The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-12-28

sAs.sApA - ~ rsAs q . sseAs =
sesoss1 veal. ass prohisAtory In The eaAs
measure that ths duty o. scoorsA vssa
= DrohlAltofy. In 0snsraL' they are ~
0saasA ~ rates - high -. or hishss
tAAa. IT, autiss paid On the clean eontses
- veeas aotasily inoortsl Thsy shossA
- Wosa - - bsas thsAs Deopsr Drooost5oe
- - sasl rass isvisd o. the actual veea
tAoas0L
osms Divides prshisstssy.
IAs Astass o. nAay elAssas se veea
0AAufAetusO aso prohla1Aoey And greatly
n sxosas q tAs AiRsssaos n cost et Drs-
auetioa hsss 81 shroaA- fhAs y t1ss q
to0a. oe yas1s with ths exoeS1ss =
wo.stsl yesns q vssy high creesl. eaA
weight.
On toes ~ to . csats . pouaA II vaaoa.
and On yarns ef . cents in value. tAe
rate = - pse esst. With eosras0oading1y
higher rates for lower values On eheaS
and medium srads cloths. the sxisting
rates frsQusntly run to - pes esot anl
on some cheap gooAs - over - Dsf
cent.
On the other hand, ths Andinss show
that the duties which run to such high and
vaIorem equivalents are prohibatoFy. ancs
the goods are not Imported. but that the
BY the full amount of duty. On set OF
one yard samples of 10 English fabrtcs.
which are completely excluded BY the
present tariR rates. 1t was found that the
total foreign value was A1.s%: the duties
which would have been assessed had these
fabrics been imported. $3.50: the foreign
value plus the amount Of the duty. Sl0.N:
or nominal duty of lS3 per cent. In fact,
however. practically Identical fabrics OF
domestic make sold At the same time ~
-. .76. showing an enhanced price over the
foreign market value of but 81 Per cent
Would Reduce 0utIss.
Although these duties do not increase
prices OF domestic goods by anything like
their full amount II 10 none the less true
that such prohibitivs 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-
duction here and abroad. and that they
should be reduced to a point which &C.
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. 10 much higher in this coun-
try than II is abroad: that in the making
of yarn and cloth the domestic woolen
and worsted manufacturer has in general
no advantage in the form of superior ma
chtnery 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 10 about
double that In the leading competing
country. and that the cost Of turning yarn
into cloth ia somewhat more than double.
Under the protective policy great Indus
try. involving the welfare of hundreds OF
| Thousands OF people has been established
despite these handicaps.
In recommending revision and reduc-
ton I therefore urge that action be ia
ken with these facts in mind. to the end
that an important and established indus
try may not be jeopardized.
The tariff board reports that no equita-
| BILE method has been found to levy purely
specific duties on woolen and worsted fab
RIGS, and that, excepting for a compensa-
tory duty. the rate must be ad valorem
| on such manufactures. 1t Is important to
| realize. however. that no fiat ad valorem
rate on such fabrics can be made to work
fairly and effectively. Any single rate
which is high enough to equallze the dif-
| ference In manufacturing cost at home
and abroad on highly finished goods In
volving such labor would be prohibitory
on cheaper goods. In which the labor cost
| is a smaller proportion of the total value.
Conversely. rate only adequate to equal
| lie this difference on cheaper goods would
remove protection from the fne goods
| been one of the striking features of the
| trade development In recent years. l
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 II a more
| complete and exhaustive report than this
| on SO difficult and complicated a subject
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-
| ical 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
| compendium Of exact knowledge in re-
| spect to this schedule Of the tariff will
| convince all of the wisdom of making
such . board permanent. in order that
| 1t may treat each schedule Of the tarin
as 1t 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 tho function Of the tar
| III board to propose rates Of duty. Their
| function is merely to present findings of
fact on which rates of duty may be fairly
| determined in the light of adequate
knowledge in accordance with the eco
nomic 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 X, 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
euualize the difference in production costs.
| recommend that such revision be pro-
| ceeded with at once.
| (Signed) WILLIAM H. TAFT.
| The White House. Dec. 20. 1911.
NapoIeon's Model Library.
In view Of the recent talk about
uIn. aha ai.a of lihra rion hv da