The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-16
WOOL TRUST GRAB
Of S1O4,4O0,OOO.
Payne Tariff Exacts Enormous
Tribute From People, De-
clares Underwood.
TAFT vEToEs LAWLEs s
Democratic Leader Doubts Con-
stitutionality of Basis of
Presidents Action.

Chicago, October ia subsidy OF
sl04, 100000 year is paid by the peo-
pie of the United States to the wool
industry, was the declaration of Oscar
w. Underwood, chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee of the House of
Representatives. who discussed schcd-
ule K before the Industrial Club OF
Chicago here.
Mr.. Underwood declared the wool
tariff indefensiblc and criticized Presi-
dent Taft for his veto of the wool bill
After relating the history OF the tariff
on wool. which he said had been re-
commended in 1867. after u meeting of
the wool growers of the West and the
wool manufacturers of the East, Con-
gresham Underwood undertook TO
show the actual tax imposed on tho
individual through the tariff
"An illustration of the extent OF tho
burden is afforded by study of a
typical article of comparatively cheap
cloth such as enters the ordinary mems
suits worn by the great masses OF the
people, he said. THE article lis an
all worsted fancy fabric. the wholesale
English price of which Is II cents a
yard. and the freight to New York !
cent.
Many Taxed for Greed of Few.
The compensatory duty is "A cents
n pound, or 20 cents yard. the ad va :
loren duty 30 per cent. or IS cents a
yard In addition. or rs per cent. of the
Import price. 1t requires three and
one half yards TO make mans suit.
There are at present 92. 900. 900 persons
In the United states. 1t Is estimated
that one-fifth are heads OF families. or
rep. making lS.io0.eo0 such suits used
year. There are doubtless an equal
number of women wearing wooden,
ms kinu nj Of
equivalent of 12S,s0o.oOO yards OF such
cloth. which, with the children's suits,
makes total, figured at the small
estimate of one suit year, H. 200. 900
yeards.
The tariff tax of 81 cents a yard.
to say nothing OF any increase in tax
as IL passes to the jobber, makes not
less than s104.ioo,00o paid each year
TO subsidiae the wool industry OF
America.
'On the other hand the entire duties
paid the United States on all imports
of woolens and worsteds in 1919
amounted to a total OF less than sl5.-
100000 for the use OF the government;
and more than slG0,0o0.O00 subtracted
from the pockets OF tho people.
rs 1t fair or just or right to main
tain these enormous taxes unduiy Il
foster the business OF less than one
fourth Of per cent OF the people, and
TO require 30 3D. per cent. to staggei
under This enormous burden?
says Netocs Violated Constitutions
Il do not believe the American PEG.
pie Will pustfy tho President in his
veto OF the wool schedule He does
not say the rates OF duty liked in the
bill presented 10 him were too high OF
too low, but says Congress was no,
Informed. and that they must wal,
the decision OF the so-callcd tariff,
board. Congress had all the informa-
ton II had when 1t passed the revision
of the tariff schedule that the Ways
and Means Committee had when IT
drafted the Payne bill. which tn.
President signed.
The chairman OF the Tarin Board
does not seem to agree with the Presi-
dent as to the ability of that board IL
secure facts that will aid Congress in
rewriting that schedule. He said at a
banquet of the American Association OF
Wooden and Worstcd Manufacturers
in New York last December. there ar,
certain things that are difficult to get
and one thing is to try to get the cos,
OF production
IF the President had vetoed this
bin because he believed the duties wcr.
TOO high, or because he did not belicv,
the bill would raise sufficient revenue
to support the government. he would
be clearly within his right to use the
veto power, but when he exercised the
veto power on the proposition that
Congress was incapable of legislating
in the interests OF the people, he clear
ly violated the fundamental principles
of the Constitution"