Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-03
poHfral.
rhe RerIsIon Of tho rnIlea stai.. Iaus- .,

t'a' the revision Of the United States laws which
has just been completed-and in which Judge po-
land had 80 important an agency--was either care
lessly or frauduently done, so that the lava
especially in regard to customs duties, were ma.
teraly changed, and that great injustice has been
done in consequence. It Is therefore with pleasure
that We copy the following from the Congressional
Record touching that subject, which would seem
10 be conclusive But will the slander eease7
CONSTRUCTION or CUSTOMS LAWS.
IN ~, Houi, n Repreienfafires. Jansary I'D, 1875
Mr. PoLASD.-Mr. Speaker, II will be recollected
that few days since a communication was sent 10
the House by the Secretary Of the Treasury in
answer TO n resolution Of the House reported rom
the committee on ways and means, asking whether
customs duties had been increased on any articles
imported since the passage Of the Revised Statutes
ana " 20, whether Il was done because Of any
change OF law made bv the revision ID will also
be remembered that this communication was re-
ierred by the House TO the committee on the re-
vision OF the statutes, against the protest Of the
committee on ways and means. That this action
was perfectly Just under the circumstances was
apparent, because the whole point Of the resolu-
tion was to ascertain whether in the revision ac-
tnal changes OF law had been made in the rates OF
hriH duties. felt greatly obliged TO the gentle
man from New York, Mr. Wood who first intro
duced the resolution, because felt sure 1t would
Afford an opportunity TO entirely dispel a cloud OF
accusation that has been made against the COM
tee OF Congress who had il In charge for examine
ton while before Congress.
Inasmuch as was chairman Of the committee.
and as Il was generally known that also acted az
sub-committec TO specially examine that portion
Of the work covering the whole subject of laws for
the collection Of duties, and was therefore mainly
responsible for the care and thoroughness with
which this portion of the work was examined the
attack was made personal one upon me.
Il was charged that not only had the rates of
duty, been raised on many articles but that
could not even have the benefit of charity that II
was done ignorantly or carelessly The worst of
motives were charged upon me- that had done it
knowingly and by procurement, while deceiving
the House and the country by professions that we
we're only putting the laws in form without change
OF substance. ! rccollect one particular charge;
that 1t had been procured By the gentleman from
Pennsylvania tMr. Keleyl TO change argols from
the free list 10 duty OF six cents per pound and
that this WAS done for the benefit Of the manufac-
tnrers In Philadelphia Of perfumery and pcrfumed
soap.
Why, Mr. Speaker, did not even know, until
working on this revision, what argols were then
learned that the substance which crystalliEes on
the inner surface of wine casks and watts bears this
name, and that after passing through many pro-
eesses becomes cream OF tartar. But did not
learn then that cream Of tartar was used in the
Manufacture Of perfumery orperfumed soap That
knowledge trst dawned upon me In reading some
of the many Trades against me originating with a
certain customs-brokerin New York. had heard
Of cream Of tartar in biscuit and in beer but my
Kelley, the perfumery manufacturers of Philadel-
phla, and myself, must therefore all be acquitted
Of combination and fraud in raising the duty on
argols In one Of the exhibits attached 10 the sec
retarys report will be found decision Of this ap-
peal on argols where it Is shown concusiyely that
there was not the slightest change Of duty upon
that article. The laws regulating duties were In
the most confused condition, and 1t was often
most perplexing thing TO determine what the law
was. Strange and contradictory rulings had been
made not only in the collection offices and in the
treasury department, but in the courts
Il was charged that the insertion of a comma
had lost the government many thousand dol
lars Every industry almost In the country was
affected by the tariff duties, and so delicate and
dangerous was 1t felt to be to undertake to put in
form the laws on the subject that know an ex-
cellent and worthy gentleman in the House who
had actually prepared resolution to offer that
the tariff laws should be left as they were, with
out attempt at revision. ] said to this gentleman
that certainly no part OF the laws needed revision
so badly and was not willing to admit that on
any subjective national laws were so confused and
contradictory that they could not be truhfuly in
terpreted and stated Many gentlemen beside
myself, know the weary weeks OF labor that | be-
slowed upon that part Of the work, and have the
satisfaction OF believing that every man in this
House believes 1t was not only laboriously but
conscientously done
But notwithstanding this the New York city
papers have teemed with articles dccrying and de
nouncing the work, and traducing and villifying
me in connection with IT,
Had the public known well as | did the
author OF all these articles and his reasons |
should have felt very little alarm; but they did
not and could not It was therefore a matter OF
gratincaton to me that the secretary should be
called upon to state the facts upon the subject.
That there might not be mistakes in work so
vast and difficult, and where the time was 20 short
and so much interrupted, could hardly hope. |
should consider 1t almost miraculous II there were
not.
The square and manly report Of the secretary is
certainly matter of great satisfaction to me and
! am very glhd ne has had an opportunity to make
answer tn Mi the sn o',oi anu conclusive
work an tbe reuision wi maze aSainst me or my
before the country ask that the clerk may read
a part OF the conclusion OF the report, and when
apy p eyr T uSng 10 % as & ,ne report % does not point
committee on the revision, shall move that Il
now be referred to the committee ON ways and
means.
~ N,e'N '''u 40 i"'I""s'
q SSSe n & S fs'r s from sus' ssS o q hs as four n
leading se, PoS stating m the practice q, each rsee,y,y BE-
lsii also the authority order in the text of the
which each change was made in these seaort unf s
iersni letters ciranrs ts dsParnsnt are cited a.
such an authority eopies Of each Of which transmitted
Also the original reports. schedules themselves re-
elasneaon-. reported at the leading ports IN he
ing papers that they do no, In all conform
10 any authorized construction ruling made public the
and they are not in such cases admitted
De ,he proper construction q the law at The time They
the department. And as TO changes In construction
portant one ann.,,s ~ s % 80 soos ~ passi e ms IN
changing rate on certain Descriptions Of linens iarne
sums we're reinded under that and similar decisons al
now iven ~ % ,hs M % m M am m Judicial eonsfuetions %
ent secretary such change OF rates was not in acconanc.
with proper interpretation OF the law the time, In
snn yi, ds s as nav .ee Dp9ush up LOT soassra.
appears that me classaeaton or rate resiore seb as
wond at all times have been sustained courts. The
SSd,ssIon Wa neeessafy simply to enforce the law as
Pfor to he recent revision arue nomhsr .,..
ntes existed. which repealed the previous
hw ana was therefore oply by the most careful study
ef ihr ser. eueins IN s o" nn ~ o. e,nss enactment,
duties constantly invoked The aid of he ear
ability for Suggesting and pressing forced and sx
es constructions OF the law they somstmes obtained
ION and hns wsnkene e erns s ss " . sSnsisus
OF duty The revision however brought All
That legally remained Of the yarons statutes together thus
nh ma hsn IN M s sa or % % em' a asoppng those
change Of Law appears l., have heea made he
present text clear and OF reference eonus
n Aaa opanSio' , ne ,sA,nss o. ts former state of the
conr that has existed In cnstons casss Was us eha a.
this multiplicity Of nnTepeaed statutes case Of snyths
70 fsk a' resenty decided IN he supreme court being
sbs under ibe earsf stautr whersa @ % tS mss ehafse,
decided that The Later act was the law IN tors
hs .ls then lad down and before referred 20 as being
haSs been o.sr,s braave, ,ss \, isea & appssE to
carefully followed the rungs Of this department ander
u TINS condensed text being u great service In the practical
'0's am, on xs ~ ,,s @ snstiis sii % .
B hi BElsroW SECRETARY