High Duties On Buttons

The button manufacturera, present and prospectivo, are unusually greedj' ia their demanris for Uuil't' duties. McKinley duties are entirely too slow tor the button infants. The following i.s part of a statement made by buuon importers: The proposed duties on buttons per schedule of the finance commlttee of the senate, are as i rule prohiblíory and would prove a. severe hardship In gooda used by the poorer and mlddle classes, and also to manufacturera of varioua garments used by the mass of our people, such as low priced shirts, underwear, clothing, etc. The following data will give some idea of the inequalities of the proposed duties: Agate Buttons - Present duty, also McKinley bill, 25 per cent; proposed duty of one-twelfth of 1 cent per line per gross, plus 15 per cent ad valoreni, would average f rom 67 to 161 per cent, bearing heaviest on the class of goods that make up the great bulk of the impovtations. The following schedule. taking the styles that sell, shows the range proposed: WHITE LENTILLES ON CARD SOLD TO JOBBING TRADE. Present Equals duty, posed ad val. No. Lines. Price. 25 p. et. duty. p. et. 1% 18 $0.124 0.031 0.190 161 10 20 0.234 0.059 0.235 101 20 21 0.310 0.078 0.256 82 30 23 0378 0.095 0.287 76 40 25 0.441 0.110 0.316 71 50 27 0.510 0.128 0.347 67 BUTTONS FOR MANUFACTURING TRADE IN BULK. Mineral 14 0.138 0.034 0.160 116 Ivory 10 0.145 0.036 0.182 125 Lentille 18 0.153 0.038 0.203 L32 These buttons are not made here, nor are they likely to be made. First, beoause little or none ot the raW material required has been found here; second, because the total sales being limited to this country, would not warrant the investment of the necessary capital in a plant needed to make the various styles wanted. It is evident that the intention is to exclude these goods in the interest of some higher cost goods. The proposed duty would be a real hardship and i bear heavily on the class of people wlio i buy "china buttons," as well as on the manufacturera of cheap shirts, underwear, etc. Bone Buttons (to sew on) - Present duty, 35 per cent; McKinley bill, 50 per cent; proposed duty. from 106 to 194 per cent. These joods are mostly sold to manufacturers of cheap underwear, children's waists, corsets, clothing ,etc.