New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.


THE REAPPRAIsEMENT OF YELVETS.
ANOTHER LETTER ~ PLY To- ASSISTANT -EcRE-
TARY FRENCH
To the Edff0r Of The JrtbVEc
SIR; We have read the letter OF Assistant
secretary French Of The Treasury Department.
TRIBUNE OF tue cora insi replying letter 10 MN
the subeo OF the recent reappraement Of yevsts
at this port. lie compliments upon eredt,Dis
statement u the law, buf charges u with remark
able misrepresentation and careless statement ~ The
most important facis relating 70 the subject" THIS
very grave charge the Assistant Secretary susars by
the single alteration that stated that the
DECISIONS OF the Merchant Appraiser wholly over
ridden by the General Appraiser and Collector" we
stated what was mot true. ana Indeed had
no foundation OF truth" IN other words. Ghe
Assistant secretary thinks that the most important
fact relating the subject" Il That the merchant aD
praiser has sometimes in pact years been sasiainrd
Mr. French seeks 20 make issue vita o.. over some-
thing we never We did not that In past years
the merch ut appraiser has not sometimes been sus-
tanned Precisely what dii say vas that. " in r1e
cases now in question" the recent velvet renp-
pra.emenfs which RE only subject even alluded 70
In our ctter " the ~ the merchant APPRAISER
are wholly overriddcu by the General Appraiser sud
Collector" We said thsr, and We say 70 again.
But we propose O. call the Assistant SECRETARY hack 10
the real ISSUE IN order that be r. 80 anxon- 20 defend
the present policy OF the Treasury rgenr 20 bis
port he may again know just what T. charged agd-st
t. Firsf-There the de ays uron re9pgTas-
nent. These delays have lately exlsnded over tlres
months. entire annual season Tor the Mo
OF toe goods qnesfon Practically II = a. " me tn-
e-a appraiser sd the importer, Don't appeal fiofn
the Appraiser. FOR II you do We Will run you BY
DELAY" Seesnd-rhe law provides for reaD-
praiserleut by two merchant appraisers To
avoid the SLOW action OF rhe General Apprar r. The
Collector nas recently been asked app nj fvo 20 =
chant appraisers, but he has refused. although tho
statute gives the uglt 10 select them Probably ina
Collector knows that two merchants can be i'lnd
who would part 10 tie present conspiracy 81 tns
Customs officials against the commerce OK .AIs ely.
fhirr-rhe Collector hiss been askei o et e correct
ness ~ Is action these velvet ieappfa stens 10
court OF justice Ia one case De hold that rei7eis
ha been undervaued o7er27 per n Thereby crcsng'
n he was correct, a strong presgDrtl'a oi fraud
on tnc psrt " the importer The law provides in such
cases that the Collector either seize -c goods OF
bring an action % forfeit their for the alleged
fraudulent undo valuation The importer f0 mails re-
or.fed him % 90 tli- -ad true transfer iA qns-ulrs
~ underviIuaron and inquired fraud 10 fhe United
state. Court IEs Co ector refused. lie seems to 3e
~ af-ad o. -1rrr --tce ~ Pee d " two mcrclaas
apnrai--r- F,Rrff ls this new rule of ascer-
tanning duta5ie va~ ha, The Secretary nothing moro
% say OF ~ Does be not practically r,prsl 10
EXISTING aw when De substitutes. a. Ae does the
New-Y0rk selling price Tor the foreign market vauest
We dwelt ~ some length THIS question u our letter.
and then stated what repeat. mat " such pfn-
cipe Of valuation Is ent.f-ly new anf y oily u.@a.-
allie statement OF tle .aw.' Duf oiia 10 defend h'ei
willie our =, s,eraest ~ the law have lui,s
fr,t- uustftsrpc.0rv 20 fle General Appraiser Re
Gently cited me latter in one Of The velvet cases,
the sherry VINE cn-e l- sustaining our position inae
NcwYorx order picesl do not constitute dula".e ynrs
an We rens lat tte f'c- DO ne tN c's,s N.tr me
zane He says In lis printed report IN the O,iDerman
, ,s VIM. ln'. ~ we're . n er tr arr,y. At
NJ y HH TNH H L.. H b.