New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-12
SEARCHING THE SENATE SUBSTITUTE.
THE PREFERABLE HUNTERS FIND MARE
NEsT-cARLIsLE AND THE DUTY
ON CUTLERY.


ON CUTLERY.
Washington Oct. IL (spcclaD.-Thc free-traders arc
very busy trying with the help Of the Treasury De
partmcnt 10 find weak spots, in the Senate substi-
tutc for the Dark Lantern bill. against which 10
direct their attacks. They have already discovered
one mares nest in the shape of comma III INC ioi-
lowing paragraph OF the additions TO the free ilst'
Goal slack or culm, such as will pass through a
hafnch SCREEN That comma, they declare, VIII
ruin the bitumnous coal mining industry Of the United
States, because, under Treasury ruling coal' as wei
as refuse or slack" might be brought in free of duty
We'll. II must be admitted that with free-trade Sec
rotary of the Treasury like Mr. Fairchid such
decision might be possible lie has made some rulings
IN the interest of foreign producers ana importers
which are scarcely less absurd, but the paragraph ia
the substitute, comma included, IS precisely as 1t
stands In the present law, except that tho rate OF
duty, 80 cents per ton, IS omitted 80 that mare
nest, Will no. DO likely TO frlghten anybody.
II IS understood that Speaker Carlisle has discovered
that the substitute raises the duty on cutlery, ana that
ho will make that fact ground OF attack In the cam
paGn speeches which he Is to deliver during the next
three weeks. OF course he VIII be careful no, 10 say
anything about the depressed and failing condition OF
tbe cutlery industry in this country owing to under
valuation and consequently excessive importauons
The present rate IS ed valorem for which the Finance
Committee recommends the substitution of a compound
rate partly specific and partly ad valorem, In order
to cover the higher prices OF labor and materials IN
the United states as compared with England ard Ger
many.
About fvesixths of all the pocket cutlery sold in
the United States last year was made In the Two
countries named The importatons amounted To
LAO. 500 dozen the average invoice value OF which
was only IS cents per dOzen or less than cents per
knife Did the purchaser of a pocket knife In uis
country derive any benefit from this tremendous sup
ply of cheap knives'l Not particle. Most OF
The imported knives stamped with American
names and marks, and sold as SUCH The foreign
manufacturers through their resident agents In this
country the American jobbers, pocket the most of
the profit Information obtained by the Finance
Committee shows that wages in the cutlery Industry
in Germany were about one-fourh, and In England
about one half as great wages In the same industry
IN the United states. The committee also asccTtahed
that the cutlery industry of tho United States has
steadily declined since 1885, under tho present tariff,
which IS inadequate In five years eleven of twenty
five concerns engaged I'm making pocket cutlery IN
1852 have failed been reorganizcd; the amount OF
capital Invested has sbrunk nom $e12OOOO 10
S227OO0O and the output in 1857 was 21l 800 dozen
against AIS 900 dozen I'm 1882. 80
Ii is hoped, rather than expected, that Mr. carlisle
will state these facts II he shall deliver his speech IN
Conncccut-say at Merlden New Britain, Naugatuck,
Waterbury, IhOmastOn, SOuthingtOn. or any other
town where cutlery is or has been made-or In new
York, at Maiden, Phoenix, Fayetteville or Ellen