People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-05-20
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.
Why the Trust Can Dictate Such Out.
rngeousIy High Duties.

!
rngeOusly High Duties.
One of the worst schedules in the
Dingley bill is that relating to cutlery
especially pocket cutlery. The du-
Ties on pocketkniyes range from 100 rer
cent. to 300 per cent. above present du.
ties and are nearly double those in the
Mckinley bill. Why, you will ask. are
these duties so extraordinarily high?
And why are they allowed to remain
there? Both questions are easily un-
swered.
II is unnecessary here 10 go into de-
tails. Before McHinley's nomination
one Of the five or six large manufactur-
ers Of pocket cutlery. who was prom
inent in the trust, which raised prices
an average Of about IS per cent.
under the Mckinley bill, began 20 bus
tie for Mckinley. He is said TO have
raised large sum OF money by passing
the hat among the 20 or IS cutlery man
ufacturers. Just how the money was
spent Is not known. Ills possible. how
ever, that several Mckinley delegates
to st. Louis owed their presence there
TO this fund. The hat passer himself
was one of the very few delegates from
New York who was for Mckinley first,
last and all the time. lie was one of
Hanna's most trusted licutenants. One
of the two favors which he is said to
have asked a. compensation for his val
liable services was the fixing Of the cut
lery schedule. This privilege. being an
ordinary and expected one under the
protection system. was readily granted
by the power behind the throne. This
probably the whole story. II explains
fully why the duties are there and why
they will stay there.
Below Is given in detail some of the
effects of the proposed duties as applied
10 importations for the last fiscal year.
OF course but few knives will be i'm
ported under such exorbitant duties.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE.
First-All pocketknives not costing more
than 10 cents a dozen. IS per cent ad
valorem.
Second-Costing more than 70 cents a
dozen. l blade. 20 per cent sd vslorom and
80 cents dozen.
| Third-Costing more than ~ cents q
dozen. blade, 20 per cent. sd valorem and
81 dozen.
or pearl or shell, 50 cents dozen extra J
Fourth-Costing more than 10 cents q
dozen. 3 blade. 20 per cent. ad valorem and
$50 a dozen.
Fifth-Costing more than 70 cents a
dozen. blades or more. 20 per cent. I'D
valorem and g dozen
Qf pearl or shell. 70 cents dozen extra
on 8 and blades)
| Calculation showing result based on i'm.
portations for fiscal year 1896: AL knives
costing 70 cents per dozen and less:
$4,000 dozen. average price. IS cents:
value. 1850: IS per cent.
Knives costing over 20 cents per dozen:
1900 dozen, blade. average price, &
cents: value. s2S.S0O; at 20 per cent. and &
cents dozen; duty, s29,760.
$4,000 dozen. 2 blade, average price,
Sl03; value, siOS, 100: at % per cent. and 81 Q
dozen; duty, A72,752
g7.OoO dozen, blade. average price. r.N;
value, 100; at 20 per cent and no q
dozen: duty, s4S5,s5S
2A.OoO dozen. blade. average price
BIB; value, tiS9.420; at 20 per cent. and :.
per dozen; duty. t595SS4.
Total value, s1.223.770; total duty. LISA.
25i 10y per cent.
Estimated that Of 2, 8 and 4 blade Is pc,
cent. are OF pearl or shell. adding duty q,
follows: