Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-01-03

secured wool. are prohibitory In the same
measure that the duty on secured wool
is prohibitory. In general. they are as
sessed at rates as high as, or higher
than. the duties paid on the clean content
Of woods actually imported They should
be reduced and so adjusted to the rate
on wool as to bear their proper proportion
to the real rate levied on the actual WOO.
imports.
Some Duties Prohibitory.
The duties on many classes of wool
manufacture are prohibitory and greatly
in excess of the difference in cost of pro-
duction here and abroad This is true OF
tops, of yarns with the exception of
worsted yarns of very high grade). and
of low and medium grade cloth of heavy
weight.
On tops up to 50 cents a pound in value.
and on yarns of 65 cents in value. the
rate is 100 per cent, with correspondingly
higher rates for lower values. On cheap
and medium grade cloths, the existing
rates frequently run to $50 per cent. apd
on some cheap goods to over 200 per
cent.
On the other hand, the findings show
that the duties which run to such high ad
valorem equivalents are prohibitory. since
the goods are not imported, but that the
prices of domestic fabrics are not raised
by the full amount of duty. On a set OF
one yard samples of Is English fabrics.
which are completely excluded by the
present tariff rates it was found that the
total foreign value was $41.S4; the duties
which would have been assessed had these
fabrics been imported, $3.50; the foreign
value plus the amount of the duty, $llS.74;
or nominal duty of 1873 per cent In fact.
however, practically identical fabrics of
domestic make sold at the same time at
500 TO- showing an enhanced price over the
foreign market value of but 81 per cent.
Would Reduce Duties.
Although these duties do not increase
prices OF domestic goods by anything like
their fun amount, it is none the less true
that such prohibitive 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 point which ac-
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, is much higher in this coun-'
try than it is abroad; that in the making
of yarn and cloth the domestic wooden
and worsted manufactures has in general
no advantage In the form Of superior ma
chinery 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 is about
double that in the leading competing
country, and that the cost of turning yarn
into cloth is somewhat more than double.
Under the protective policy a great indus
try, involving the welfare of hundreds OF
thousands of peopla has been established
DESPITE these handiCaDS
In recommending revision and reduc-
ton l 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 wooden and Worsted fab
rics, and that, excepting for compensa-
tory duty, the rate must be ad Yalorem
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 equalize the diff
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
ize this difference on cheaper goods would
| remove protection from the fine goods
| manufacture the increase in which has
been one of the striking features of the
trade development in recent years. |
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 it more
! 1Iz
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, impartiahty and
! accuracy of the men engaged In its ma
| king. They were chosen from both pollt-
| 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
| it may treat each schedule of the tariff
| as it has treated this, and then keep its
| bureau of information up to date with
| current changes in the economic world
Tt is no part of the function of the tar
/ if board to propose rates OF duty. Ihelr
| function is merely to present findings or
| fact or which rates of duty may De 1aiIlE
| determined in the light of adequate
knowledge in accordance with the eco
nomic policy to be followed. This is what
! the present report does.
| The findings of fact by the board show
ample reason for the revision downward
of schedule *, in accord with the pro-
| teotive principle, and present the data
| as to relative costs and prices from which
| may be determined what rates will fairly
! eouaIiza the difference in production costs.
| I recommend that such revision be pro-
| ceeded with at once
| (Signed) WILLIAM II IAt l
| u,l,o NNhite IIn11se Dec % 1911.