The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer

Progressive Free Trade--How the Wool Tariff Is to Be Gradually Taken Off.

PROVIDENCE, R. I., May 7.--A Washington special to the News to-day says that the proposition of the woolen manufacturers of the senate committee on the wool tariff, concerning which there has been so much speculation, is as follows: The McKinley tariff, to remain untouched until January 1, 1895, then a reduction of 10 per cent to be made, followed annually by a similar reduction until absolute free trade conditions are reached. This scheme has, it is understood, been submitted to the New England manufacturers by the Democratic wool manufacturers, and they have agreed to it, and it is claimed that virtually all the woolen manufacturers have signed the petition. Several prominent Rhode Island manufacturers were in Washington last week and urged the committee to adopt this schedule. The committee was favorably impressed with the proposition, it is alleged. This settlement of the wool tariff, the Democratic manufacturers say, would start the mills up immediately and would enable manufacturers to make preparations for reductions in the tariff in a way that would not disturb the trade seriously.