New-York tribune., 1874-05-30
TARIFF REVISION.
CRITICISMS OE MERCHANTS.

DUTIES ON TIN PLATEs--THE NEW REGULATIONS
ON STILL WINES LIKED. '. t.
The subject of the items which the Con-
rressienal Committee Ways and Means have agreed
TO report the Amendatory Tariff BILL has been largely
discussed among importers TRIBUNE reporters OBJ
tsued the views of representatives OF the leading in
ieress affected by the proposed in the report
Franklin Allen, Secretary OF the American Silk Asso-
citation, said that the object OF the specifications with
regard silk goods insure fair collection OF 'ne
duties understood by the chief customs ofnoer 'no
Secretary the Treasury The acts relating TO duues
silk had been scattered and 10 some eA'eu' oo
f,lsine that there had been contradictory opih
tons a. 70 their Interpretation. 1t was conse
aueutly thought best TO gather tcgether tho sun
stance OF these acts, and to state them pialhiy
Ia tho Amendatory Tariff bill. The items reported ny
the Committee contain nothing new and nothihg 10
which the silk importers object The question OF tne
duty ON silk ribbons, upon which there had been 80
much controversy ending IN the refundlng OF pa' VI
the duties paid by the Secretary rs settled by the clause
sOn all goods wares, and merchandise not otherwfse
herein provided for made OF silk or OF which SILK is tne
component material OF chief value, irrespective OF the
classification thereof for duty by under previous
laws or commercial designation 60 per oent al
yalorem." The question OF commercial Designation
had iuterered with the collection of the fun duty OF eo
ror cent. Some persons bad thought that there was
something behind rearmation OF the IS per cent
per cent. etc. ad vaorem duties besides the simple
intention that should be chance for conflict OF
opinion and bar TO fair collection OF duties Mr.
Allen said he OF hidden object and that II was
for the interest OF importers well as the treasury
Department that the provisions OF the statutes should
brought together into compact form ana clearly eA-
pressed.
The provision that after the lst Of July next
tin potos sheets shall pay cents per pound duty Is
objected to by the importers OF metals They are al
most unanimously in favor of specific in place OF ad
vaOrcm duties tin plates, as is shown by the me-
ind iiuai ma hers
and the Finance Committee of the Senate and House OF
Representatives and signed by the leading importers OF
tin this and other cities with over 5000 merchants in
all parts of the country. This recommends the con-
version OF the ad valorem duty into corresponding
aud equivalent specific duty, measure calculated
10 simplify and increase the collection Of the customs
revenue facilitate Of business give sta
bhty prices and at and forever render Disagree
between the importer and Government practi-
cal impossibiy." The memorial caims
As a raw material, constituting the basis Of great
branches of domestic Industry, important element
the large class of articles especially used by
building for machiuery, and for The preparation of pro
ducts largely exported or which require domestic trans
poraiioa in alright metal packages as condition OF
sale aud sonsumpi on tln pa'e mas Strong ca 70 o
dollars worth of iruit. corn, and other vegea-
bos, well oysters and other shell sh are annuiy
put up for expectation for domestic mar.
6ets. Refined petroleum. also Is shipped 10 all parts or
the world Ia almost exsgsyey in TN cans while ne
IS that of working upon TIN. la the present hnanelal
Condition OF TIE country EOur
prefer claim for reduction or exemption OF taxa
lion respect TO this articie but they do claim that SO
long 1t considered expedeut to impose duty upon
us importation, the substitution OF an elnVaent speo
chc for the existing ad yaorem duty would be IN the
the merchants Tha, such specific duty cam lnoreoyer
be easily substituted without loss to the treasury WIN
he made evident from an examination OF the following
tables The importatons OF tin plates during the last
I572-Amount III value imported. .sl2.3l242S
ls75-AmOuut in value imporled...... lA,y93'6O
Total yalue. s27.s4O7s
That with ad yaorem duty ol Is per cent the accru
Ing revenue would have amounted on this importation
TO siO95,7G 70. But the actual weight imported during
the above two years was:
1s72-Gross weight, including boxes. .2O9,67l,CiO
l573-GrOSs weight, including boxes. .2i ,o69.S4
Total pounds .........................4237 .4237nOA
which import, at a specific duty OF one per pound
gross weight tor including the weight Of the paGkages
ference years revenue receipts therefore. be
specific rate OF duty would have been only sl46s A.
or s7O per ana that $4,000 IN favor of
cent per pound on tin plates including boxes Would do
away forever with uncertainty In respect to valua
tons aud the conflicting apraiscmeDts OF market value
aud cost prcc-for it should he understood that tin
Ties have be contracted for months ahead Hence
ituyaraby happens that the actual cost OF the article
conflicts with the market value at the time OF Shipment
The leading importers claim that duty of one per
cent would be fair amount, but tn duty of II per
cent would be excessive. being advance Of Is per
cent. The provision in regard 10 yellow sheathing
metal and yellow metal bolts, of which the component
part OF CHEF value Is copper requires the payment or
the duty prescribed for manufactures of copper II is
garded Of little importance, because little ship
building going on that the mporations of sheathing
metal, &c, are OF little account.
the regulations Of the tariff relating TO wines have
been regarded by the importers iadvised and
UNJUST not calculated to contribute largely they
should to the revenue OF the Government, and yet op
prcsslve importers aud the public. The Execu
tive Committee OF Wine and Spirit Traders Society
of this city accordingly sent TO Washington early in
this session OF Congress TO urge change in these
lations, and the result has been recommendation OF
the Ways and Means Committee, in their Amendatory
Tariff BILL that 40 cents gallon and 81 80 per case be
levied all still wines. and upon all still wines i'm
ported in bottles s. per case of one dozen bottles
containing each than quart and more than
pint, "a bottles containing each not more than
pnt Inquiry among importers In this city and an
examination OF documents which have been prepared
for tue OF the Congressional Committee have
elected interesting facts showing the exact significance
proposed revision of the tariff Under the exist
lug law different qualities OF wines are Inherently
taxed. but while the classification of wines is nomnaly
fixed the basis Of the invoices sworn TO by the
shippers and certified to by the United States Consul on
approval appraiser this sde who has it his
power TO regard the wines OF different class
class they are taxed another and the importer
never know certainly when he purchases what the tax
Will be upon what he buys. This causes the importa
fon OF interior of wines and 1t difficult for
importers to conduct their business properly slight
disturbance at port shipment may sudden
Is lust being put upon yesselwlne that COST say SO
cents this Is taxed 25 cents but the rise carries the
pr1ce wine above cents, and according the
law that shpoad which bought at IS cents must be
taxed GO cents instead OF 25 cents as II cost over
80 ceuts This cargo is very likely already
sold on the snpposition that 1t rs taxable
the rate Of only 2 cents. The importer in all such
cases which are likely be frequent finds himself the
loser from causes over which he has no control. and
specific rate of duty ali still wines 1t is claimed that
GoyerOmen, % viii be attained The labor required for
the appraising OF wines VIII be done away with all