The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-05
PRODUCERS OF WOOL
DIFFER ON TARIFF;
EFFECT ON PRICES

Inquiry among wool producers and
representative farmers of Wayne coun-
ty as to the probable effect of the pro-
! posed 33-cent a pound import duty on
secured wool reveals varying opinions,
the farmers generally being OF the
opinion that protective tariff should
be established, but with no strong
support for the tariff as proposed.
The duty, which would mean a 3d.
percent duty on high grade secured
wool imported at dollar a pound,
would, Its opponents point out, be an
! increase for low standard wool import
duties to as high as $50 percent of
| their value. The new duty varies this
widely because of the new scheme
that is proposed, of levying duty on
| the secured basis instead of in the
grease. Low quality woods can be
| imported unsecured, or in the grease,
/ for about % cents pound.
| Opponents of the bill, point out that
| the higher rate of duty on low grade
woods may mean an increase in the
| importation of high grade woods, which
already form the bulk of this coun-
| try'S production, while dscouraging
| importation of low grade woods which
| do not compete with domestic woods.
1t Is also stated that the rates of in
| crease are higher than the average for
other products, and much higher than
| for other raw materials 1t is claimed
that clothing prices, especially of poor
er clothing will be greatly increased
The trainers of the new schedule
! contend, on the other hand, that the
wool industry is in serious straits and
needs protection, and while admitting
that the rates are high, charge that
they still are not higher than duty in
creases for several manufactured
products which are threatened with
foreign competition.
Urges Low Tariff
The Democratic viewpoint, advanced
by Senator Underwood, that the in
creases are too high, was supported
by Jesse Druley, of Richmond, former
resident of Boston, a retired farmer
of Boston township, and former presi-
dent the Boston State bank.
1T is easy to get tariff too high,
he said. 81 prefer a moderate tariff,
; for revenue only. When a tariff be-
comes prohibitive, it has been my ex-
perience. prices will go sky-high. We
tried that in Taft's administration.
can sheep and wool industry was not
advocated by Mr. Druley. This is
, not naturally a sheep country" he
said, land it is not good economics to
, try to raise something that other coun-
tries can do better. Wool production
is for cheap lands.
T. C.. Davis, of Green's Fork, for
, mer president of the Wayne county
farm bureau, and chairman of the
wool pooling committee of the farm
bureau both last year and this, while
in favor of a tariff that would com
pei absorption of all domestic woods
before foreign woods could be used
was of the opinion that the proposed
schedule is too high. He secuted the
theory that a high tariff would mean
: higher clothing prices, however. q
Lelieve that about six or seven pounds
of wool is all that is used in an or
. binary suit" he said. This makes the
raw material cost of clothing a very
small feature in the final cost.
Urges Protection.
Woods should have some protection
against the conditions from which
they have suffered in the past, said
i L. Dolan, county agricultural agent
While not stating any conclusion as Il
4 the duty which had been proposed, he
l suggested that one reason for its ad
> vancement may be as an answer t.
: Senator Watsons argument agains
the Truth in Fabric bill, that it is i'm
s possible to enforce its provisions
= against foreign manufacturers. 81
q Senator Watson's argument is true,
he said supporters of truth in fab
RIGS may have adopted this means t
meet that situation" DR.. Davis o
Green's Fork was of this opinion also
That higher tariff would necessa1
lily mean a higher price for clothin
was doubted by Mrs. R. B. Morrow
living east of Richmond. She pointed
out that when woods were drug OF
@ the market and could hardly be givel
v away at any price clothing prices re
o manned at the same figure, uninflu
enced by raw matrial prices. eff tina
q was true then, the same condition
8 should be true now" she said, "ant
i there should be no more reason TO
; tendency toward higher prices thai
Q there was toward lower prices then.
Few Note Change
II The effect of the proposed increas
a in the wool tariff has already beel
n felt" said one of the local tailors Sat
urday. "On some importations that
: ordered the other day | had to pay a.
- increase of from so cents to $100
:. yard for fall delivery, and the same in
n crease will of course be shown in dc
= nestle stuff
From three to five pounds Of fir
: ished wool go into a suit before it i
finished, so that from to Is pound
of grease wool has to be imported TO
J each suit
Many Of the local dealers report
l. however, that a change in their mai
,e ket has not been noted, mainly bt
k cause they are just between season:
b with the next winters goods alread
$. ordered. and the clothing for mex
q spring not yet offered for selection