A Study Of The Tariff

There is no other single object in which the stock breeders of Miehisran, who assemble at Lansing this week, are more interested tlian in the tariff on wool, and there is nothing in the whole list of American products against which the free traders, from President Cleveland down, show a more determined spite than against this. It is worth while at the present stage of tariff discussion to review a few of the figures which show the relation of the customs duty to revenue, sheep raising and the wool mauufacturing industry. In 1880 there were 40,500,000 sheep on the farms and ranches in this country. With the average duty of 121.J cents per pound on the wool this number increased in four years to 50,500,000, a gain of 24.7 per cent, The duty was then reduced to an average of 10 cents per pound, and in four years the number of sheep feil offto 41,500,000, a decrease of 18 per cent. The JIcKinley law raised the duty to 11 cents per pound, and in three years the numoer of sheep increased to 47,500,000, a gain of 14 per cent. The Wilson-Gorman law put wool on the free list. The farmers at once began to seü off and export their sheep, and in two years and three months up to the flrst of January last, the number had fallen to 38,500,000, a loss of 19 per cent, and it bas been diminishing ever since. The estimates of the American Association of Woolen Manufacturera make the American productie n of wool, including both elipped and pulled, for the calendar years named as follows : Ven ra POUnds. ij? s" 307,101,507 ÏQ9 """ 888,018,405 ÏROT 348.538,138 1894 IIIIII""II--"---"--- 325.210,713 This period, with the exception of the last three months of 1894, was under the McKinley tariff of 11 cents a .pound, and the average production for 'the four years was 328,407,191 pounds. In the calender year 1895, which was the first full year uuder the Wilson tariff, the production was 294,296,726 pounds, a reduction of 54,000,000 as compared with the highest McKinley year, and of 34,000,000 as compared with the average of four years. In imports of raw wool the contrast is still more marked, as the fóllowing figures show, the years given being, as bef ore, the calendar years : Vpqt Pon n ds ,V(,'i - 139,317,571 vi- 167,784,090 SQ3 111.751,343 1894 ""-" -115,-.%.s20 AveriTge'for McKinley's year JLLgi5 1895, free trade year 243,989.217 Here is an increase of 114 per cent as compared with the lowest McKinley year, and of 86 per cent as compared with the average of the four McKinley years. One of the main contentions of the advocates of free wool was that it would stimulate the manufacture of woolen goods, and that we should make up in this way what we losfcin the raw material. This contention held out an illusive hope. The importations of woolen goods, especially frorn the Bradford district in England have enormously increased, while the American inanufacturing districts have suffered a corresponding depression. The imports of manufacturies of wool in textiles for the five calendar years named have been as follows : Years. Value. 1891 $33.951,916 1892 . 30,415,!U 1893 _I - 80,165,094 1894 16,809.872 Average four McKinley years 29,585,373 1895, uuder Wil-on tariff. 57,559.823 Here is an inciease of 94.5 per cent over the average of the four McKinley years, and of 189 per cent as comared with the lowest McKinley year. It must be reineinbered also that this ncreased importation came at a time hat the demand for goods from Amercan milis was even less in proportion han the increased importations alone would indicate. In an English letter, written last April, and describing iu glowing terms the prosperity of the woolen manufactories in Eugland, occurred this passage: "The point which I am now seeking to emphasize is the fact that, what ever may have been the effect o the nevv woolen schedule upon the competiug American manufacturers, or the price of wool, or the cost of clothing the reduction of duties has powerfully promoted the fortunes of the Bradforc district. This has been a year of uu exampled prosperity. In the worstec trade alone 130,000 operatives are em ployed in the West Riding of York shire.'and they have had trainterrupted work of full time. During the busïest portion of the last year there was a scarcity of labor, and hundreds of young women who had gone into domestic service returned to the milis." Whiíe this was going on in England the papers in the woolen districts of New Hamphaire, Masachu8etts and Rhode Island were full of the gloouiiest accounts of a diminished output, reduced wages, and of milis closed down. Another claim of the free traders was that the putting of wool on the free list would shut out shoddy and improve the quality of the goods in use. The official figures furnish a sad comment in this prediction. In 1891, 1892 and 1893 the average importa of manufactures of wool in shoddy, waste and rogs, was only 255,62-1 pounds. In 1895, the first year of the Wilson law, the imports amount to 20,718,110 pounds. Tbis is an inerease of 8,083 per cent, and the worthless stuff thus imported displaced over 62,000,000 of domestic raw wool. FrOm the revenue standpoint the figures given above are worth considering. At au average duty of 11 cents a pound the importation of raw wool alone for 1895 would have brought a revenuè of -1-27,388,813, and at the duty proposed by the Dingley bill the revenue from the same importations would be $16,433,288. An ïncrease of duty would of course have the desired effect of di tninishing importations, but the pnssage of the Dingley bill would increase iie . revenue on wool and woolens toether by at least $20,000,000 ; while the e-enactment of the McKinley scale of duties would add a still larger amount ,o the present revenue. The net result of the free trade experiment in wool is thus seen to be a great loss of revenue when revenue vas needed, the crippling of the woolen manufacturing industry, a great reduction in the number of American sheep, a great depreciation in the value of the flocks, and the flooding of our markets with imported wools. This is all included in the direct effect upon wool. But the farmers' losses do not stop here. With his diminishing flocks go part of his profits from their increase, from their food value, and from their service in fertilizing the farm. Free trade in wool thus cuts the farmer in four directions, brings distress upon the woolen manufacturers and their operatives, and cuts a large slice off from a much needed revenue. One of the firstr things that the McKinley administration will have to deal with is the discrimination of many of the European nations against the produets of this country. A good dose of retaliation is needed in the case. A uew electric road in Maine will carry passengere from 6 a. m. to 12 p. m., and freight between niidnight and morning. The electric current makes little noise, but is a hustler. M. Meline, the Premier of France, recommends international bimetallisin as a probable benefit for the industrial world. But he says distinctly that bimetallisni is an international questiou, as far as French effort in its behalf is cóncerried. Chelsea Lodge, No. 67, A. O. U. W. elected tlie following oíRcers at the annual meeting: M. W.- Geo. Ward. Forman - Chas. Steinbacli. Overseer - E. D. Lañe. Recorder- D. B. Taylor. Financier - C. E. Babcock. Receiver - H. S. Holmes. Guide - J. VV. Rheinfrank. I. W.- G. Hutzle. O. W.- E. McCarter. Medical Examiner - R. McColgan. Trustees - Chas. Steinbacli and W. F. Riemenschneider. Rep. to Grand Lodge - D. B. Taylor. Altérnate- Chas. Steinbach. .. _ Howell Herald : " To our mind tariff is no inore a tax upon the people than is the wage of the laborer a tax levied upon his employer, or the legitímate profit of the manufacturer, or the proflt of the farmer is a tax upon the buyer or consumer of the articles or products they buy. Tlie memory oí events during the past forty-four years has taught us tliat a tarifl' for revenue only, is th most grievöus tax ever levied upon th American people. We are aware tha this is a radical statement, but this sub ject is one wliich cannot be dealt wit on the conservativo plan."