The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-08
POCKETKNIFE PRICES.
A CASE WHERE "M'kiNLEY PRtcESy
PREVAIL.

The Pocketknife Trust and Isow It Has
Haised Prices-Frequcnt Meetings to
Revise Prices - Figures Showing the
Advance.
1heAmerican manufacturersof pocket
knives have been moving in quiet way
to take advantage of the higher duties
given them by Mckinley There are
about twenty-five such manufacturers in
the United States, nearly all of whom
have their factories in the states of New
York and Connecticut. These manufac-
turers being few in number and situated
In the same part of the country, the con-
ditions are highly favorable for the
operation of trust, and, as matter
of fact, the American Pocket Cutlery
association serves all the purposes Of a
trust. Since. McKinley's high cutlery
duties took effect last October this asso-
citation has steadily been moving up the
prices of knives. The latest advance
was made in June.
a large wholesale dealer of New York,
who handles both American and foreign
knives, was recently seen and was asked
whether the domestic manufacturers had
raised their prices since the Mckinley
duties We're put into force.
Yes he replied, ION most lines Of
knives there has been considerable ad-
vance. On some kinds the advance
amounts to from 80 to 80 per cent, while
On some others prices remain nearly the
saIne.
"Soon after the new tariff law took eff
feet last October the American Pocket
Cutlery association began to hold fire.
quent meetings at the St. Denis hotel in
this city, and they have met nearly
every week since. At these meetings
the price lists Of each manufacturer have
been thoroughly overhauled.
"Here was the method of operation:
The manufacturers were taken in turn
and each one was summoned to appear
before the association at the st. Denis
hotel with a full line of samples of his
knives. Each would be on hand at the
appointed hour and would be questioned
as to the price of each knife If it was
found that he had been selling below the
price fixed by the association he would
be ordered to move the price up to the
point agreed upon; but if he had been
selling the knife above the figure of the
combine he would be told that he
might retain that price or lower it as he
saw fit.
"The advanced prices have not yet got
ten into the retail trade to any extent,
since many retail dealers made large
purchases last fall in anticipation Of
higher prices. This was especially true
In the west. The higher prices, how
ever, must sooner or later affect retail
prices, Notwithstanding the assurance
given Mckinley by the committee of the
Pocket Cutlery association that the eff
feet Of the proposed duty would not be
to advance the price of knives to the
final purchaser
The dealer was here asked to give
some cases showing how prices have
been raised. Producing large scrap
book, in which were pasted bills of
knives purchased since last October, he
read off the prices of several knives at
different dates. "Here," he said, sis
three blade knife which has had very
large sale in the west, retailing at seven
ty-five cents. A year ago we bought
this knife at s4.25 a dozen, but on Oct
Is the price was raised to $3.50.
Last January a further advance to So was
M ado p,1 i 1ora fha{ Io,,,rhk -
in June at $6.70. At this latter price,
after the knife has passed through the
hands Of the jobber, the retail merchant
will not be satisfied with less than dol
lar as the price to the final purchaser.
Here, now, is a cheaper knife. Up to
Oct. Is last year we bought this knife
from the manufacturers at SO. 10 dozen,
but Oh that date the association put the
price up to $3.50. Another advance in
January brought the price up to $4.05,
and by June the price was $40. At the
old price this knife was retailed at fifty
cents, but the retailer will ask seventy
five cents from stock bought at present
prices"
These higher prices are the natural
result of raising the old duty from so
per cent. to a Mckinley duty running
all the way from "a to 116 per cent. The
knife trust simply takes what Mckinley
gave it; and the thousands of consumers
all over the country must pay more for
their knives. Ii these consumers have q
quarrel with anybody it should be with
Mckinley and his able ieutenants in the
- L. 1t
manufacturers. These knifemakers do
not know Of any way in which McKin-
leys higher duties can benefit them ex-
cept through higher prices
And what is the consumer going to do
about it? He must remember that in
this land he has no rights which tariff
makers and trusts are bound to respect.