The Jamesburg record., 1897-05-08
The TARIFF ON CUTLERY
why the Trust Can Dictate sueh o.
rageously High Duties.

trust Can Dictate Such I'm.
rageously High Duties.
one OF the worst schedules in tho
Dingley bill is that relating to cntler,, N srv
especially pocket cutlery, The duties
On poeketkniyes range from too 80
cent TO 800 per cent above present dr.
,ies ana are nearly double those in the
mckinney bill. Why, you will ask, are are
'nese duties so extraordinarily bigb9
ana why are they allowed To remain
thereF Both questions are easily an.
swered. 0"'-1' ''ii-
II Is unnecessary here to 90 into de-
tails. Before McKinley's nomination
one OF the five or six large mannfactnr
efs OF pocket cutlery, who was prom.
iDenG III the trust, which raised prices
an average of about 35 per cent under
the Mckinley bill, began to hustle for
mckinney. He is said to have raised a
large sum of money by passing the hat
among the 70 or 25 cutlery manufactur-
ers just how the money was spent is
not known. 1t is probable. however
that several Mckinley delegates to st.
Louis owed their presence there to this
1und. The hat passer himself was one
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 lieutenants One of
The two tavors which he is said to have
asked as compensation for his valuable
services was the fixing Of the cutlery
schedule. This privilege, being an ordi-
nary and expected one under the protec-
ton system, was readily granted by the
power behind the throne. This is prob
ably the whole story. 1t 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
to importations for the last fiscal year.
Of course but few knives will be i'm
ported under such exorbitant duties
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
First.-All pocket knives not costing more
than 40 cents dozen, IS per cent ad valorem.
oeCouu.-COSllIlR more lnan ~ cents q dozen,
blade, 20 per cent ad valorem and 50 cents a
dozen.
Third.-Costing more than 40 cents dozen,
blade, 20 per cent ad valorem and 81 dozen
IF pearl or shell, 80 cents dozen extra.)
Fourth.-Costing more than 40 cents Dozen
Q blade, 20 per cent ad valorem and Sl.5O a
dozen.
Fifth.-Costing more than 20 cents dozen, 4
blades or more, 20 per cent ad valorem and 81
dozen.
IF pearl or SHE'LL 70 cents dozen extra on 8
and blades.)
Calculation showing result based on importa-
tions for fiscal year 1886: ALI knives costing 40
cents per dozen and less:
$4,000 dozen, average price, 26 cents; value
s76,96O; 55 per cent.
Knives costing over 40 cents per dozen:
5000 dozen, blade, average price, 60 cents:
value, $28,900; at 20 per cent and 50 cents a
dozen; duty, s29, 760
392, 600 dozen, 2 blade, average price, s1.03;
value, $40S, 760; at 20 per cent and 81 a dozen;
duty, s472,752.
277, 900 dozen, blade, average price, $1.27;
value, 1851, ,700; at 20 per cent and $l5O dozen;
duty, S4S5,858.
254,0O0 dozen, blade, average price, s1.73;
value, $439 40; at 20 per cent and 81 per dozen
Total value, 81, ,223 77O total duty, 1854, ,254;
12912 per cent.
Estimated that of 2, and blade 25 per cent
are of pearl or shell, adding duty as follows:
5000 dozen, blade, at SOC. $4,000
69, ,250 dozen, 3blade, at 75c. 59,43S
6, 800 dozen, blade, at 75c. E,e25