The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-05-06
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.
Why t.,c' Trnst Can Dictate Such Out
ragsouhIy N!sh Duties.


One Of the worst schedules in the
Dingley bill is that relating to cutlery
especially pocket cutlery. The duties
on pocketkpives range from 100 per
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 a7e they allowed to remain
there? Both questions are easily an
swered.
1t is unnecessary here to go into de-
tails. Before McKinley's nomination
one of the five Or six large manufactur-
ers of pocket cutlery. who was prom
ipent in the trust, which raised prices
an average of about 35 per cent under
the Mckinley bill, began to hustle for
Mckinley. He is said to have raised
large sum of money by passing the hat
among the 20 cr % cutlery manrfactur-
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. The hat passer himself was one
of the very few delegates from New
York who was for Mckinley first, last
and all the time Ho was one of Han
mas most trusted lieutenants. 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 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.-Au pocket knives not costing more
than % cents dozen. e5 per cent ad valorem.
Second. Costing mere than 40 cents a dozen,
blade, 20 per cent nd valorer, and 30 cents
dozen.
Third.-Costing more than 40 cents dozen.
2 blade, 20 per cent ad valorem and 81 dozen.
IF pearl OF shell, 50 cents a dozen extra.)
Fourth.-Costing more than 80 cents u dozen,
8 blade, 20 per cent nd yaioren and sl5)
dozen.
Fifth.-Costing more than 40 cents a dozen, 4
blades or mere, % per cent ad yalorem and s.
a dozen.
IL pearl or shell, IS cents dozen extra on 8
end tadca.)
Calculation showing result based on iInporta-
tions for fiscal year 1855: All knives costing 10
cents per dozen and less:
2G,0O0 dozen, average price. 20 cents; value,
s76,960; C5 Per cent.
Knives costing over 20 cents per dozen:
4S, 600 Go-en blade, average price, 90 cents;
value, s::,s,soG; at 20 per cent and 80 cents a
dozen; duty, $Hs2,7G0.
$1,000 dozen, 2 blade, average price, sl.O3;
value, s.US,.e0; at 20 per cent and 81 a dozen;
duty, si12,752.
2l7,0G0 dozen, blade, average price, s1.27;
value, S5l, 790; at 20 per cent and 81. dozen;
duty, siS5,S59.
$4,000 dozen, blade, average price, sl.73;
value, SiG, 429; at 20 per cent and 81 per dozen;
duty, SJe5, ,sc4
Total valrc, s1.2as, 40; total duty, s15s4. .254;
1231z pcr cent.
Estimated tl.at of 2, 5 and blade 25 per cent
nrc Of pearl or shell, adding duty as follows:
oe, ,0OG dozen. . blade, at SC. $4,000
G., 20 dozen, ;iblaGc, at 15c. 59,l3S
G., so Dozen. blade Mt 15c. 41,625