The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-20
Latter Shows That Existing Du,
ties on Many Classes Of Wool
Are Prohibitoy and Greatly
in Excess Of Differences in
Costs of Production Here and
Abroad.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 20.-Presi-
don't Taft sent to Congress to-day the
long-awaited report Of the tariff board
on schedule X of the Payne tariff act,
and with it a message recommending
that the rates on wool and woolens be
materially reduced.
The report shows that the existing
duties on many classes of wool and
wool manufactures are prohibitory and
greatly in excess of the difference in
the cost of production here and abroad.
The duties are so arranged as to keep
out Of the United States entirely woods
of finer qualities, which, if imported,
might be used to displace the cheap
substitutes now employed. President
Taft calls attention to these points and
urges that a revision Of the schedule
be proceeded with at once
He characterizes the report Of the tar
iff board as the most complete and ex'
haustive statement of difficult and
complicated subject ever presented to a
legislative body He declares it monu-
ment to the thoroughness, industry, i'm
partiality and accuracy of the men en-
gagged in its making. He also dwells
with emphasis upon the fact that the
report is a unanimous one and asserts
the belief that it will convince all Of
the wisdom of making the tariff board
permanent. Neither the president nor
the board proposes definite rates Of
duty, Mr.. Taft holding that the func
tion of the board is merely to present
findings of fact on which rates of duty
may be fairly determined in the light
of adequate knowledge and in accord
with the economic policy to be followed
President Taft recommends that the
proposed revision adhere to a policy Of
protection based on the difference in
cost Of production at home and abroad
Explains Previous Veto.
In his message, after referring briefly
to the creation of the tariff board, the
president says;
''ln my message Of August II, 1911,
accompanying the veto Of the wool
bill, / said that, in my judgment, sched-
ule X should be revised and the rates
reduced. My veto was based on the
ground that, since the tariff board would
make, in December detailed report on
wool, fair regard to the interests of
producers and consumers demanded that
legislation should not be hastily enact
ed in the absence of such information.
~ now submit a report of the tar
iif board on schedule X. The board is
unanimous in its findings. On the basis
OF those findings | now recommend that
Congress proceed to consideration of
this schedule with view to revision
and a general reduction of its rates.
"The report shows that the present
method of assessing the duty on raw
wool-this is, by a specific rate on the
grease pound G. e. unsecured -oper-
ates to exclude wools of high shrnkage
in securing but fine quality from the
American market and thereby lessons
the range of woods available for the
domestic manufacturer; that the duty
on secured wool of 33 cents per pound
is prohibitory and opcrates to exclude
the importation Of clean low-priced for
eign woods Of inferior grades, which are
nevertheless valuable material for man
ufacturing, and which cannot be inn
ported in the grease because of their
heavy shrinkage. Such wools, if import
ed, might be used to displace the cheap
substitutes now in use,
These determinations could be over
come. by assessing a duty in advalorem
terms, but this method is opening the
objection, first, that it increases ad-
ministrative difficulties and tends to de-
crease revenue through valuation;
and second, that as prices advance, the
advalorem rate increases the duty per
pound at the time when the consumer
most needs relief and the producer can
hest stand competition; and while if
prices decline the duty is increased at
the time when the consumer is least
burdened by the price and the producer
most needs protection.
A Feasible Method.
"Another method of meeting the diff
feulty of taxing the grease pound is
to assess a specific duty on grease wool
In terms of its secured contents. This
obviates the chief evil of the present
system, namely, the discrimination due
to different shrinkage. and thereby tends
greatly TO equalze the duty. The board
reported that this method is feasible,