Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1897-05-06
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.
why the Trust can Dictate such out
rugcOUEly High Duties.

raEeoUEIy High Duties.
One of the worst schedules ia the
Dinglcy bin is that relating to cutlery
especially pocket cutlery. The du-
ties on nucEetNniycs range from 100 per
cent. to 900 per cent above present du-
ties and are nearly double those ia the
Mckinley bill, Why, you win ask. are
thcse~duties SO extraordinarily high?
And why are they allowed to remain
there? Both questions are easily an
swercd.
1t is unnecessary here to go into de-
tails Before McKinlcy's nomination
one of the five or siA 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 70 hus-
tie for Mckinley. He is said to have
raised a large sum Of money by passing
the hat among the 20 or % cutlery man
ufacturers. Just how the money was
spent is not known. Il possible, how
ever, that several Mckinley delegates
10 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. he was one Of
Iluuna's most trusted icutenants. One
of the two favors which he is said to
have asked as 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
Is probably the whole story. It 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-AIl pockctknives not costing more
! than 40 cents a dozen. So per cent ad
/ valOrem
Second-Costlng more than 40 cents a
dozen, blade 20 per cent, ad valorem and
/ 50 cents a Dozen
Third-Costing more than 40 cents a
| dozen, . blade, 20 per cent. ad valorem and
81 a dozen.
Of pearl or shell, 30 cents dozen extra)
! . Fourth-COsting more than 30 cents a
dozen, 3 blade, 20 per cent. ad valorem and
$1.50 a dozen.
Fifth-Costlng more. than 40 cents a
! dozen, blades or more. 20 per cent. ad
valorem and 81 a dozen
Of pearl or shell, IS cents a dozen extra
on and 4 blades)
Calculation showing result based on i'm
portationS for fiscal year 1896: All knives
costing 40 cents per dozen and less:
100000 Dozen average price, &c cents;
value, $4,000 So per cent
Knives costing over 10 cents per dozen:
1900 dozen, l blade, average price, GO
cents; value, $2S,8OO; at 20 per cent and 50
cents a dozen; duty, $29.7GO,
$4,000 dozen, 2 blade, average price,
S1.0S; value, $lO3 100; at 20 per cent. and 81 a
dozen; duty, Sl72,752.
277,0o0 dozen, blade, average price, $1.27;
value, 1851, 100; at 20 per cent. and $3.50 a
dozen duty, aSJ,S58
25l0O0 dozen, blade, average price
S1.73; value, $3.50 APO: at 20 per cent. and s.
per dozen. duty $595S84.
Total value 81 ,223, 770 total duty, Sl58I,-
ISL 129l4 per cent.
Estimated that Of 9, and blade % pei
cent, are Of pearl or shell, adding duty as
foiloUs
$1,000 dozen, blade, at
G2,250 dozen, blade, at
$3.50 dozen, 4 blade. at 1890