Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-18


prevents any one not especially informed
concerning wool growing and manufacture
from understanding the schedule and the
effect of changes In the various rates and
| percentages.
| If there ever was a schedule that needed
consideration and investigation and elabo-
rate explanation by experts before its
amendments 1t is schedule X. There lie a
widespread belief that many rates in the
present schedule are too high and are in
excess OF any needed protection for the
wool grower or manufacturer. I share this
belief and have SO stated in several public
addresses. But l have no sufficient data
on which l can Judge how schedule X
ought to be amended or how its rates ought
to be reduced in order that the new bill
shall furnish the proper measure on pro-
lection and no more. Nor have inforrna-
ton which satisfies me that the bill pre.
scented to me for signature will accomplish
this result
History of Bill Not ReassurinE.
The parliamentary history of the bill is
not reassuring on this point. II was intro
duced and passed in the house as provid
ing tariff for revenue only and with the
aVowed purpose OF departing from a pro-
tectiVe tariff policy
The rate OF duty on raw woods of all
classes was changed from a specific duty
OF IL cents pound TO 20 per cent ad
valorem. On the average for the importa-
tons for the last two years this is a redue-
ton from F.a per cent to 20 per cent, Rates
on cloths were reduced In the bill from the
present average duty OF s7H per cent to 20
per cent and on wearing apparel from 81. 81
per cent to 40 per cent. The bill was de-
feated In the senate and so was q substi.
tute introduced as a protection measure.
The proposed substitute fixed the duty ON
raw wool first class, at, 40 per cent and on
second class of carpet woods at 10 DER
cent and on cloths at 90 per cent and on
wearing apparel at the same rate, On re-
consideration compromise between the
house bill and the senate sub-bill and in
which the rate on first class wool was fixed
at 20 per cent on carpet woods and 10 per
cent On cloths and wearing apparel 81 DER
cent. In conference between the two houses
the rate on all classes of raw wool was
hNed at 70 per cent this being an in
crease on carpet woods OF 9 per cent as
ttSed in the house bill and OF 10 per cent as
ilxed In the senate bill The conference
rate on cloths and wearing apparel was
liked at 40 per cent No evidence as TO
the cost OF production here or abroad was
puphshed and the compromise amendment
IN the senate was adopted without refer
ehee 70 OF consideration by committee.
Measure Not Scientific.
i do not mention these facts to criti-
else the method OF preparation OF the bill:
but / must needs refer 10 them 10 show
that the congressional proceedings make
available for me no accurate or scisntific-
ally acquired Information which enables
me to determine that the bill supplies the
measure OF protection promised in the
platform on which / was elected.
without any Investigation OF which the
details are available and avowed tariff for
revenue and anti-protecton bill Is by conn
promise blended with a protested protection
Dill. Rates between those OF the two hills
are adopted and passed except that in
some important instances rates are fixed
in the compromise at a figure higher and
In others at figure lower than were origi-
nally fixed in either house. The prineipIe
followed in adjusting the amendments of
existing law is therefore not necessary and
the effect OF the bill is most uncertain.
The Wilson tariff'sct OF 1894, while Civ
ing the manufacturer free wool. provided
as high duties on leading manufactures OF
wool as does the present bill. which At the
same time taxes the raw material M %
per cent, Thus the protection afforded IN
manufacturers upder the Wilson hill was
very considerably higher than under the
present bill During the years in which the
wilson bill was in force the wooden manu-
faoturers suffered Many mills We're corn
pelled TO shut down. These were abnarp,aI
years ana II is not necessary 10 attrihut.
me nara umes solely to the tariff act Of
1894 '0' Oh
But at was at least IN addition 10 otbsr
factors operating 10 iniure the WOODEN h,,st
ness 1t Is the only experience we nav.
hau Tor a generation OF a radical revisio,
or TINS schedule, and without exaggero,,rl,
Us Importance, one pledged 10 n n,odora+S
projection policy may well hesitate be,oro
SWING approval without EuIl informs,,or -
legislation which makes a uor. -,
reduction in the protection ,c,ro,,,. -.
ioFued TO manufacturers Of v,ooI r.. -,
the Wilson act Nor does ,bts - H'u
arise only for fear o. injury 70 ,,'''.'o''
turers' Unless manufacturers ara ahI.Nt
continue their business and b,,,' ~, - -
uoHlesNe wool growers the latter win hsro
1 4
10 protect them. because they viii baya -
sell in competition with foreign wooIs -.
send their sheep to the shambles. Jeroa
the wool grower is as much interested ~
,he protection Of the manuta .turer as he
Is in his own. "e
Less Protection Needed,
may Wei be that conditions OF manu-.
iaeturs In this country have changed so
as 10 require much less protection now for
me manufacturers than at the time Of the
wilson biii' but in view Of the possible
VIDE suffering involved by hasty action
based on insufficient knowledge the wis,
course In my Judgment is to postpone any
mango Tor few months needed 20 COM
'lete the pending inquiry
when have the accurate information
which justifies such action | shall recon-.
mend 70 congress as great a reduction an
| fchedule X, as the measure NJ rrota,tto,,