Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-05-13
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.


WAY the Trust Can Dictate such OUT
rageously High Duties.
Ono OF the worst schedules IN tho
Dingley bill i that relating 70 cutlery
especially pocket cutlery. The duties
On pockefknives range from 100 per
cent to 800 per cent above present sdu-
ties and are nearly double these insfhe
Mckinley bill Why, you viii ask, are
these duties 80 extraordinarily high?
And why are they allowed TO remain
there? Both questions are easily an
swered-
II il unnecessary here togo into de-
tails. Before McKinley's nomination
one OF the five or six large manufacture
ers Of pocket cutlery, who was prom
inent in the trust, which raised prices
an average Of about 35 per cent under
the Mckinley bill, began 10 hustle fer
Mckinley. He is said to have raised q
large sum Of money by passing the Inst
among the 20 or % cutlery manufacture
ers. Just how the money was spent il
not known. It is probable, however.
that several Mckinley delegates to ST.
Louis owed their presence there to this
fund. The hat passer himself was ono
Of the very few delegates from New
York who was for Mckinley first, last
and all the time. He was one of Ham
mas most trusted heutenanfs. One OF
the two favors which he Is said to have
asked as compensation for his valuable
services was the fixing Of the cutlery
schedule. This privilege, being an orCii-
nary and expected one under the protec-
ton system, was readily granted by tho
power behind the throne. This is prob
ably the whole story. It,explains fully
why the duties are there and whysthey
will stay there.
Below is given in detail some of the
effects OF the proposed duties US applied
to importations for the last fiscal year
OF course but few knives will DO inn
ported under such exorbitant duties.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
First--Al pocket knives not costing more
than 10 cents dozen. - per cent cd vnloreui.
Sccond--Costing nero than aocents dozen,
] blade. % per cent nd valorem and 50cents
dozen.
Third-Costing more than 80 cents a-dozel,.
blade, 20 per cent ad valoreEn and 81 n dozen.
(f pearl or shell, 30 cents u dozen cxtra.l
notwithstanding moro than 10 cents dozen,
8 blade. 20 per cent al valoren and sl.50 a
dozen.
Fifth.-Costing more than 40 cents a dozen, 1
blades or more, 20 per cent ad valoreIn and So
o dozen.
uf pearl shell, q, cents dozen extra ON 8
and 1 blades.)
Calculation showing result based ON importa-
lions for fiscal year 1896: All knives costing 10
cents per dozen and less:
$4,000 dozen, average price, % cents; value
1850; % per cent.
Knives costing over 80 cents per dozen:
ss,to0 dozen, blade, average price 90 cents;
value, $3.50; at 20 per cent and 50 cents a
dozen; duty, So, 760.
$4,000 dozen, blade, average price, 81. CD:
value, s413,IoO; ut 20 per cent and 81 a dozen:
duty, $s72, 752.
ZOO dozen, 3 blade, average price, SLIT:
value, So. 80; at 20 per cent and $50 dozen:
duty, s4s5,S55.
$4,000 dozen, blade, average price, sITJ;
value, $4s, go: ut % per cent and 81 per dozen:
duty, $Jg5, sSL
Total value, sl.223sO; total duty. 81 1854, a54;
l2D12 per cent.
Estimated that of 2, 3 and blade - per cent
are of pearl or shell. adding duty rs follows:
$500 dozen, blade, ut sc. $4,000
o. go dozen, 3blade, Mt zoe. 59,sg8
63,50 dozen, blade, ut 55c. s7625