Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-01
BATTLES FOR DUTY
UPON RAW WOOL
Senator Catron Pictures Dire
Results for Western
Sheep Men.
SAYS TARIFF TRAINERS
PLAY IN TRUSTS HANDS
Gronna Renews His Criticism Of the
Various Agricultural
Schedules.

SCQcau lcS.
Senator Catron of New Mexico today
opened the discussion of the provision of
the democratic tariff bill to place raw
wool on the free list. The fight over raw
wool promises to be one of the hottest
during the consideration of the tariff bill
in the Senate, and many of the western
democrats are known to be violently OPP
posed to a removal of all duty from this
product.
Senator Catron pictured the dire results
to the sheep men which would follow the
placing of raw wool on the free list. He
predicted the cheap labor and the cheap
sheep Of Argentine Republic and Aus
tralia would cause the destruction of the
sheep and wool industry In this country.
Production in United States.
1T has been said that the sheep and
wool industry In the United States has
existed since the formation of this gov
ernment," said Senator Catron; that 1t
is not now self-sustaining and does not
furnish wool enough to supply this coun-
try, and consequently that it should not
be protected. We do not furnish enough
wool to supply all the wants of this
country, but we did furnish 304 GOO. 600
pounds of the 496, 100000 pounds con-
summed in the United States during 1912,
leaving 193,O00.OOO pounds to be import
ed"
Senator Catron pictured the hardships
under which the wool industry of the
west had been built up, with Indians.
drought and other trials ever at hand
Today hardships still are found by, the
sheep men. Large areas of land have
been withdrawn for forest reservations
by the government, curtailing greatly the
grazing area of the sheep. The public
domain is rapidly being taken up.
Cites Old Tariff Law.
He spoke Of the Wilson-Gorman tariff
law and the fact wool was placed on the
free list and sheep taxed at 20 per cent
ad valorem. In the pending BILL he
pointed out. the wool and sheep are both
placed on the free list.
When the Wilson-Gorman law went
into effect there were about 520OO,OOO
sheep in the United States. After four
years of operation Of this law, the num-
Der, he said, had dropped to 36,OO0,OO0
head. The price of sheep dropped from
g head to 10 cents head in New
Mexico during these years.
Senator Catron predicted that the eff
feet Of the proposed law would be felt
most severely by the small herder, and
that it would permit the formation Of
huge combinations of sheep men, when
the small men were forced out.
Every one must admit the fact that
wool as a revenue producer is one Of the
best articles, he said.
Playing to Trusts, He Says.
Senator Catron declared that the demo-
Gratis were merely playing into the hands
Of foreign trusts also. who would control
the price of wool and wooden goods i'm
ported into this country. He spoke also
of the great sugar beet industry OF the
west which was threatened by the demo-
cratic bill, and of the hardships which
would be caused by reductions in the du-
ties on minerals.
I'VE may escape some Of the effects of
a panic, but it will be because of the
$500.O0OOOO Of emergency currency pro-
vided by a republican administration"
declared Senator Catron.
Senator Gronna of North Dakota con-
tinued his assault in the Senate today on
the Underwood-Sim tariff bill, re-
newing his criticism Of the agricultural
schedules.
He compared the proposed rates on all
agricultural products with the tariffs of
other countries and asserted that In every
thing the farmer raises he Is to be put
at a great disadvantage.
Basis Of Attack.
THE progressive republicans" said
Senator Gronna, Gin both branches Of
Congress attacked the Payne-Aldrich bill
not because 1t was q protective measure,
nor because they favored free trade, but
because promise was given the Amer
lean people In the republican platform Of
1908 that the tariff should be revised
downward. 1t was contended by those
progressive republicans that some of the
items of the tariff bill were protected by
duties unusually high. 1t was a mistake
of both factions of the republican party
not to agree upon a compromise measure
but unfortunately some Of the leaders Of
the dominant party had been in power
so long that 1t was not an easy matter
to convince them that they were neither
omnipotent nor omniscient. The members
OF the party became hopelessly divided,
and as a result the country is again in
the hands Of the democracy.
Sees Party's Overthrow.
In my Judgment, after four years Of
misrule. you tthe democrats) will again
be hunting for excuses and explaining
why we had hard times. II not a panic,
and why millions of unemployed willing
workers were walking the streets looking
for work.. Such conditions as existed I'M
der the Cleveland administration are yet
fresh In my memory, and while 1 hope
and pray that such a calamity will not
again befall the American people, vet
these penalties imposed by writing into
law the provisions OF this bill lead me to
believe that 1t is impossible for the Amer
lean people to escape dire punishment"
Senator Stone had read to the Senate
letter from an official of the Sharp
less Separator Company of Pennsyl-
vania. denying a statement made in
the Senate several days ago by Senator
Penrose that the company was plan
ming to move a portion of its fac
tory abroad. The letter stated that
there was no foundation for the state
ment. Senator Penrose, after hearing
the letter read. said he had expected IL
and would present the Senate the pre-
else facts" next Monday.
Il think senators on the other side
said Senator Stone, should always have
the precise facts before they submit such
statements here as that made by the
senator from Pennsylvania"
Will Make Presses Abroad.
The senator's remark is very gen.
eral." Senator William Alden Smith de-
II