The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-25

per cent, or 4S per cent on the market value These rates have named are the difference between the cost of produce ton here and abroad, with no allowance for reasonable profit.
 Barring the prohibitive rates on low grade mixed goods caused by the specific duty of A cents but not taken advan- tage of by the American manufacturer as shown by the tari ffboards report, the ad valorem rates of the present law are not far from being right on the great bulk of woolen and worsted fabrics used by the American people, but in the fu- ture the rates must be graduated to over protect the lower grades of mixed fabrics.
 q have always contended that the cost of conversion of wool into woolen and worsted goods In this country cost 100 per cent to 150 per cent more than in England. The report sustains my con- tention.
 "I have always claimed there are no advantages in the way of labor saving devices and machinery in this country, as compared with foreign countries; that the efficiency of our workers was no greater but in certain instances, less than In England. This report proves my claim to be correct.
 T have made the statement time and time again that there was no combi- nation of control of prices in the wooless and worsted industry; that under Sne fierce competitive conditions the differ ence between prices here and abroad of fabrics as sold at the mill. depends upon the difference in the cost of production rather than on the amount of duty. The report proves my statement correct
 'I have always claimed that the Amer ican manufacturer is compelled by com petition to sell his goods at a profit of from 5 cents to 10 cents per yard. The report shows fair amount of profit to the manufacturer to be 3-10 cents per yard. l have always claimed that the profit made by the manufacturer of cloth in a suit of clothes did not exceed 20 cents to B cents. The report supports that claim. The wicked statement sent broadcast that the present tariff law add ed $5 to each suit of clothes sold to the American people, is proven false by the report.
 Enemies Criticise Schedule
 'The excessive rates on low grade mixed goods in schedule K caused by the excessive compensatory rates, has not been taken advantage of by the American manufacturer for the reason, no doubt, that competition would not al- low him to do so, but they have afforded the enemies of protection an opportunity to severely criticlse the schedule.
 'The revision of schedule K along the lines I have suggested will make fair ly protective bill for the wool grower and woolen manufacturer, and eliminate all the needless and high rates of duty on the shoddy and mixed goods"
 Senator Shoots bill undoubtedly will not meet the approval of the democratic members of the ways and means commit tee, as Chairman Underwood already has announced that he did not favor the Pres ident's suggestion of levying the duties on wool by single specific duty basis upon the secured pound, and that the House bill to be proposed by the majority of the committee probably would include ad valorem duties as In the bill passed last summer and vetoed by President Taft.
 Serene Payne, former chairman of the ways and means committee, and ranking republican member, and his republican colleagues on the committee, are draft ing a bill to be based, as will Senator Shoots, upon the facts and figures sent to Congress by the President in the tar fir board report It is reported that they will have the cooperation of the admin istration, and this House bill, it Is be- lleved, will vary little from the Shoot bill. The democratic bill. on the other hand will be based partly upon the tar if boards figures and partly upon sta- tistics collected by the majority mem bers of the ways and means committee.
 With the republicans of the House de- termined to fight against bill which is not entirely based upon the report. and republicans in the Senate of the same mind a protracted congressional battle before the woolen tariff revision is as- sured.