New-York tribune., 1884-02-21
EVADING TIE WOOL TARIFF.
DEFECTS IN TIE LAW AS TO CHARGES.
srcrRETARY FoLGER's REPLY TO THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-Ihe House OF KEEP
rcseutaiives on January passed ie'olltoh c''""s
upon the Secretary OF the Treasury for information con
cerping irregular practices in the importation of "oo''
IN response 70 this resolution secreaI Foger sent 10 tno
Heise copics OF docments embracing reports OF consuS
special agents, appraisers letters from the Di7lc'-
torncy In Philadelphia and decisions Of the DcnShe
ON July 2G 1892 the Consul ~ Liverpool reported 10 'n
state Department that Scotch Highland carpet "oO'9
we're ship ed TO Philadelphia nvoced At less l1'h -
cents pcr pound when no wool Of that character coud
Inc n1rcbascd NJ prices which would not exceed II
cents An irpor alton Of carpet wool made the SUD
iect Of Investigation by the special agents ana by the a
praiser IN Philadelphia. This wool was inyoced at 'sl'
per pound beside charges. The total, It was thougup
represented the value Of the merchandise Ieso
charges when compared with the usual charges In other
invoices OF wool from Scotland seemed to be excessive
Tie present law fixing the duty on carpet woods Is as
follows:
"woos of the thirlclass the value Whereof at the
last port or place whence exported to the United states
excluding charges In such port shall be i cents OF cs
per pound 2l2 cents per pound Woods OF the Same c'7
the whereof at the last port or place "Iehcc -
ported 70 the United states. excluding charges III Suc
port, shall exceed IL cents per pounl' GEMS per
pound"
The oucstion in the case was whether the importer
could legally deduct fraction OF penny from the actual
price and add Il the charges, that the seer 4nt re-
ceve his full price, while the importer wohd t''' oc
enabled to get the wool through the Custom House NJ
low duty" The appraiser in Philadelphia L. H. MOORE
held that the invoice price Of 57sd was cor
reef and so passed the invoices at slow duty"
In January 1888 Appraiser Moore submitted an clad
orate report TO the Department This report was accom-
panied by copy of report OF three merchants VINO nu
been appointed reapprase the invoices OF wool I'M
ported who while admitting that the charges were
excessive sustained the action OF Appraiser Moore taking
a.. had he
charges claimed to be excessive nasmuch as the law de-
the Department exempt al charges and do not
limit tisir amount"
One OF questions discussed In these papers feiate7
TO the proper construction Of the word. in the law LaS
mort or place whence exported TO the United States On
this question the Department decided on February ~
1ss3 in n case where wool shipped from
GLASGOW 10 Liverpool and there translipped
for the United States wool having been purchased IN
GLASGOW and shipped tIrOugh bills of lading from at
port by the way of Liverpool that Glasgow might be
fairly considered as the last port place whence the
wool was exported to the United States.
Larg, Quantities OF this wool have also been imported
into Scw-York during the past season The appraiser
there held that the interior places in scotaud where TIE
shippers or agents of the importers, made purchases
at he considered the last ports OF places OF eXpOta
tou within the meaning Of tue law. This view wasoyeI-
ruled b, TWO decisions Of the Secretary dated reSpec
tyclv November T. and December 26 1888, Ia when II
held that where gh.And WOOL was bIOu1i W Ni9
,,, and there mt on board the exporting vessel, for
si nnt to tie Unit d states, it should he valued III
Glasgow. ,, -.
ON February Pc, 1888. special agent abroad made
otnri of ~. Investigation made by INN O1 tae lmp'rta-
mons wool IN philadelphia Accompanying thS port
W.. an lf av member OF the firm OF wool brokers
In Glasgow VIII shipped lar-c part Of this wool rms
atuav eXpans the Iansa tous between them ana the
nm # ara s fo1wt: That the agent mad made an ar
Iongement VITA the importers to sell them certain Wle
m Inland carpet ol and nOils at an invoice prlceOI 0s
urr u0nd consideration OF which sale anu luVoice plce
| nov wore 10 pay the following allowances III
~ form OF charges: Receiving bliiHg and
SHINING charges: brokerage, per cents commission
on dfatts one per cent; commissions per cent ana
other charges expressed In the invoice TINS agent IN
bs rcuott claims all OF the wool tuYolced IN thls
manner at sal per pound, was worth, in the open
i IN GLASGOW at the lime OF shipment, at least sd.
nrr pound and that actually cost the shippers not less
bl6 Sd per pound On this report, the subject was CON
s.rred 6y the Di5tnct-Atoruey IN PhlladcIpma WhO,
uu frat examining tue papers,gye 1t as MS opinion tha
I'm view Of the positive assertions OF
Appraiser Moore that there was no m,
deryalnation. "a case could not be maintained
or tbc recovery duties forfeiture or the ncan
disc Subscquenty however. the Distct-AttOfney rt-
nocd 10 the Secretary OF the Treasury that la his opinion
thr Government hat Al case. . -, .-.
Division In the Department concurre IN report 10 te
Secondary that proceeding in these cases could not DC
min ned I'm view Of the acto 1874 which requires The
rnt 10 drrud proven 10 the satisfaction OF tne
iury and of the decided position taken by appraiser
o0re and the three merchant appraisers that lhere was
m The Secretary on these grounds Ce-
c.d not TO instruct the DistrctAttoIney To Desn pro