National Republican., 1883-04-28
THE LAW AND THE IMPORTERS.

Advantages Taken OF the Packing Clause
--Tbe Lobster Cans and the Ale Bot
ties.
Assistant Secretary French, who Is an au
fait in all matters pertaining TO customs, and
duties, and dues, and regulations and every
thing of that sort, has returned from Now
York, and in conversation with a representa-
tive Of The REPUBLICAN, yesterday, re.
marked that the importers wero making
liberal Interpretation Of tho new law for
their own benefit He said the now list Of
rates and articles dutiable had not yet been
prepared for customs officers. The old list
holds good until July 1, with everything ex-
Cept sugar. Tho change of rates on this
goes into effect on the first Of May, and the
new regulations will then be ready.
The change of the tariff law in regard TO
charges on packing cost Of transportation,
commissions, and fees, which went into effect
on the passage of tho act, has caused consid-
cradle difficulty which will not be settled for
some time. Judge French finds that the inn
porters everywhere are constituting tho law to
make the cost Of importation as light as pos
sible. To help them along, tho foreign mer-
chants make invoices showing many costs
of packing that never appeared on
the old invoices when boxes and
costs were reckoned in. For instance, when
ales and liquors were imported in hogsheads
or barrels, no account was taken of the hogs
head or barrel and no charge made. Now
the cost of the barrel, &C., is put in tho in
voice, and q reduction demanded on that ac-
count. So in everything costs are absurdly
reckoned in order TO got roductions-the
boards that cloth and lace are rolled upon, the
| tapes they arc tied with, the sleazy cloth
wrapped around them Everything is put in
and made TO help in tho general reduction.
Tho cans in which Holsters are imported, and
the bottles in which ale comes arc made to
swell the claims for reduction, and many
things upon which no duty was charged
under the old law are under dispute. OF
course the new law contemplated relief from
! former charges, and not the granting of re-
ductions ON account of articles entering into
the detail of packing, which had never fig
ured in any way under the old law.
The department Is preparing rules and reg
ulatons to govern collectors and appraisers,
which will be ready in few days, but there
will be differences upon which questions will
| come up for settlement from time TO time for
months after the new law Is in full effect.
Judge French, on being asked If the i'm
porters were holding back to got the benefit
of reduced rates, said he thought not; that
they must keep their foreign goods coming to
meet each seasons trade, and so were COM
PEELED to order without regard to the change
| in the law.
Another object that Assistant Secretary
French had in view in visiting New York
was to make arrangements for renewing the
lease of the appraisers stores in that city.
The present lease will expire in May. II
provides for a release Of the property upon an
appraisement of a committee of three, con-
sisting of representative of the owner, a
representative of the treasury, and third
member selected by these two
The Treasury department, to avoid an ap-
praisement, has offered the owners Of the
property $4,000 per annum for three years.
AS this is an advance Of about $4,000 over the
price paid at present the offer will probably be
| accented,