The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-01

system OF sche0ules or enumeration in lSl6
on s the ss o. a sSs rsss
slyc aud best considered tarln enactments on the
statute books, In the sense OF precise, commercia
and alphabetical designation or each article n
separate schedules. 10 provide for any accident
ally omitted article or any newly made fabric the
SIC. no. And be 4 further enacted, That there shall
es s =. sasn ina sse either
Is sny nc s:s .fs &
he @ srss when %e:s @ ssSs Any
S,sssss =. =
on such ,s ne rate q duty
two more materials the duty shall BE- assessed A.
may Be charaeable.
Under the laws OF 1s4e and 1857. which con-
held that this section was in force, not TO impose
Q new rate OF duty, but to give rule for sscer-
provided Tor by name in those laws nor falling
within the clauses for non-enumersted articles.
because 80 resembling an enumerated Article a.
was whether an article was enumerated. Bus the
tariff legislation during the rebellion was, much Of
ing need for revenue. No one law repealed, ike
that OF 1912, all previous laws but, as nave said
before. the tarln acts for eleven years Overlapped
and were interlaced one with another. This Is
obvious 70 any one who carefully studies me leyis
smpe d CLASSIFY articles
lions, according 70 the materials OF their
manufacture whether Of ,r1a ssss sass
articles specially. to the extent which the power or
convenience OF Congress or antagonizing interests
clause At q dinerent rate OF duty Tor general
enumeration OF articles OF specified material OF
ascertain the ntenricn Of Congress under this sys-
TEN legislation since 1881, the aid OF the section
70 ~ 1e law o. 1872 was non ssns
specifically or generally enumerated. And the IN
justice OF invoking II can be made apparent by z
reference to the law known as "The Little Tertn
Dil,n which has Just passed Congress, and which
Directs that manufactures not specially provided
. H a PARTS sem IN value Of six, but ity
per cent II containing more than that oil pure
an @ e 81 ane Of S
1912 and oil section 2,499 OF the Revised Statutes
says:-
~ ss: Ss
able.
The rate for pure silk y sixty per cent: ana un:
imposes htry per cent on certain proportions Of
cotton aud SILK, would be nulllfied:
ing Criticisms OF the Collector oil the port OF Bal
timore on the practical confusion and injustice
iawn OF 1912 mas worked, further comments OF
mine Will be unnecessary. They are on pages 48
saH ~ s Se Hi Of
permitting the positive clauses OF the law to OPP
crate, the Collector OF Baltimore regards as null
Lying the intentions Of Congress aud as tntrust-
ing to customs examiners anu appraisers vague
and arbitrary power, impottic and lever IN.
created q part OF the confusion respecting Jap
anese silks and the different rates az the different
ports on similar articles and 1t Is plain to see that
IL will be next to impossible or any Secretary OF
the Treasury to make rates OF duty uniform from
Maine to California on textile fabrics where the
inquiry Is as TO smliude either IN material,
quality, texture or uses.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHANGES.
am mot unmn6cl Of toe great the almost In
encounter VINO undertook to condeuse and repro
duce last June the suDsisting laws on the customs
revenue. They we're 50 numerous they extended
over SO many years. the repealed and unrepealed
were 40 lnterlaced and lnteriOcked. and the true
that equally Intelligent and upright men could not
well au TO difIer thereon. aud 1t Is perhaps sur
prsing +nat no more dissatisfaction with the re-
VISION exists. And II the revision changed the
language oI the law the Executive could not we'll
dlsoDey the revision, although think the Treasury
vary the rates it imposed on the LIST day Of Decem
Der, 1873 Congress certainly cannot fairly be
revising committee Of the House was aware that
the verbal changes made, ort the dropping
OF certain statutes. would, IN practical admins.
one else inspired changes with such an intent 10
not so certain. There Is certainly much method
IL some OF the alteratlons. Nor do } impute any
blame to the present Secretary OF the Treasury,
although am Tree TO say tnat, IN my view. me
gressionGi record for February 10. 1874, page 2s)
as assisting the committee IN behalf oil the Treas
ury should not have been aiterward selected to
put the law In operation aud interpret the inter-
having nrst entered the House OF Representa-.
city, have seen and had experience enough since
then IN public AFFAIRS to make me tolerant IN crltl-
csm o. those charged win the
discharge their Obhgations. 1t is. there
lore, with no possible purpose TO ex.
/ say that, In my opinion, the system OF admin.
istrati0u OF thar part oi the Revenue Department
imposed needs 70 DO thoroughly changed. it Is =
tremendous prerogaiive o. the Executive to say
what rates our confused statutes levy and pre-
serve uniformity at ali the ports; and yet the Sec
arrange ments, decide each OF the perolexins
the power to Q subordinate, ana he generally y
mere clerk. VINO decides without hearing argu'
be- sale e. to ocs the highest rate IN ali cases
doubt. out that may be very UNJUST TO the i'm.
porter. And vet there must De IN washington 9
unit Of responsibility and decision for ne different
tnat siucc / frst entered Congress there nAs
mater nuca sS and csr. 4o%
several ports, which has dwarf,d the COLLECTORS
VINO are under the Law primarily responsible u
this business TO Congress and the country. The
collector Is by statute. ana should be In iact the
chief customs or1cer Of the port. the whole ex.
10 levy aud collect the duties on imports pre-
scrioed by congress. section 2,62l Of the Revised
otatuteS ueScrlOoB y part VI MS lunctiOn5 tnuB:-
To receive the entries ships or esseIs and OF the
goods wares nerchan diss imported in them.
To estimate the amount OF the duties payable
thereupon, ndorsng such amounts upon the respective
cntriea
TO receive all moneys paid for duties ana take oil
bonds tor securing the pa ment thereof
lie section 2 90l) designates the goods to be ap
pral ed; to him the appraiser reports; If ne "
dissatisfied he can order another examination
anu II the appraisers disagree ne decides between
them. he Is responsible, primarily, Tor all classln
cations Tor duty. Under sections 1881 and 5,0il
mis- decision, as TO rate and amount Is nnal unieri
there be an appeal TO Washington or q suit II
court. The correct Interpretation Of tarlr laws II
thus mis- nrst and one OF his highest obligations
He Is appointed ny the President ana confirmed
by the senate TO do this work, and he SHOULD
neiher delegate It to deputies nor suDordinates q
his own port or allow IL to pass out Of his nandi
into those d! clerks in Washington, unless In con
nct with collectors ~ other ports, where the per
sonai Judgment OF the secretary should interpose
Tne Collectors at the several ports are, as RUE
competent men; they are III daily contact witt
merchants, and clerks IN washlngtOn are not: and
there should he no sub0rdindtes In these natter
OF statute construction between them and the Sec
Rotary.
OTHER REMEDIES AND REFORMS.
/ For anV Increased eXactiOns aDOve tauaa 1Avte