The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-04-26
MCKINLEY ON CUTLERY AND SHOT
GUNS.

uONOs
The Simmons Hardware Company,
of St. Louis, one OF the largest mer-
camille houses in the country, and very
much the largest one of its line in the
west, is making q vigorous protest
against the iDjustices OF the Mckinley
Uill as il affects goods in their line, and
they have sent circulars to their GUS
toners in which they assert that the
passage OF the bill will, as to goods
mentioned, reduce their trade one-half.
The gentlemen show that the Nc
Kinley bill increases the duty on
breech loading shot guns from 30 per
cent, as now, to 80 and 100 per cent,
and this on low grade guns, which are
we'll made abroad, OF good material
and workmanship, and used in this
country by the poor, who cannot
afford to pay from $50 up to $500 for a
shot gun.
1t is also pointed out that this in
iquitous measure increases the taxes on
pocket cutlery to 100 per cent. adya-
loren instead of so per cent, as now;
razOrs rs per cent. instead of 80 per
cent; carving and cooks knives 20
per cent. instead of So; butcher knives,
55 per cent. instead OF So; scissors and
shears, 10 per cent. instead of 35. The
heaviest burden, as Is usual with re-
publican legislation, Is in each case put
upon the cheapest goods. On pocket
knives the duty runs IS high as 1872 per
per cent. ; racers, 100; carving knives,
80; table cutlery, 20, and butcher
knives, Go. MIR. Simmons says further
In regard to guns:-"rhe proposed
duty is as iollows:-On single breech-
loading guns, $l.0O per gun and So per
cent. advalorem; OF double breech-
loading guns, costing under Sc 90,
$500 per gun and So per cent. ad-
valorem; on double breech.loading
guns, costing 5000 to $12. 90, $500 per
gun and So per cent. sdvslorem; on
double breech- loading guns costing
$12. 90 and over, $500 per gun and So
per cent. advslorem, making the pro.
posed new duty range from 80 to 100
per cent. advslorem." And as to
cutlery cit is q well.known fact that
nineteen-twentieths of all the table
cutlery marketed in this country for the
past twenty years has been made here,
and the only known reason for the
advance in duty Is to enable the table
cutlery combination to still further
advance their prices. The committee
on ways and Team were shown by
evidence that cannot be disproved that
the difference between the domestic
cost of production and the cost of the
foreign article under the present duty |
of So per cent. advalorem is n per
cent. In favor of the domestic, and they
were not only shown this, but a state
ment of results for 1889 from one of the
members of the COIL bination was sub
mitted, showing earnings of about 81
per cent. on the capital employed. If
the committee on ways and mea had
pat table cutlery on tho free list moth
ing could have been imported except a
few high priced goods like Rogers,
which sell on their reputation. This
action on table cutlery shows the TOOL
ishness of this whole business. 1t il
well known that very few of these
goods (butcher knives) are imported
except well known brands that sell on
their quality and reputation. These
brands will continue to be sold under
q higher. duty, the extra cost coming
out Of the pockets of the butchers
throughout tie country. Does not this
seem nonsense, when 1t is considered
tie government does not need addi-
tional revenue? Surely all this is pro-
run mad. No consideration
whatever IS giUen to The people soho buy
these goods. Everything is in the
interest of the manufacturers, and un.
less you personally protest and per-
suade others to do the same, your in
terests and the consumers interests will
not be considered or thought Of"
The attention of users of cutlery and
guns is called to the species OF legisla-
lion which Mr.. Mckinley Is indulging
10, and TO the view which is taken of
his course by business men who are
Interested in the distribution of the
goods to the consumers. While the
figures given here are, perhaps. start.
ing, 1t is trne that they are II more SO
han the schedules on any other line of
goods. The plain fact is. that MIR. Nc
bill Of denominations, is simply
! measure of robbery of the people in
he interest of the manufacturers, who
,ave, by their Washington lobby,
every demand that they have
made for the purposes OF pillsge. |,