The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-05-20
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.
Vhy the Trust Can Dictate Such Out
rageoasly High Duties.

Why the trust Can Dictate Such Out
rageaasly High Duties.
One of the worst schedules in tho
Dingley bill is that relating to cutlery
especially pocket cutlery. The duties
ON pocketknives 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 are they allowed to remain
there? Both questions are easily an
swercd.
1t is unnecessary here to go into de-
tails. Before McKinley's nomination
one Of the five or six large manufacture
ers Of pocket cutlery, who was prom
ipcnt in the 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
large sum of money by passing the hat
among the 90 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. The hat passer himself was one
Of the very feAv delegates from New
York who was for Mckinley first, last
and all the time. He 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 ordl-
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 cxorbitant duties.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE.
First.-All pocket knives not costing moro
than - cents Dozen - per cent al valorcm
SccOnd.-CGsting moro than 40 centS doZen
l blade. u per cent al valorem and 80 cents u
dozen.
Third.-CostinG moro than - cents a dozen
blade - per cont al valorcm and 81 d dozen
Of pearl or she'll, % cents Il Dozen extra
Eourth.-CCatiE.; more than - cents GCZcn,
3 bl;l.lc, - per cent ad valorcIn and $50 a
dozen.
Fifth.-Co3ting more than 80 cents dozen, 4
baLcs or nOlc, - per cent ad valoIcm and -
O dozen.
Of pearl shell, - cents a Gozcn extra on 3
cnd bladCs.)
Calculation showing result based on impOrta-
lions for fiscal year 1855: All knives costing 40
,y,I1 .,,c,
$4,000 dozen, average price, &c cents: value.
s16,tt0; 20 per cent.
Knives costing over ~ cents Per dozen:
1900 Gozen, blade, average price to cents
value, $3.50; ut 20 per cent and - cents a
dozen; duty, $500.
392, 80 dozen, = blade, average price, $lU:};
valuc, So. 80; at 20 per cent and 81 dozen
duty, siI2,1:2.
27I,UO0 dozen, blade, average price, $l.27
value, SOL, 100; ut 70 Per cent and 81 % dozen
duty, $io5 ,S;S.
25I,OO0 dozen, blade, average price. sl.13;
value, 1852 10: at ~ per cent and 81 per dozen
duty, 1856 ISL.
Total valcc. $l.22293 30: total duty. sl5s4 Psi
l2Ji. peg cent.
Estimated TIA; Of ,, and BLADE % per cent
are If pearl or SHELL adding duty as follows:
W, 600 dozen, LlaCc, ut 59c. $4,000
Gu, 22JJ dozen, blade. ut .i-.. 59,4aS
Is. SO dozen. blade. ut a5c. - ,G2o