New-York tribune., 1874-11-25

| TARIFF CHANGES IN THE LINEN TRADE.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF MERCHANTS FOR TIE sIMPLI-
| FIcATIoy OF THE TARIFF LAWS WITHOUT A DE-
| CREASE IN REVENUE.
A meeting of merchants in the linen trade
was held in the rooms the Chamber Of Commerce to
consider recommendations for the slmpfcation OF tho
tariff laws without dminution Of the national revenue
| from customs The meeting like others which have
been held IN other trades took place at the sugg ston
OF a committee OF the Chamber of Commerce. which, to-
gether with kindred bodies iu Boston and Philadelphia,
! Is carrying out the recommendation made in
Congress at tho last session that suggestions
| for simpi6catiOn OF the revenue laws without
essenng the amount Of receipts, be made by these
| bodies. Edwin Packard chosen Chairman Of the
meeting and L. C. Whitman, Secretary. The discussion
In regard to the changes which desirable in the
enue laws affecting the linen trade was proceeded with
in very informal way The Chairman first spoke OF
the trouble and annoyance caused by duties lad on
charges for the inland transportation Of goods from the
place OF manufacture to the place OF export Mr. Jane
took up the theme, and urged that the fair course
would b to levy duties only on the real value OF goods
on the amount paid for them. and not In the freight
charges which part OF the true valuation OF the
goods, and which are sometimes doubled. Mr.. Whit
man said that there had been a good deal
OF talk about differentiation recently. These
duties sporaon charges, commissions, and cost
of packing goods, make valuation pretty difficult
matter for appraisers and add much TO tho abors OF
liquidation at the Custom-hOuse The act for evying
duties on these charges passed June 3d. s6i and
was repealed March 8, 1866, but 1t was reGnacted
1866 for what reason Is hard to tell for 1t embarrasses
importers What cause tho Government had for COM
plant during time that the act remained repealed s
not known. Matters connected with these trans
portation charges have sources OF dispute At
time duties were claimed transportation charges
from Belfast to Dublin, but these disputed and 1t
was finally decided that they could not be collected, as
the charges water carriage. II this principle Is
impartaly carried out, duties which are required IN
many cases ought to be abandoned.
After some discussion, Mr.. Whitman offered a resolu-
ton recommending to the Committee on Ways and
Means there be repealed all acts which require du
ties assessed commissions brokerage cost OF
packing and OF packing materials, Of transportation,
shipmen transhipmen and other like charges incurred
in placing goods wares and merchandise shipboard
This resolution was adopted.
Peter Donald argued that II the Government wished
to retain derived from the duties these
charges Il would much embarrassment and trouble
by making specific charge to these dutesa uni
form percentage Mr.. Donald aferward discussed the
different rates fixed linen goods. IS per cent
80 cents per yard IN value aud 40 cent
gain both 10 the trade and the Government to have
these differences abolished. Many goods are imported
which just on the edge OF tins turning pom, ~
values and goods may at different seasons OF he
year enough TO above below He gave Instances
In shirung nens doyles, and napkins, ana ia unei-
enees OF bleaching. -. .,..-o
Harvey Spencer suggested that the proposed change
would not with the favor OF Congress hs tHpse
dferentiai rates had prevailed In most tarhs MT
Donald and others argued for tue adoption Oh az dnor'
specific duty 35 per cent upon max goods anu iesO-
Inon was passed declaring that the meeting was In
favor of uoiform rates ON goods not exceeding 35
cent .u,o, .ro..
be unreasonable determinations In rates OF duty on
buraps aud favored the recommendation OF a uniform
duty OF 80 per cent all Iu;e fabrics There
discussion Of The interpre latlon put upon Tariff acts
affecting the linen trade by tho codiheation act OF June
Q2 1874 1t was declared that the only passed
upon representations that 10 made change In the
existing system. but subsequently extra duties were
claimed under It,
Mr.. Whitman sad that the Ways and Means Committee
pee TO give relief. 1t was recommen nded that q
general protect made against the requirement Of extra