The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-07

a' WARRINGTON, Aprllo.
Special Corsp,ndsnee Of the Intelligsneer.
Undoubtedly Secretary Sherman COM
mitted an error when he referred to the
Ways and Means Committee the opinion
Of the Attorney General on the collection
Of duties on imported hoop iron. The
question came up some weeks ago on the
proposition of importers to pay an ad
valorem duty Of forty-five per cent, as
on manufactures OF iron instead Of one
and a quarter cents per pound as directed
in the schedule on iron and steel. An
immense demand for hoop iron in the
form OF cotton bale ties has sprung up in
the South since the war, resulting in this
article being made de.aspecialty in mum.
ber OF large rolling mills. These ties are
virtually hoop iron, although not used as
barrel hoops, and as importers bring. the
bands in not perfectly finished, requiring
only the clasp TO be added, they, attempt
to evade the duty by invoicing 1t as
manufactures OF iron, or iron in only a
partly manufactured condition. Under the
law rough pieces OF iron or Of steel cut into
proper size, to be shaped into agricultural
or mechanical tools, are admitted at forty
five per cent ad yalorem, the objec OF the
law being to encourage labor here upon
partly raw material. Consequently hoe
and az shapes and scraps, suitable to be
converted into t.owels, plane irons, etc.,
are admitted at the iorty-fve per cent ad
valorem rate, Last fall the importers oi
steel ingots for rails succeeded in obtain
ing from Judge French decision that
they were 'artioles OF steel manufacture"
and might be admitted at forty.fye per
cent ad yalorem instead OF at the specific
rate maid on steel rails. This decision gave
great dissatisfaction to steel manniactur-
ens who said that under the specious man
ner OF "blooms," ingot steel Of the high
est grade, might be imported St rates IN
tended for quite different class oil ar
ticles.
The decision, however, pleased i'm.
porters 30 well that they at once set TO
work TO get in cotton ties and other hoop
iron In similar evasiye disguise against
which the hoop iron manufacturers oil the
United States made o powerful protest TO
| the Secretary Of the Treasury. The i'm;
porters were on hand also, and were heard
IN favor OF their demand. The Secretary
referred the matter 10 Mr.. DeyGns who
rendered a Captain Cutie DECISION which
ieit Mr.. Sherman's mind In such an I'M
settled state that he referred the whole
subject, Deyens' opinion and all 70 the
| Ways and Means Committee With the an-
nouncement that II they did mot provide
by bill to coverthe dispute by April lst, be
would order the specific duty TO bt
collected on hoop iron. On the hrs'
Of April the committee asked fol
further time and the Secretary gave
them an extension, but announced sine,
that he will not wait beyond the lSu
instant. The subcommittee 20 Which th'
matter was referred having failed 70 agree
on q bill, Garfield being for the speCihl
duty, Tucker wanting to enact such laN
as would protect the makers Of contract
under the nd yalorem arrangement, ant
Dunnell isvoring the ad valorem rate
} they have reported the matter back to tn
general committeeior action. ItSecretar
Sherman bad issued his order for collect
: ing specific duties, as he might have dom
under the Devens opinion, which con
tanned q sufficient number Of IFS" I
mean anything or nothing, he would hay
/, pleased the manufacturers, but he woul
I have mortally offended the importer
!. which he may be compelled TO do Rt las
and thus he may hurt those who hav
made contracts OF the lower rate Tor tutui
!. delivery.
= By Western Associated Pres.
n PINLRY PuLNISATEs.