Mr. FOSTER. I was wrong in saying the Senate raised the amount over the House bill. What I meant to say was that the Senate had increased in some cases the amount of duties reported by our ComFinance on the commodities which are used by the manufacturers of these articles. Now, in order that justice may be done to these manufactures we should certainly increase the amount of duty imposed on these articles imported, if we have increased the amount of duties recommended by the ComFinance on those articles entering into their manufacture; and I cannot but believe that the honorable chairman himself is satisfied that this is no more than a reasonable increase of duty. Mr. President, I challenge comparison on this subject with any other article which is now manufactured in the country showing a decrease in price for the last 2 years. 1864 the 5 different grades of knives that are manufactured in this country were sold in NewYork at these prices: $275 per dozen for one description, and now that same class of American knives is sold in NewYork for $2 50 per dozen. Another class which 2 years ago were sold at $3 30 per dozen, are now sold at $3 per dozen. Another class that were sold 2 years ago at $6 32 per dozen, are now sold at $5 75 per dozen. Another class that were sold 2 years ago for $10 55 per dozen, are now sold for $9 50 per dozen; and another class that were sold at $22 per dozen are now sold for $20 per dozen. It is no article of American manufacture, in my opinion, that can show such a decrease in price in the last 2 years when commodities of all sorts, as a general thing, have been rising. The English knives of these same grades 2 years ago were sold in NewYork at prices higher than the American knives by $1 per dozen in one case, $1 70 in another, $1 84 in another, $2 05 in another, and $1 75 in another. 2 years ago the English knives cost those several sums more than the American knives. Now, however, unfortunately for the American manufacturer this is all reversed, and English knives of the 1st grade are sold in NewYork today for 40 cents per dozen less than the American, the next 20 cents, : next $1 20, the next $250, and the next 70. I submit to Senators, under these circumstances, that an increase of duty such as I have proposed is the least that will enable the American manufacturer to keep in the market. I put it to Senators that here is as good an exemplification of the effect of the American system on an American industry as we can ever expect to see; that is, by the imposition of a duty we have brought down the price of he article very considerably. The English, however, have reduced theirs in manifestly 2 years below intending to apologetic; get the market; the price wiligo back again oljdostand.ard speedily, because thoroi o: With this additional spe of 50 cents per dozen on knives 2 dollars per dozen the advan. – tage will still be in favor of the English manufacturer; but the importation will not be decreased below the amount which is now im orted, and the revenue therefore will not suffer. The domestic manufacture, however, if this trifling addition is allowed to be put upon the bill, will, I think, be saved, and the price to the consumer will be less at the end of a year than though we reduced this duty. I have a right to say that, Mr. President, because 2 years ago, when the English price was above ours, by protecting our home article we brought down the English below ours; so that I do not speak hypothetically; I speak with demonstration in my hand. I hope, therefore, that this trifling addition will be allowed.