Evening journal., 1888-09-10
BUYING FOREIGN BLANKETS.


The Facts About the blanket Trans
actions as Given by Major Mckinley.
Owing to repeated requests from readers
Of the New York Press for information
aoout the blanket contract, we again
print the facts as set forth by Major
Mckinley in his speech in Congress. No
one questions the absolute truth of these
statements:
On the 25th of March, 1887, the United
States Government advertised for bids
for the purchase of blankets for the use
Of the medical department of the army.
This was in 1887, under the present ad-
ministration. There were foreign 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 have said, there was a
foreign bid, and there was an American
bid. The foreign bid was for four pound
blanket for medical purposes TO be furnish
for 50. % 2-10. For the same four pound
blanket for the same purposes, the Ameri-
can bid was 1886, there being differ
ence of 30 $40 cents Whe do you sup
pose got the contractg There was for
eign bid, and an American bid, and the
difference between the bids was 30 cents
on each blanket. Now, tell me which
manufacturer, the American or English,
got the contractg Is there anybody here
who would not have given it to the
American, there being a difference of
only 80 cents between the bids?
Is there any gentleman,on this floor who
Il nl.s e. N
cts merely to save 80 cents on them, thus
taking away from the American manu-
facturer and the American farmer and
the American laborer that much bust
nessg However that may be, that con
tract did go abroad English labor and
foreign wool, made those 2. 900 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 necessaryof course t,
save every penny, so they took advan
tage Of that law which permits tn,
United States to bring in goods free o.
duty
Now let us look at the figures. TIL
duty on blankets of that quality is Il
cents pound and 80 per cent. ad valorem
Eighteen cents a pound upon 200
blankets, pounds each, is 81 ,440; B
per cent. ad valorem is 81 $40, 40, making
total duty upon those 2 600 blankets
which were brought from a foreigl
blanket maker, of So, 016 49, The cost o
these blankets, free of duty, amounts t
1904; with the duty added the tots
would be 81, 5000
Now, if the President is right and i
the chairman of the Committee on Way
and Means is right in saying that thi
duty is added to the price to the Amer
can consumer, then 81, 500 40 is exactl
what the American price would be.
Now, then, gentlemen what was tn
American price? The American priC
was So, 1870 That is, it was 50, 400 les
than the foreign cost, duty added Will
! out any duty the difference between II
, cost of the American and the cost
the foreign blankets. the whole ? 00
! was about 5000 Now, you see, Il
) | American manufacturer does not get Il
3 duty, and that, l submit. is a sufficieI
r reason why he does not give it to h
workmen am very sorry, Mr. Chat
Z man. that the President of the Unite
t States did not know of this transaction
d which had occurred under his own admit
r istration, so that he might have avoid'
S making the blunder which he made in
: message when he said that the duty WI
j added to the cost And / do not kno
5 what those around me may think aboi
3 it, but | am very sorry that our Cover
0 ment went abroad and bought tho
I blankets just to save thirty cents a pie
g on them.
> Mr.. Chairman / wish that this Cover
ment of our. which is supported by
own people, and not by foreigners, won
Y patronize its own people l think that
" is an example Of patriotism which shou
n be set by those charged with public g
"A ministration / wish the men who p
70 the taxes to support this government,
o pay the Presidents salary and other {
% penses of the government, would
70 patr0nized when the government has an
n thing to buy; don't you? And are y
"a not little ashamed Of this transaetiC
all of you? / do not know whether
DO like was ever done under any former
lO ministration or not but it never Dug
W to be done, except in time of war or gr'
NJ public necessity, by any future admin
O0 tration or any party.