequate To equal
| i2e this difference on cheaper goods would
| remove protection from the fine goods
manufacture, the increase In which has
been one of the striking features of the
trade development in recent years,
therefore recommend that in any revision
the importance of a graduated scale of ad
valorem duties on cloths be carefully con
sidered and applied.
Praises Work OF Committee.
venture to say that no legislative
body has ever had presented To It more
complete and exhaustive report than this
on so difficult and complicated n sui icct
| as the relative costs of wool and woolens
the world over. 1t Is a monument To the
thoroughness, industry, impartiality and
accuracy of the men engaged In Its ma
| king. They were chosen from both polit-
zeal parties. but have allowed no partisan
spirit to prompt or control their inquiries.
They are unanimous In their findings. |
| feel sure that after the report has been
printed and studied the value of such "A
compendium OF exact knowledge in re-
| spect to this schedule OF the tariff will
convince ali of the wisdom OF making
such "A board permanent In order that
| Il may treat each schedule of the tariff
as it has treated this, and then keep its
bureau of information up to date with
| current changes IN the economic world.
| 1t is no part OF the function of the tar
iff board 10 propose rates OF duty. Their
function is merely to present findings of
| fact on which rates of duty may be fairly
determined I'm the light of adequate
knowledge IN accordance with tho eco
monte policy to be followed This IL what
the present report does.
The findings of fact by the board show
ample reason for the revision downward
Of schedule Is, in accord with the pro-
teCtive principle, and present the data
as to relative costs and prices from which
may be determined what rates will fairly