The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-10


ing tbs article 10 the highest rate OF day chargesbe on
either Of It's ponent pa whether Of ehefvalue not
under the existing provision Of the 10th section OF the arh
act OF isi2 10 circular Instructions Of the Treasury De-
parment November 80, 1883, under the head OF fabrics
metal must constitute the material Of chief value IN order
10 make the article pay 80 per and ought wool
to be the material OF chief value pay 80 per cent de-
claed In the law Of 1885, and by being merely com
ponsns part under the 2Oh section oflhe law Of 1872
Articles composed Of linen and cotton, not being spe
cally provided for n the existing tariff subec-
ted to the duty, OF 20 per cent the duty being as
sessed on the material paying the highest rate of duty,
under the 10th section OF the tariff act Of 1872 The import
protest paying 70 duy stating In their protests
that the tariff OF 1886 3D. evies duty OF 20 per
cent all goods not specially provided or and as the
manufacture OF linen and cotton when combined is not
provided for 20 cent Is all that be justly claimed
The effect OF levy ing different rates OF duty, and more
especially Of different of duty manufactures OF the
same material, the article although differing in
material detrimental both the interest ofthe govern
ment and the honest conscientious merchant For instance
an importer has an invoice OF Ten cases OF aces be goes
TO the and makes his entry laccs pays
the lowest rate Of dny leaving the question to be deter
mined by the appraisers whether they thread cotton
silk embroidered. AS the law requires but package
OF every invoice and package at least every ten pack
ages OF goods wares merchandise be the APP
ptaisers stores for examination and apprasement the
chances that although the package designated
examination may be found to be correctly charged with
duty the nine other packages possibly, may have been
cotton silk, embroidered aces, liable rs 80 per
cent duty. On the other hand, when goods found to
be incorrectly entered, the merchant is subjected delay
and inconvenience in consequence OF the change of duty
In having TO go second time to the customhouse and
the additional duty in order possession Of his goods
The records of This Office show that the Of duty was
changed by the appraisers in three hundred and eighteen
instances during the last past six months,
This diversity Of opinion in relation the
on OF the law under the existing tariff relative the proper
Of duty great variety of goods is confined to
the local officers of the customs but is oil frequent occur
at headquarters particularly upon every change of
the administration. Numerous instances could be cited
where circular instructions have been reversed but
will suffce-to wit Soon after the passage OF the present
existing tariff collectors and other officers Of the
instructed TO charge thirty per cent on linen cambria
handkerchies when hemsitched, as being made up in
part by hand and twenty per cent when not hemmed or
embroidered. This reversed by instructions under
date ofDecember 81, lSi7, follows Handkerchets,
pocket, although hemmed otherwise prepaedfor use
being articles CARRIED and not within the meaning
of the law be entitled entry, if amboued or em
brodered the appropriate rate OF duty according to the
component MATERIAL
The above was reversed by Instructions OF January 2
1885, follows, "a question as TO the proper casslfca-
ton, under the existing laws OF POCKET HANDKERcHEFs,
hemmed otherwise prepared for use, having been
Gently submitted this department. IL has been decided,
after due examination, that in view Of the evident in'en
ton OF the aw or ALL KINDS are to be con-
sdered as comprehended in the classification made in
schedule of tariff Of Both July, 1916, articles
worn by men, women, and children, and consequently
recollect instance OF the decision Of the dep art
ment being in the short period Of twenty days
is impossible TO produce uniformity at the diff
ports the opinions OF men differing both the
ce, uses, and to the construction given the law,
well, even to the proper construction of
treasury instructions In fact since writing the above, two
complaints have been made to for charging greater
duty lace Sleeves stomachers and cravas by
per cent, than is charged in New York.
To show how differ in opinion in constituting law,
which my mind could be made clear xplicit,
definite and the point, will Instance
Under schedule of the tariff of 1896 in regard
brodered goods, the language used as follows Manu-
lectures cotton linen, silk WOOL worsted, If enbroi
dered tamboured In the LOOM OTHERWISE by MAcHr-
Nary with the NEEDLE other PROCESS, thirty
centum aid vaorem. The local appraisers took the ground
that the law comprehended all amboured and embroi-
deed goods, whether tactsTed in the LOOM by
cNERY with the NEEDLE other PROCESS The board OF
general appraisers whom the OF the subject
OF embroderes committed in the year 1851, reported
department the used in schedule c. tam.
boued embroidered" can only be applied those fab
RIGS figured ornamen,ed by the employment OF the
die and all other amboured embroidered goods the
piece in the loom by machinery, to pay
according the material Of which they may be mposed
The department approved Of the report Of the general APP
praisers and issued instructions In conformity thereto
Should the bin proposed by the honorable Secretary of
the Treasury be enacted by Congress- and become law
all attempts made pass goods through the cus.
om-house lower of duty than what the law
tenn plaed-al controversy between the merchants and
officers the customsal litigation in regard questions
of dual attempts pass goods through the by
a new nomenclature-e diversity OF practice differ
ports the description OF goods which pre-
walls In the assessments Of duties, owing different rates
of duty being placed upon the same material, well as
different constructions being given TO the aw-wll be
wholly done away with, producing savng the govern
ment In the foregoing particulars Of thousands and thou
sands Of dollars say nothing of time and labor Indeed
order comply with the requirements of the constu
ton Of the United States, demanding uniformity In the
of duties and orbdding preferences In any
dvidual port another, be fully and
eecuay complied WITH except only by the adoption OF
tariff bill like the proposed, having general rule
but rate OF duty on all descriptions Of goods.
The bill proposed very surpssses every other bin
proposed adopted for the sfeady stated and
beyond all these the important and main reason,
will afford an equal benefit every interest operate
10 silly and equally all branches Of industry Ia the
rous sections OF county give sufficient
meet the of the government and yet incidentally
and equally protect all kinds OF labor
1t cannot be charged that this proposed bill got up for
the exclusive benefit Of any particular interest branch
OF industry all and every description industry and
labor will alike share the protection incidentally gives
In raising sufficient the the gov
eminent
The articles enumerated. and which the bin proposes to
make free duty wholly Of that class with one or two
exceptions, which do not, directly indirectly. into
competition with any Of the small industrial INFER
Of country, and therefore the eg only
proper article. be made free in the OF the reve
nue.. In making many articles free Of dutyaroes not
produced in this country, but which Of necessity enter into
the everyday Of almost every family In our land