The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-08-18
TAT 7 VETQES
WOOL BILL
(Continued from Page !


emphasize the Importance OF includ-
ing in the American cost manuiac-
turer's or producers profit reasonable
according To the American standard
Without Investigation.
without any investigation OF which
the details are available, an avowed
tariff-or-revenue and anti-protection
bill is by compromise blended with a
professed protection bill Rates be-
tween those Of the two bills are
adopted and passed, except that, in
some important instances, rates are
fixed in the compromise at figure
nigher, and in others at a figure lower
chan We're originally fixed in either
house. The principle followed in adj
justing the amendment of existing
law Is therefore, not clear and the
effect Of the bin is most uncertain.
The Wilson tariff act Of 1894,
while giving the manufacture free
wool, provided as high duties on lead
ang manufacturers ot wool as does the
present bill, which at the same time
taxes the manufacturers raw material
at 25 per cent. Thus the protection
afforded to manufacturers under the
Wilson bill was very considerably
ligher than under the present bill
During the year in which the Will
son bill was in force, the woolen
manufacturers suffered. Many mills
we're compelled to shut down. These
we're abnormal years and it Is not
necessary to attribute the hard times
solely to the tariff act of 1894.
Fooi Interests Not Consulted.
But 1t was at least an addition to
5ther Factors operating to injure the
goolen business. 1t is the only ex-
)erienee we have had for a generation
II a radical revision of this schedule
nd, without exaggerating its import
nee, one pledged to q moderate pro-
ection policy may well hesitate before
living approval without full inyesti-
cation to legislation which makes
more radical reduction in the protec-
ion actually afforded to manuactur-
ers Of wool than did the Wilson act.
Nor does this hesitation arise only for
ear of injury to manufacturers. I'm !
less manufacturers are unable to con
inue their business and buy wool
rom domestic wool growers, the lat
er will have no benefit from the |
ariff that is supposed to protect
hem because they viii have to sell IN |
ompetitioR with foreign wools OF |
end their sheep to the shambfes |
ienee the wool grower is as much IN |
crested in the protection of the !
manufacturer as he is in his own.
''lt may be that conditions Of manu-
acture in this country have changed |
o as TO require much less protection /
low for the manufacturers than at
he time Of the Wilson bill but in
lew of the possible wide suffering in
olyed by hasty action based on In.
jufficient knowledge the wise course,
n my Judgment is to postpone any
hange for a few months needed to
omplete the pending inquiry
VIII Recommend
prudent" Reductions
''When | have the accurate infor.
nation which justifies such action |
hall recommend to congress as great
' reduction in schedule K as the
measure of protection, already stated, i
will permit. The failure of the pres 1
mt bill should not be regarded there. L
'ore as taking away the only Chance Il
or reduction by this congress. 'l9'
More than q million of our coun-
rymen are engaged in the production 4
u wool and the manufacture Of "A
Toolens, more than a billion of the
'ountry's capital is invested in the
Large communities are al
most wholly dependent on the pros
'erity of the wool grower md tha
voolen manufacturer, Moderately Il
estimated 100000 people will be in 4
uriously affected by any i'll advised
Impairment OF the wool and woolen
Industries.
Certainly we should proceed pru-
ently in dealing with them on the
'asis OF ascertainc1 facts rather than
astiH and without knowledge to
make a reduction OF the tariff TO
atisfy a popular desire. WHICH / fully II
ecognize for reduction of duties be
Ieved TO be excessive.
'Fhere is no public eXigency re-
uiring the revision OF schedule X
'ithout adequate information. rather
han in December next with such In.
ormation Certain the public veal is
etter preserved by delaying ninety 4
avs in order 90 make such a reduc-
ion as shall be proper. than now
Indy TO enact a law which may
eriously injure industries involved
nd the business of the country in