New-York tribune., 1885-08-12
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND UNDERVALUATToNS

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND UNDERPALUAIIONS.
Secretary Manning, in a circular inviting the
opiuion of merchants, 1iscoses the fact that nc
is inclined to favor Dpecific duties on those
classes of goods which have been most largely
underyalued with intent to defraud the Govern
ment. He believes that the undervaluation
and the fraud would be to great extent pre-
vented by this change. Many other persons
have the same opinion. The Secretary receives
replies from not few prominent merchants
who strongly favor the change suggested. The
object of the change is to avoid undervaluation
of imports. and it would undoubtedly do that,
but what else would it dot
This is not a new idea. II has been suggested
and discussed elaborately many times during
the past quarter of n century. 1t does not yet
appear that Secretary Manning is prepared to
overcome the difficulties which this plan has
always met, and which have prevented its
adop,ion. If he Is, all citizens, excepting the
few who are interested in robbing the Govern
ment, will hail his reform with satisfaction.
But il is rs well first to realize that there are
difficulties, and that the bare mention OF an ola
remedy will not quite overcome them. FOR
whether Secretary Manning thinks so or not,
his predecessors in the Treasury have been rs
anxious as he can be to prevent fraud, to serve
the Government faithfully, and to gain honor
bv wise administration. If they have declined
20 urge this often-proposed change he may be
sure that they have been deferred, not by de-
sire that swinding shall prosper. but by an un-
,lerstanding of difficulties and objections which
it is possible Secretary Manning has not yet ap-
preciated.
II is easy to make specific duty such that
some revenue shall be collected, but what
revenuel a specific duty on kid gloves, for in
stance, would with honest administration
insure the collection of a certain sum on each
pair of such gloves. But should the duty be as
high as il is now on the better classes and
kindsq Then il would altogether exclude I'M
ports of the cheaper gloves, which are worn by
the great majority of the people. Or should 1t
be as low rs il il now OH the poorer kinds OF kid
gloves Then It would be unreasonably small
on the more costly gloves, which arc worn ~
articles Of luxury by the rich and fashionable.
Il would put a heavy burden on the goods worn
by those who are comparatively poor, and who
would feel .aat burden, but would virtually ex-
empt from taxation the costly goods worn by
the rich, who buy an article principally because
il is costly and fashionable. Has Mr.. Manning
any plan in his head for avoiding these and
other similar difficulties, which are familiar to
those who have considered the subject hitherto
In the case of silks it has often been pro-
posed to avoid difficulties by a discriminating
duty according to weight. Some manufact-
urers and dealers are strongly in favor Of that
method, but there are others equally intelli-
gent and equally patriotic who oppose 1t rs
strongly, and who give cogent reasons for their
opposition. No doubt personal interest. spring
ing from the relations OF Individuals with the
trade in particular kinds of goods, affects their
Judgment But sound reason for or against
a measure ia not the less a sound reason be-
cause the man who first perceived it was en-
lightcned by personal interest. The question Is
whether the reasons on one side or the other
are sound. Mr.. Manning will find it worth his
while to assume that the wide differences be-
tween intelligent and patriotic men who know
most about this question are prompted not
merely by private interest, but by the fact that
the proposed plan would in truth affect some
parts of the trade well and Others i'll, Just IA
30 cent duty on kid gloves would be readily
collected on the more costly kinds but would be
prohibitory on Others. which are most largely
worn In short, he will see that there are real
difficulties. 1t would be well for him to be
prepared TO overcome them before submitting
any plan to experienced Legislators in Congress
who have discussed this matter a great many
times.