Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-27
MANUFAc1uRgRo AND lMpoRTs.
ERs HEARD ~ WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE
HOUSE DEMOCRATS ExPEcT
DOWNWARD REVISION DlLE
Look For coma,ittso @ prsssnt Meas.
urs Once vstesd ~ President Tase
-Expsr& Declares Propessd Lowers
;ns Of TariH Would Not Cheaper
Clothing.

Washington, Jan. cs.-DcmocSaiio
plans for downward revision OF the
wool schedule OF the tarir. one Of tho
most complicated features to come he-
fore tho extra session OF congress-.
were under fire today before the house
committee on ways and means.
General expectation among house
democrats Is that the committee will
report at the outset OF the extra SEES
sion virtually the same woolen sched-
ule az was Incorporated In the woot
bill that passed the house ut the trst
and second sessions In this congress.
was amended In tho senate last sum-
mer. compromised In conference. and
vetoed by President Taft.
Lower Duties Provided.
The average ad valoTem duty in tho
present law is almost so per cent. The
democratic bill that served as the ten
tative basis OF the present considera.
ton provides very much lower duties
1t would tax raw wool 20 per cent ad
valorem instead OF the higher varying
rates on three classifications In the
present law.
II would put an ad yalorem duty OF
20 per cent also on wool. wastes and
rags. 20 per cent on coInbed wool or
tops. 80 per cent on blankets and tho
cheaper fannels for underwear. rates
ranging from 3o to 80 per cent on
cloths. ready made clothing, knit fab-
rics. flannels not for underwear. wom-
ems dress goods. webbing, gorings, and
articles not otherwise provided for.
Reasons for Veto.
AS compromised In conference be-
1s.1.s No.
duty on raw wool was shifted from
the proposed 20 per cent to - per cent
ad valorem. which President Taft In
his second veto declared was instif-
ficient to meet the difference In the
cost OF production OF the low priced
wools here and abroad. In the case OF
four -fifths OF the total wool clipped In
this country. His contention was that
the minimum ad valorem should be 80
per cent and that the proposed lower
rates would throw thousands OF work.
men out OF employment.
The democrats still contending that
the proposed rates approached the best
revenue producing points and would
encourage production and consump.
ton. overrode the presidents veto In
the house but failed OF the necessary
two thirds In the senate.
Wool Interests Heard.
The witnesses today represented tho
National Association of Wool Manu-
facturers. growers. importers. clothiers
and independent manufacturers.
Frank p. Bennett. OF Boston. editor
OF the American Wool and Cotton Re-
porter. argued for the re-enactment OF
the Wilson law of 1894 at the outset
of today's hearing. This was a plea for
the entire removal OF duties upon wool
and n reduction OF the tarifY upon wool
en- goods to so per cent He said that
would be In the interest OF both the
manufacturers and OF the sheep hus-
bandry In the United States. and de-
clared that the wool tariff distorted
sheep husbandry by encouraging grow
ers to keep Improbable animals. Tho
duty OF 35 cents n pound now assessed
upon secured wool had imposed a tax
OF nearly 00.000.000 upon the people.
besides hampering the manufacturers,
the witness said.
Wouldn't Cheapsn Clothing.
Joseph d. Holmes. OF New York. q
wooden expert. recommending ad valor-
EN- and specific duties on clothing. an
ad valorem duty on wool. with an ad-
dtional duty on clothing to compensate
for labor and mill cost, contended that
clothing would be no cheaper IL tho
duty on cloth were removed. He said
that n suit or overcont containing -
worth OF cloth wholesaled at from t3
to 50 and rctailed at from $12 to SIS.
Ehen S. Stephens. OF Worcester.
Mass. woll manufacturer, advocated
putting wool wastes on the free lists
John l. Wood OF PHILADELPHIA presi.
dent Of the National Association OF
Wool Manufacturers. told the commits
tee he had accepted In good faith the
assurance that the contemplated tarir
revision would injure no legitimate bus
iness, He said that while rates on some
articles were too low. the tarin board
had shown the manufacturers realized
no value OF It. AS domestic competition
regulated prices within narrow limits
OF profits The association stood gen-
orally for the present tariff.
Mr.. Wood criticised the democratic
and compromise bills as destructive.