New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-24
DUTIES ON KID GLOVES.
PEopENING THE OLD CONTROVERSY.

THR GIOVfs.
The controversy abnnt the dutiablc value OF Kid
gloves has been revived. aud yesterday rcapprase-
ment of a large lot Of Alexandra gloves, imported
bv \. +. Stewart & Co, was begun at the Custom
House. II. i. Ciatiin and William lidlSted, oi
Hal-ted. IIanes * Co.. were the Merchant Apprais-
crs, aud Alexander T. kctchum acted as Govern
ment Appraiser. A. T. Stewart Co. desire 10
make this test case TO reduce the value of gloves
below that established by Collector Merritt last
Fall. Important evidence for the Government was
furnished III the opinions of several largo lOreieh
dealers on the value of samples OF the gloves.
MAIN FEATURES OF THE CONTROVERSY.
4 SKETCH OF THE CONTEST WHICH HAS LED 10
TINS TEST CtsF-wnAT WAS SHOWN AT THE
MEETING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF SPECIAL
hGEN Is AND oTHrRs ON TIE RESULT.
The kid glove controversy, which tc"
months ago attracted much attention. Is about TO De-
reopencd A. T. stewart Co.. the exclusive importers
Of the Alexandra xii gloves. have d"ci!ci to MAKE
another test case, with view to having HE val
uaii1n reduced below that established by Collector
Merritt In" REIMBURSEMENT which wa had inst ill
Some time ago four invoices of NrXa.dre kid gloves
were imported at uaon Of - francs. the -aine Ialr
which gave rise the previous rcappr'isenent Ih'
local appraiser silas T. butcher. on what wa claimed
to be newly discovered evidence IL regard To ho tru'
market value Of THIS brand of glove both At homo ana
abroad, advanced tne price 90 % lduc- Inc II" pro-
yes that where the ind ryaudtOn IS In excess OF 10
per cent II shall carry penalty which ia thl'
case amounts TO about $4,000. y. !. stewart " 10
through their attorney, General j. j. Mc' ooA oi ~ y
ander Grecn ncl protest against TINS dpprasemrLt
and a REIMBURSEMENT was demanded and allowed. In
o der TO make this test case tue Our INVOICES were
consolidated under two rcdpprdiscment. H. H. Calm"
OF II. b. ClaGn Co., and W'!iirm NJ. Halsed'of Hl-
sted II zines CoweIe selected az Merchant Appraisers
with Alexander i. Kc'chun rs General Appraiser I"o
first business session these Appraisers WAS held yes
terIay william Lbbcy. of the firm ot 4. I. stewart a
Go was present with BIS AT 0rnCy, General NCto0k
Tie Gov eminent Was represented By special treasury
Agent Williams.
TIE previous case included mportations hy A. T.
Stewart Il Co.. Iscn, Necscr & Co.. aud NimeId.hs'
IIo,ue x CO. and represented the Alex ,udre the CouI
vossicr the J3uyn ana .. Ptrot brands OF Kid gloves
These glove, were inyoid 20 she several houses above
mentioned at AZ francs. The local appraiser Increased
the valuation % ;raucs \ rcappraiScinen' was or
dcred and test were made the parties al agreeing
that the valuation thus fixed for the Alexandra
glove should be accepted as determining
the value OF the others Of like grades.
The merchant appraisers, in their report. placed
the valuation at T. francs, the invoice plce The Cen
era Appraiser, who dlssented from tins decision SUD
united separate report advancing ia" value To - francs
When the reports suOm tied 10 Collector NcnltI.
he examined the law which provided for rc. HHrasc-
mcnt, and found that three rules han been
laid down by the Department Tor sdch valua-
tiou>: fist the price OF the same quality OF
glove abroad; second the price 81 mat or tie saIuc
quality Of glove IN the nome market, and IN evil
dence could not be found sufficient on this point
then the third rule u apply. namely the cost 81
manufacture with proacr percentage added FOR profit
GA receiving the repor; Of Generals appraiser krtchnm.
The Collector cX CANNED the evidence and was oi tAe
opinion that the testimony Of person WHO had pur-
nj, firm f.4t!
London not sufficient basis upon which 10 eSti-
mate che actual market value abr0ld He suggested,
therefore that the report shOull ID made on te thrd
rcgulationthe cost OF manufacture. GeneraAppaiser
KetchuiH hen submitted supplementary report 'sed
this proposition and placed the value at 10 francs.
The General and Merchant Appraisers failing 10 agree
upon uniform valuation. Collector Merritt, under the
general instructions Of the Treasury Department,
compelled 10 accept one OF the reports. Having no
power az that time establish value INDEPENDENTS,
lie sustained the report OF the General Appraiser which
vas subsequently approved by Secretary SHcrlIan.
In the meantime special Treasury Agents were en-
ployed in collecting evidence to sustain the position
taken by the Government The merchants Of London
visited. samples of the AXandrc glove were sub
mted 10 hem and their opinions experts on the true
value OF the glove were secured. Not satisfied with the
decision. \. T. stewart Co. determined TO tc,t the
question invoice by invoice. The last ios ccyed being
first tnat have arrived the docson OF Collector
Merritt, they entered at the old rate OF A. ncs
since decision the Trca,ur Department las Issued
Il circular Of amended Instructions in regard 10 reap
prasoments which ii IS held that the section Of the
statutes which provides that Inc Collector must cdoose
chant and General Appraisers. Is intended ana
must be held to give the Collector 0iscIe ION,
AIRY power thus constituting hn all actual
umpire. and that hereafter. III all reap
ports, hut legal ght 10 establish valuation ne
those agreed upon ny the two sts oi APAlsefs
which his Judgment viii be warranted 10y tie cvl
dettgp md "A
ing, that Oh 1t duties shall be assessed ana ,oeceh IL
is CLAIMED Nv Customs officers that THIS discretionary
mower resting with the Collector will prove adj
Vantageois to the merchants. as II VIII permit the oil
IcctoT, the event OF decision being made 10y either
Of the appraisers not entirely Sustained by the ey
unGcryaIuaIon ana the reports 10y Merchant Apprais
who might be prejudced by the rvarles Ia tIade.
Evidence OF THE FOREIGN DEALEBs.
At the investigation yesterday. aida's OF prominent
London merchants presented and read by General
Kccbun. These saements.lt was claiinrd were based
upon personal inspection of the Alexandra Kid glove.
such as are sold Ibis country. aud that the several
firms whose opinions had been obtained were among
the larges. representatives, OF the kid glove trade In
London. The following arc among the opinions OBJ
taincd
Dcan Alcroft 4 Go. stitc: "wo would place these
gloves ht value OF o. francs IuOa"! hlshct' IheJ
q X. Morley say: eve know thus glove. Ii il un-
dcun'edy first qualtY re price % to % flames
with rise ~ irdnrs per button
Forster. Porter * Co say we know this glove to
Leaf Suiis a Go. gave this opinion: This glove ia
Identical with the CutryO sscr. Il Is first quality. lfit
mas Dcen going tho states ~ AZ francs II Is down
rI4ht sWiud.c.'
Iowucs Brothers say "This l. first quality glove.
There are ,wo aiIs SOLD inferior. which ai 90 order
Is no cut Ui the way. The price Is - francs
FOrrs WdrchuIs" Co. add: " TINS Is unquestIona-
hly a first dlalty glove"
audI.Icn to TIE ahoyc testimony, Il statement has
been procured from Frhc"is Cayai tcntay, one OF
lie . gest Kid gtuNc manufacturing firms GIcIOi.c.
France. These gen men ter having made ear in!
estimate say over ncif signature, tlat ihr actual
COSto %
a Xaudre. IL Il traction over 10 flames Ihcy
farther state TIA; .hC A.cIJurr l. Hattie better
than the gCyc winch thcy ran maze Tor that price.
COMMENTS ON rHE INNE~IIGATION.
Al thr rrnlrst Ihc atlnrney OF \. T. Strwart Co.