, 1921-07-28

Wool Growers Association, Salt Lake
City, in answer to r letter from him
have no means Of knowing what the
newspaper statements that he re.
ferred to contained. l have said IL
western Members OF Congress and
representatives Of wool growers who
are here that I believe we had done
the very best it was possible to do,
so far as the House was concerned,
in the matter of a wool tariff, and
that We were likely to make the stu
alton worse rather than improve it. II
We stirred it up.
There Is, of course, the bare posi-
bility that we may find a situation
before the bill is finally disposed OF
such as will render 1t practical and
safe to offer an amendment to In
crease to 40 per cent the ad valorem
provision. AS to that l am not GER
tain, but the position I have taken,
with a pretty full knowledge of the
situation in the House, was t avoid
any action which might prejudice
III case in the country. or in con-
ference, IL the schedule were some
what modified in the Senate.
With kind regards, I am,
Yours very truly,
F. W. MoNDELL,
July 10. 1921.
Mr.. F. R. Marshall, Secretary
National Woolgrowers Association,
Salt Yake City, Utah.
My Dear Mr.. MARSHALL
1 have your letter of July 18th in
which you say eft this mornings
press dispatches from Washington
quote you at all correct, I feel sure
that it will not be amiss for me t
assure you that there is a general
and strong dissatisfaction among
woolgrowers over three points OF
schedule X of the Fordney tariff
bill" You then proceed to outline
these three points, the same being
the tariff of Csc per pound on the
not adequate; the provision limiting
the duty to 25 per cent ad valorem,
and the compensatory duty granted
the manufacturer.
Replying to your letter would say
hat 1 have no means of knowing
what the press dispatches indicate
as to my attitude. Some people are
privileged to take the most extreme
position without regard to practical
results, but l am so situated that 1t
is necessary for me to have in view
not the advertisement Of my views as
one favorable to a good liberal wool
tariff, but as one actually DESTROYS
OF securing, the best provisions OBJ
tainable..
I am of the opinion that the great
est victory achieved, not only from
the standpoint of the interested WOOL
grower but from the standpoint of
all who believe in fair and equitable
dealing in tariff legislation in con-
nection with the drafting of the
Fordney tariff bill, was that of plac-
ing the tariff on wool on the secured
content. The woolgrowers have been
endeavoring to secure a duty on that
basis for many years. 1t has finally
been accomplished, and to be entire
ly frank with you l have been rather
disappointed that some Of these in
~terested have not apparently been
more generous in their approval of
this provision.
I note your suggestion that "25c
per pound Is not an adequate duty
on imported wools." From our
standpoint in the wool country, at a
time when costs are very high and
prices very low, I am sure we, all of
us. would have appreciated a higher
rate; but 1t should not be forgotten
that at the time of the passage of
the Payne tariff bill when the wool
growers we're endeavoring to secure
a duty based on the secured content.
and Mr.. Payne was favorable to that
drew and which was tentatively
agreed to by the woolgrowers as the
best thing then available, provided on
duty of only 1Sc on the secured con-
tent-7c less than the duty under
the Fordney bill. 1t should also be
remembered that all OF the duties In
the Fordney bill are based on Amer
lean rather than on foreign values.
and a duty Of csc . secured pound
on American valuation IL ~equivalent
to a duty of upwards of soc on for
eign valuations.
You further say that the provision
in the Fordney bill modifying the
specific duty Of CSC q pound by linn
valorem is unfair and should be
ed that this ad valorem 10 also on
an American valuation, and that It
is equivalent to SO per cent or Sc
per cent nd valorem ON foreign valu-
alton. Personally I have regretted
this provision and had hoped there
would be NO ad valorem limitation,
or if there was that II would be
higher. This should. however, be
borne In mind: Under the present
extraordinary depressed condition oe
the wool naArk0t- condition NJ
hone 10 temporafy-9Sc2 o pound,
AIserie6n valuation, on the escqrod
colitone would, In some csses, ~
0vur fA@aAhf5 cont nd vN1ofeA. II