The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-05-15
THE TARIFF ON CUTLERY.
Why the Trust Can Dictate Such Out
raEeouslY High Duties. u.

why the Trust Can Dictate Such Out
x n rageously High Duties. w
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 60 into de-
tails. Before McKinley's nomination
one Of the five or six large manufacture
ers of pocket cutlery, who was prom
iDent in the trust, which raised prices
an average of about IS per cent under
the Mckinley bill, began to hustle for
Mckinley. He is said to have raised a
+. large sum of money by passing the hat
among the 20 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 CT 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 ezorbitant duties.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE.
:7irst.-All pocket knives not costing more
.:>,n a. cents q dozen, IS Fer cent ad valoTem.
+c%onG.-Ccsting more than DO cents Dozen
:,..i;:", 10 per cent I'D valocein and 50 cents 6
az
:i.i:d.-Costing more then % cents a dozen
,sL:',,r, - per cent &C valo en- and 81 q dozen
III i'e;,s'l CT she'll 90 cents dozen extra.)
,,liiiE.-Coslinl, rlo.e than 50 cents dozen
h;;,;.c, ~ Per cent ad valorem and $150 6
LIcn.
tjIti.-Costing more than 30 cents dozen,
;at,ess more 20 per cent ad valoren and s.
/. .lr.C1l.
Il l,esll or shell. IS cents a dozen extra on
and bIales.)
CaicUlat ion showing result based on importa
lc.?s t;Hr tsc:l! year loIG: All knives costing d
en-. Ter .4c:cn and less:
-. ',uvj GO:en, average price, 26 cents value
'i,.uo; - Ter cont.
Knives Cos ing over 10 cents per dozen:
4.,vvo Goz-cl, blaze, average price, 10 cents
.i..e S~o,tvt; at ~ per cent and 80 cents
C1-cn; duly, SIS, TOO.
..~,CJ0 dozen, blade, average price, 81. O2
iilze, $4Uo, 100; az 20 per cent and 81 dozen
lily, $412,115522
2,7,JUJ Dozen 3 blade, average price, $1.27
,alue, SOL, 1885, at ~ per cent and $50 dozen
NY, S4o5,c5S
:.;4,iUJ dozen, blade, average price, $1.73
value, $4,, 20: at ~ per cent aud So per dozen
-uly, $5,o,SS4
Total value, TO; total duty, sl,584, 1854
i201e per cent.
Els mated that of 2, 8 and blade Is per cen
re OF pearl or shell, adding duly as follows:
500 dozen. blade, at 5oc. $4,000
,,-JU dozen, blade, at 75c. SO, 4S8 81"
..,3J0 Lo2en. blade. at 15c. 47,G25