The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-19

" RDNnsDAY. NAY 10. 1897.
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THE TAMFF ON CUTLERY.
xageocs1y High Duties.
One of the worst schedules in the
Dngfey bill is that relating to cutlery
especially pocket cutlery The duties
On pecketknives range from 100 per
cent to 800 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
there2 Both questions are easily ar
swered
It is unnecessary here to go into de-
tails. Before McKlnley's nomination
one Of the FIVE or six large manufactur-
ers of pocket cutlery, who was prom
iDent IN the trust, which raised prices
an average Of about So 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-
sers. just how the money was spent is
not known. It 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 fer Mckinley first, last
ard all the tine. He was one of Han
na's most trusted ieutenants. One Of
the two fayors 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 wkcle 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 SCEEDULE
Erst.-A1f pocket knives not costing more
than 20 cents dozen, s5 per cent ad yslorem.
{ Second--Cc Costing more than A0cects dozen,
4 blade, % per cert ad valorem and 50 cents
dozen.
Thrd.-Ccsticg no-e than 20 cents Gozen,
g blade, % per cent ad yeloren and 81 q dozen.
{H pearl or Shell, so cents o dozen extra
Fourth. Costing more than 20 cents dozen.
e blade, 20 per cent sd valorem and s1.50
dozen.
Costing more than 20 cents dozen,
blades or more, 20 per cent ad vslorena and s.
dozen.
uf pearl or saea, rs cents dozen extra on
and 4 blades.)
Calculation showing result based on nnportac
tsons for fiscal year 1886: All knives costing a
cents per dozen and less:
2S6,0o0 dozen, average price. 26 cents: value,
1850; IS per cent.
Knives costing over 40 cents per dozen:
$500 dozen, blade, average price, 60 cents;
value, So3,&0; at 20 per cent and 50 cents
dozen; duty, s29.7e0
$4,000 dozen, 2 blade, average price, S1.Cc;
value, sD&Te0: at 20 per cent and 81 dozen:
duty, s4722.752
e77, COO dozen, 8 blade, average price, s1-e7;
value, S35l, ,79o: at % per cent and s1.5O DOZEN
duty, s4s585S-
$4,000 dozen, blade. average price, sL73;
value, ,42G: at 20 Per cent and 81 per dozen;
duty, s5e5Ss
Total value, sl.2za.7o: total duty, IS, s5544
1885, per cent
Estimated that of 9, 8 snd blade 25 per cent
are OF pearl or shell, adding duty as follows:
5000 dozen, aElace, at SEC. s49,5eo
$3.50 dozen. 3biaGe, ct 75c. 59,z5S
6S,5W dozen, klaGe. as 75c. 47,c25
sl77ssaass17.-lzz}ss p. c.
EESCLT.
Eniyes 70 tie valae Of Fer cecS OF inporta
tions, duty would be 35 per cent.
Kli7es 10 tie value Of g pe- ceno oe impor
tstions, 6.s1-ey woriG be la21. pe- cent.
& The dirty on pocke5 cutlery for sc-ne-y years
prior to 1860 Was q q Per cent cd valoren.
From 1856 70 1899 i5sl was 20 per cent &C va
loren, with tie ezceptioas cf q short time
during that pe7iod when it was 45 per cent ad
relere,a.
The Mckinley tariff averaged about 81 per
cent ad va.e-e1n.
The Wilson tasiGs averaged about 81 per cent
I'D vclcre-c-
The proposed D:agiey ..sri1f VIII average
based on tie i-aporea<io-s of 1856, 1z22774 per
cent ad vSlorer. On 81 PER cent CT ell knives
imported daring thee year.
The equivalent I'd vaiore1n duties on the fol-
lowing popIia. DESCRIPTION of knives, unoer
the Mckinley biii. wilson bill and proposed
Ding.eJ bin. ere ss follows:
McKin- 'ailson Ding
leg bill. bill. ley bill
PC. P. c. P. c.
2 blaee jaclzhives that re-
tail CT Is cents. l12 IS 14l
2blade pearl ladies' kcives
that retail CT 25 cents. 11o IS 1c5
2 blade pearl lidies' knives
that retail ct 30 cents. S3 8! l23
3 blade pe2knives, not pearl
or shell. that retail at SO
cents. ts...................... 50 81 Ho
8 blade penkniyes, pearl or
shell, that retail at 50 cents So 81 10
blade penknives, not pearl
or shell. that retail at 50
cents s................-...... So 81 LEO
4 blade penkcives, pearl or
shell. that retail ct 50 cents SO 81 2cl
Fit the Wrong Party.