Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1897-05-26
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.
Why thc ArusC Can dictate Such out
ragCously High Duties.


Ono of the worst schedules in the
Diugl"y bill, is that relating TO cutlery
especially pocket cutlery. The duties
on pockctknives range from 100 per
cent to 300 per cent above present du.
ties and are nearly double chose in the
Mckinley bill. Why. you will ask, are
these duties SO extraordinarily high:
And why are they allowed to remain
there? Bota questions are easily an.
swcrcd
1t is unnecessary here to go into de
tails. Before Mckinlcy's nomination
one of the five or six large manufactur-
ers of pocket cutlery, who was prom
iDent in tho trust, which raised prices
an average of about 30 per cent under
the Mckinley bill, began to hustle for
Mckinley He is said to have raised "A
large sum of money by passing the hat
among the 20 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
fund. Tho 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 ono of Han
mas most trusted licu:enants. One of
the two favors which he is said to have
asked us compensation for his valuable
services was the fixing of the cutlery
schedule. This privilege, being an ordi-
nary and expected one under the protcc-
tlon system, was readily granted by the
power behind the throne. This is prob
ably the whole story. 1t explains fully
why the duties arc 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 bo i'm
ported under such cXorbitant duties.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE.
First.-Al pocket knives not costing more
than 80 cents II dozen. - per cent ad v:,lorcm.
Second. -to-tin., ruoro than iJccuts II dozen,
blade, ~ per cent nd valorcm and 10 cents a
dozen.
LArG.-Coetins more than ~ cents "A dozen,
blade, ~ per cent ud valurc'u and 81 II dozen.
tlt pearl or shell, % cents dozen cNtral
fourth-Costing moro than 10 cents "A dozen,
. blade, 20 per cent ud valorcm and $I.iO a
dozen.
Fifth-Costing moro than 90 cents dozen.
n dozen.
(If pearl or sholl 80 cents a dozen extra on
and ! hladcs.l
Calculation showing result based on iinporta.
uons for fiscal year 1896: All knives costing p
cents per dozen and less:
&d,v'D dozen, average price. % cents: value,
5000; - per cent
knives costing over 90 cents per dozen:
$500 dozen, blade, average price ~ cents,
value, S-S'SUV, at 20 per cent and ~ cents a
dozen; duty, $29, 200.
$1,000 dozen. = blade, average price, $l.O3;
value, $iu3'1O ut ~ per cent and 81 IA dozen;
duty, si.2,.j2.
&7,oyJ dozen, blade, average price, $l.2T;
value, S"jl,i!u; at ~ per cent and 81 Ia dozen;
duty, sisi,S5S.
2okOOo dozen, blade, average price. si..3;
value" SI,', ~; at ~ per and 81 per dozen
duty, 500, ,ssi.
Total value. Sl,22a,77O total duty, LOST. a5i
l%'. per cent.
Estimated that of >, 3 and blade 25 per cent
are of pearl OF shell. adding duty as follows:
5000 dozen, blade, at aoc. 5000
6925J dozen, 3hladC, nj 75c 59.i.S
GJOJ dozen. blade, at ,Jc. I1,G25