The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-05-29
lie TARIFF ON CUTLERY.
why the Trust Can Dictate Such Out
rageously High Duties.

rageously High Duties. :
One of the worst schedules in the
Dingley bill is that relating to cutlery
especially pocket cutlery. The duties
on pocketknives 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
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
iDent 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 or 20 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 few 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 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.-AI pocket knives not costing more
than 40 cents a dozen, 35 per cent ad valorem.
Second.-Costing more than 40 cents dozen,
l blade, 20'per cent ad valorem and 30 cents a
dozen.
Third.-Costing more than 40 cents dozen,
blade 20 per cent ad valorem and 81 a dozen
IF pearl or shell, 80 cents dozen extra.)
Fourth.-Costing more than 40 cents dozen,
blade, 20 per cent ad valorem and Sl.5O a
dozen.
Fifth.-Costing more than 40 cents a dozen,
blades or more, 20 per cent ad valorem and 50
a dozen.
IF pearl or shell, rs cents a dozen extra on 3
and blades.)
Calculation showing result based on importa-
tions for fiscal year 1856: All knives costing 40
cents per dozen and less:
$4,000 dozen, average price, Is cents; value,
S76 800; IS per cent
Knives costing over 90 cents per dozen:
5000 dozen, blade, average price, 60 cents;
value, S28, 500; at 20 per cent and 80 cents a
dozen; duty, S29,7G0.
392 600 dozen, 2 blade, average price, $1.03;
value, s4O3, 760; at 20 per cent and 81 a dozen;
duty, $472, 752.
ri, 900 dozen, blade, average price, $1.27;
value 1851, $50; at 20 per cent and so dozen;
duty, S485,s5S.
254,OOO dozen, A blade, average price, $1.73;
value, $459, APO; at 20 per cent and 50 per dozen
Total value, 1928 no; total duty. 81, 5S4 254
1899 per cent.
Estimated that Of 2, and blade 25 per cent
are of pearl or shell, adding duty as follows:
$4,000 dozen, blade, at Soc. $4,000
50, 25O dozen, 8blade, at 75c. 59,438
6S, 500 dozen, 4 blade, at 75c. 47,625
$l,74O, 317-l4215 p. c.
RESULT.
Knives to the value of Per cent OF importa-
tions, duty would be IS per cent.
Knives to the value Of "a per cent of inpor-
tations, duty would be 1879 per cent.
The duty on pocket cutlery for some years
prior to 1850 was "a per cent ad valorem.
From 1860 to 1890 it was 30 per cent ad va
loren, with the exceptions of a short time
during that period when it was 45 per cent ad
valorem.
The Mckinley tariff averaged about 81 per
cent ad valorem.
The Wilson tariff averaged about 81 per cent
ad valorem.
The proposed Dingley tariff will average,
based on the importations of 1895, 1929 per
cent adj valorem on "a per cent of all knives
imported during that year.
The equivalent ad valorem duties ON the fol-
lowing popular description of knives, under
the Mckinley bill, Wilson bill and proposed
Dingley bill, are as follows:
McKin- Wilson Ding
ley bill. bill. ley bill.
p @. PC. P. C.
blade jacklnives that re-
tail at 25 cents. ............ 112 Sc lbs
2 blade pearl ladies' knives
that retail at 20 cents liz SO 1855
blade pearl ladies' knives
that retail at so cents. SO 81 100
8 blade penknives, not pearl
or shell, that retail at so
cents ......................, 81 OIL GO
3 blade penlnives, pearl OF
shell, that retail at 80 cents SO 81 10
blade penlnives not pearl
or shell, that retail at 90
cents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 50 81 loO
blade penknives, pearl or
shell, that retail at 80 cents SO 81 204