Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-05-20
SINGLE COPY F1vEoENTs
NUMBER II
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.


why the Trust Can Dictate such Out
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 90 or % cutlery manufacture
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-
tion 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 inn
ported under such exorbitant duties.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE.
First.-Al pocket knives not costing more
than 40 cents dozen, Is per cent ed valorcm.
Second. Costing more than 40 cents dozen,
blade, 20 per cent ad valorem and % cents
dozen.
Third.-Costing more than 40 cents a dozen,
blade, 20 per cent al valorem and 81 dozen
(If pearl or SHE'LL 80 cents n dozen extra.)
Fourth Costing more than 40 cents dozen,
8 blade, 20 per cent ad valorem and $l5O d
dozen.
Fifth.-Costing more than 40 cents dozen,
blades or more, 20 per cent ad valorem and 50
dozen.
IF pearl or shell, IS cents dozen extra ON
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, 26 cents value,
SIC, 800; 35 per cent.
Knives costing over 40 cents per dozen:
$500 dozen, blade, average price, 60 cents;
value, $28, 500; at 20 per cent and 80 cents q
dozen; duty, ,760.
$685. 900 dozen, 2 blade, average price, S1.03;
value, $403, 7G0; at 20 per cent and 81 dozen;
duty, $472, 752
2T,000 dozen, 3 blade, average price, $l.27;
value 1851, 100; at 20 per cent and $1.5O dozen;
duty, $4S5, 858.
254,000 dozen, 4 blade, average price, $l.73;
value $439, ,420; at 70 per cent and 81 per dozen;
duty, $780, ,884.
Total value, $1,228,77O; total duty, 1854, ,254;
1888 per cent.
Estimated that of 2, 8 and blade 25 per cent
are of pearl or shell, adding duty as follows:
$4,000 dozen, blade, at 50c. $4,000
GO, ,25O dozen, 3blade, at 75c 50438
g., 800 dozen, blade, at 75c. 47G25