Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-12-21


and thai they sk6ild be rSGated TO a
point which accords with the prin-
ciple.
The findings of the Board show that
in this industry the actual manufae-
turing cost, aside from the question
of the price of materials, is much
higher in this country than 1t is
abroad; that in the. makingHWf yarn
and cloth the domestic wooden or
worsted manufacturer has in general
no advantage in the form of superior
machinery or more efficient labor to
Offset the higher wages paid in this
country. The findings 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 great industry,
involving the welfare Of hundreds OF
thousands of people, has been estab-
lished despite these handicaps.
In recommending revision and re-
duction therefore urge that action
be taken with these facts in mind,
to the end that an important and
established industry may not be
jeopardized.
The tariff board reports that no
equitable method has been found to
levy purely specific duties on WOODEN
and worEted fabrics and that ex'
cepting a compensatory duty. the
rate must be ad Valorem on such
manufactures 1t Is important to real
lie, however. that no fat ad valorem
rate on such fabrics can be made to
work fairly and effectively Any
single rate which is high enough to
eauaIize the difference In manufac'
turing cost at home and abroad on
highly finished goods involving such
labor would be prohibitory on cheaper
goods, in which the labor cost is a
smaller proportion of the total value.
Conversely, a rate only adequate to
equalize this difference on cheaper
goods would remove protection from
the fine goods manufacturer, the In
crease in which has been one OF the
striking features of the trade de-
velopment in recent years. ! there
fore recommend that In any re-
vision the importance Of a graduated
scale Of ad valorem duties on cloths
be carefully considered and applied
venture to say that no legisla-
tive body has ever had presented TO
1t a more complete and exhaustive
report than this on SO difncult and
complicated a subject as the relative
costs of wool and woolens the world
over. It is the monument TO the thor.
ougIness, industry, impartiality and
accuracy Of the men engaged In rs
making. They were chosen from both
political parties but have allowed no
partIsan spirit to prompt or control
their inquiries. They are unanimous
IN their findings. feel sure mat
after the report has been printed nnd
studied the value Of such . com
pendulum Of exact knowledge tn re
spect to this schedule Of the tarin
VIII convince all Of the wisdom OF
Glakang such a board permanent In
order that It may treat each shed
ME Of the tariff as 1t has treated this
ana then keep its bureau OF informa-
ton up 70 date with current changes
in the economic world.
II Is no part Of the function Of the
taria board 70 propose rates OF duty.
Their function Js merely to present
findings OF fact on which rates Of
duty may be fairly determined in the
light OF adequate knowledge In &C
cordanee with the economic policy
TO be followed. This is what the
present report does. The findings OF
TACT By the board show ample rea-
son for the revision downward Of
Schedule K. in sccord With the pro
tective principle and present the
data as 10 relative costs and prices
from which nay be Determined What
rates WIN fairy s0-alize tie dlner