The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-17
A SERIOUS BLUNDER
IN PASSING THE NEW TARIFF LAW
From the EH.cts of Which au Important Branch o
American Isdustry will Sufrtr-A Temporary
Heavy Reduction In the Duty on Earthsn.
ware which WAS Not Iuttnded.

Under the tariff laws as in operation
prior to March !, the duty on plain
earthenware was 10 per cent ad valo
rem on the cost OF the goods aboard the
vessel at the port Of shipment, which in
cluded not only the net price OF the ware
but charges for packing, drayagc, freight
from the pottery to the shipping port, and
the usual commission. The new tariff law
provides that duty shall be levied only
upon the net cost Of the goods, and in.
creases the percentage to 55. While ap.
parently an increase OF 10 per cent, this is
really an advance OF only about per cent,
owing to the change in the method OF com.
putting the duty.
But unfortunately, owing to an oversight
on the part Of Congress, though the in.
crease Of duty does not take effect until
July |, the clause repeating the old law in
reference TO the imposition OF import duty
on extra charges went into effect on its
passage, March 4. The effect OF this is TO
reduce the tariff to about 80 per cert I'D
valorem, at which rate it is "a tariff for
revenue only" atiording no protection at
all to American manufacturers. Con.
sequenty from March 1 until July there
will be nothing to prevent the flooding OF
this country with the product OF foreign
potteries, sufficiently to affect tine market
for year to come.
WHAT a WHEELING POTTER EXPECTS.
A reporter Of the lNTRLLIGESCER called at
the Pottery yesterday, and had talk with
the welliniormed Superintendent, Mr.. E,
NJ. Pearson. That gentleman was Just dis.
cussing the peculiar effect Of the Congress.
ional blunder when the reporter arrived,
and he pronounced the portion oil the
tariff bill relating TO earthenwarc the worst
bungled piece Of legislation he ever saw.
"As It has been heretofore" said he,
"duty was paid on the cost OI ware at the
SmtiOrdshire pOtteries, the price OF the
package, the cost OF handling and loading
on the cars, and the freight to Liverpool,
with the chHrgtsof transferring TO the ship,
and ut least q per cent brokerage. This,
at 40 per cent I'D rdiOrenl. afforded slight,
thong h inadequate, protection. BY enactiDg
that duty shall now only be charged on
the net cost OF the goods, Congress has cut
down the tariff to about 30 per cent, as
compared with the present way Of collect.
ing, and as the increase does not 20 into
effect until July |, we have about four
months in which the duty is only 30 per
cent"
"What will be the reault?"
~ expect to see $4,000 packages, at least,
IN, ,ortn1 hafnro tHn tnnFnuuu nnou intn
effect"
"Howmuch OF an item is that, proper
tionately.speakinr"
"It is over 90 per cent Of the entire
amount OF imports last year. There were
something over $4,000 packages imported
last year."
IMroRTEIIs oS THE QUI vIvE.
Mr.. Pearson continued that he had no
doubt the importers knew the effect OF the
Jaw at the time it was passed. His only
hope was that the importers would hold
the wares brought over at the present
prices, and not allow the jobbers to
share the gain. Every pottery in England
can ship u large amount OF goods from
its ware rooms, and wares in
the crude clay at the middle Of
May can get into this country
btfore the increase takes effect. This state
Of affairs will benefit the industry in tue
old country at the expense Of American
manufacturers. Already the effect can be
felt in tue absence OF any stincning Of
prices such as is usually seen when the
spring trade opens. Trade at the Wheel
ing pottery has not been what it ought 10
be Tor several weeks past, MIR. Pearson
says, though now il shows picking up.
The oversight in passing the tariff bill will
deal heavy blow at the industry all over
the country, and let in goods which will
come into competition for months after the
increased duty goes into effect. The mis-.
take is deplOrable one, but it is now TOO
late 10 take any steps to remedy it or
alleviate It's bad effects, and all the Amer.
lean pottcrs can do is to "grin and bear it -"