Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-19
BUYING FOREIGN BLANKETS.
The Facts About the Blanket Transaction
by Major Mckinley.

Owing to repeated requests from readers
of the Press for information about the
blanket contract, we again print the facts
as set forth by Major Mckinley in his
speeches 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 Admins
tration. There were foreign bids and there
were American bids. Now, if the Presi-
dent 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 Ameri-
can bid The foreign bid was for four
pound blanket for medical purposes, to be
furnished for 81 25 2-10. For the same
four-pound blanket for the same purpose,
the American bid was So so, there being a
difference Of 80 $40 cents. Who do you
suppose got the contract? There was a
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 English,
got the contract? Is there anybody here
who would not have given it to the Ameri-
can, there being difference of only 80
cents between the bids?
Is there any gentleman on this floor who
would send abroad to get pair of blankets
merely to save 80 cents on them, thus tax
ing away from the American manufacturer
and the American farmer and the Ameri-
can laborer that much business? However
that may be, the 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 admit
ted them free of duty. There being so
little revenue in the Treasury it was nee
essary, 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 fig
ures. The duty on blankets of that quail
ity is IS cents pound and So per cent. ad
valorem. Eighteen cents a pound upon
1000 blankets, four pounds each, is 81 ,440
50 per cent ad valorem is S1,5S6 40, max
ing total duty upon those 1000 blank
cts, which were bought from a foreign
blanket-maker, of $3,016 40. The cost of
these blankets, free of duty, amounts to
$4,504; with the duty added the total
would be 81, ,520 40. Now, if the Presi-
dent be right, and the Chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means is right in
his saying that this duty is added to the
price to the American consumer, then
| 81 ,526 40 is exactly what the American
price would be.
Now, then, gentlemen, what was the
American price? The American price was
| So, ,120. 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 cost of the foreign blan-
| kets, the whole 1000, was about $4,000.
| Now, you see, the American manufacturer
| does not get the duty, and that, submit,
| is a 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 admin
istration, so that he might have avoided
making the blunder which he made in his
message when he said that the duty was
| added to the cost. And / do not know
what those around me may think about
| it, but | am sorry that our Government
| went abroad and bought those blankets
just to save thirty cents apiece on them.
Mr.. Chairman, l wish that this Govern
ment of ours, which is supported by its
own people, and not by foreigners, would
patronize its own people. l think that is
an example of patriotism which should be
set by those charged with public admins
tration. | wish the men who pay the taxes
to support this Government, to pay the
Presidents salary and other expenses of
| the Government, would be patronized
| when the Government has anything to
| buy; don't you? And are you not little
| ashamed of this transaction all of you? |
do not know whether the like was ever
done under former Administration or
not; but it never ought to be done, except
in times of war or great public necessity,
by any future Administration of any party.
-Nelr York Press.