The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-23
FOREIGN BLANKETS.
Hal. Mckinley Punctures the Falseho0d that the
Duty Is Added TO the Price.

[Brirae from Maj. McEinleys Speech, May 49, 1881
On the 25th of March, 1887, the United States
Government advertised for bids for the purchase
of blankets for the use of the Medical Depart
ment of the Army. This was in 1887, under
the present Administration. There were for
eign bids and there were American bids. Now,
if the President is right in saying that the
duty is added to the cost. then the foreign cost
duty added, ought to be just equal to the
American price. Now, what are the facts Of
this transaction As / hayeSsaid, there was
foreign bid and there was an American bid
The foreign bid was for four-pound blanket
for medical purposes. to be furnished for
1925 2-10 For the same four-pound blanket
for the same purposes the American bid was
1886, there being difference of 80 $40 cents.
Who do you suppose got the contract2 There
was foreign bid and an American bid, and
the difference between the bids was 80 cents on
each blanket. Now tell me which manufacturer,
the American or the English, got the contract?
Is there anybody here who would not have
given 1t to the American, there being differ
euce of only so cents between the bids?
Is there any gentleman on this floor who
would send abroad to get pair of blankets
merely to save 30 cents on them, thus taking
away from the American manufacturer and the
American farmer and the American labOrer
that much business? However that may be,
that contract did go abroad. English labor,
with foreign WOOL made those 1000 blankets
for the use of our army. American labor was
boycOtted, and they came in without paying
any duty. The Government took advantage
of law that stands on the statute-boOk, and
| admitted them free of duty. There being so
little revenue in the Treasury, it was neces-
sary, of course, to save every penny; so they
took advantage of that law which permits the
United States to bring in goods free of duty.
| Now let us look at the figures. The duty on
blankets of that quality is Is cents a pound
and 30 per cent ad yalorem. Eighteen cents
pound upon 1000 blankets four pounds each
is 81 44O; 80 per cent ad valorem is $l,576.40
making a total duty upon those 1000 blankets
which were bought from foreign blanket
maker, of $3,01640. The cost of these blankets
| free of duty amounts to $4,50i; with the duty
added the total would be $7520.40
Now, if the President is right and if the
| Chairman Of the Committee on Ways and
Means is right in saying that this duty is added
| to the price to the American consumer, then
81, 500 40 is exactly what the American price
would be.
Now, then, gentlemen, what was the Ameri
can prce2 The American price was So l20
! That is it was 81 400 less than the foreign cost
| duty added Without any duty, the difference
| between the cost of the American and the cos
of the foreign blankets, the whole 1000, wa
! about 5000. Now, you see the American manu-
| IacJurer does not get Lne duty ana JhaIi L SUI
nit, is sufficient reason why he does not give
| it to his workmen. | am very sorry, Mr
| Chairman, that the President of the United
! States did not know of this transaction which
| had occurred under his own Administration
so that he might have avoided making the
| biunder which he made in his message wheI
| he said that the duty was added to the cost
! And | do not know what those around me may
think about it, but ! am very sorry that ou1
| Government went abroad and bought those
blankets just to save 80 cents apiece on them
| Laughter and applause on the Republican
side
Mr. Chairman. wish that this Government
of ours, which is supported by its own people
and not by foreigners, would patronize its owl
people. think that is an example of patriot
| ism which should be set by those charged witt
public administration. | wish the men VIII
pay the taxes to support this Government, t
pay the Presidents salary and other expense
of the Government, would be pstronized whel
the Government has anything to buy, don
you? And are you not little ashamed of thi
transaction, all of you? 1 do not know whethe
the like was ever done under any former Ad
ministration or not; but it never ought TO b
DONE except in time of war or great publ
necessity, by any future administration of an
party. Applause on the Republican side.l