New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-17
NEED OF TARIFF REVISION.
MR. MANNING,s VIEWS BEFORE CONGRESS.
THE SPECIFIC AND AID VALoREN SYSTEMS ooN-


WASHINGTON, FeO. lO.-SecretdTy hahHinS
to-day sent to Speaker OF the House long letter
upon the revision tariff. in which he says: In
my annual report alluded to an Invitation, conveyed
in some 1000 circular letters to our anu
merchants requesting their united cooperation i'll no
improvement OF fiscal policy, and added 'na' 'ne
replies received will hereafter be submitted 10 'ne con
sderaon of Congress have asked permission OF 'nose
whose cOmmun icatl0ns seem TO thro" hRh' u" '"0 SUI
ieot in sense and transmit herewith tne
opinions OF the manufacturers and merchants WHO nave
given TO me authority TO do So My OPINION III "
our existing tariff law Is clear aud positive anu co
frmed more and by every days widening expert
.uce I'm the administration Of this department. soon
after entered thereon less than year ago. became
convinced that the Investigations into the conduct OF
the customs service which had already been Deguh ny
nv predecessor, Mr. McCulloch, were OF pressing I'M
portance, and continued them with energy Inc re-
suit up to the meeting OF Congress is contained
in my annual report Since that oate'
the need OF additional legislation has, In my
appreciation. become more imperative TWO courses
are as endeavOred to intimate In my annual report
open to Congress. One Is an enlargement OF the Tree
list a reduction OF the number of dutiable artcIes
prudent substitution or specific for al vaorem rates. ana
thorough revision and change of the existing rates ana
system The other is partially Indicated by recent
Senate bill NO. 1885, introduced last month by senator
Adricb which 10 before me and Is In the dreouoh
of deterrent legislation which shall by more stringent
rues and new contrivances in the form of fines and
indnce tbem TO present truthful invoices and make on
entry correct declaration of the foreign value Ihese
two courses are necessarily alternative both may
be pursued together.
would be incouvenent If not impossible Tor mo 10
,ully set forth all considerations which constraln me
n this opinon In the daily supervision by the head or
this department OF the collection OF the customs
revenue at 1l6 separate ports OF Pidces
of entry. he naturally and necessarily
IA have discovered receives very distinct impressions
OF what is possible and what is practically lmposSoie "
the reasons and precise chrac
ter of which cannot be defined and expressed in wrng
short Of stenographio report of all its mutifarlous
daily business. large part OF the general lacts anu
considerations which have Influenced my CONCLUSIONS
endsayored to exhibit in my annual report Inc uhwi-
ingness those who are not customs OFFICIALS 10 reay
aid and not those who are charged Win the
xeention of the existing tariff law, each day most
panfully impressed upon IT is felt In this Depart
ment not only fines punishments are 10 DC III
dicted for acts of serdtion or OF commission III
making entries but also the Depart ent is, by
reason ambiguity in the statute required 10 ueciue
between higher and lower rate The lndehnltehess
of the language too often used in making commercial
designations and in prescribing rates. encourages dome'
tic the one side and importers on to
other SIDE press considerations on the department. Ill
favor of this policy policy, this theory or that
theory suitable enough for Congress, but altogether
unsuitable for an executive officer who Is
reaured to ascertain the intention OF the law
makers as best he may, from the language hhaIiy
sent to and approved by the President One sometimes
is made to that the ambiguity ana confusion OF the
tariff statutes we're intentional and that controversy
beween opposing selfish interests which could not De-
ar was not adjusted III the commttee-roOm OF elIher
House. had been transferred by sort OF common COD
sent, TO this Department. and TO the courts
sTbe influence OF such ambiguity is especially seen
and felt in the appraisng and liquidation departments
and ia suspect at the bottom OF much OF the DISORDER
tho
racces and strife thus engendered at the large ports
That ambiguity should be- first Of all, removed by
careful revision Of the existing laws pertinent e1
ample of such ambiguity in the seventh section OF ne
tariff law 1888, which has recently been interpreter
by the Supreme and to which in my annual report
asked the immediate attention OF Congress That sec
tion was most carefully studied by learned prede
cessor Mr. Foger who, as a member aud Chief Justice
of the Court Of Appeals had large experience
in the examination OF statutes IL was subsequently
studied by the Attorney General who gave an elaborate
opnjof to this Department 1t was debated In New
York before Judge Wallace. and interpreted by MIN
in An opinion from the bench. These weEtrained
executive and judicial officers substantially agreed IN
their conclusions. But the Justices OF the supreme
Court were recently unanimous In eondemning As an
error what had been decided The section seems 10
have been most successfully drawn II ambiguity was
sought by the draughtsman but most unnecessarily
clearness the object
again. earnestly, commend the section to the
revision Congress aided by the recent opinion OF the
Supreme Court, and urge the announcement OF clear
and rule the subject under which the
business of Importation and of the quidating office
of the Custom Houses be safely carried on. The
task of applying the decision to the requdaton
of old entries, where protests and appeals have been
made Will be full OF perplexy, doubt and most incon-
venient responsibility but such confusion and uncer-
tainty WILL hope not be allowed by congress 10 iohs
disturb future inIortatons
Mr. expressed the opinion that 1t is expedent
that all attempted reduction and simpihcatlon OF rates
shal precede revival OF coercion laws on the sub
iect and he makes extended argument In support oil
this opinion fortying it with abundant citations from
repors OF his predecessors IN Office and from the expert
enoe gained In the collection OF the customs revenues
He hopes that it will apparent from what has Deen
said in this communication and In his annual report
that he fully appreciates whatever superortes, In an
ideal system OF customs house taxation low ad vaorem
rates may specific rates and goes on to say
So long as the position OF Congress shall be to con-
tnue to levy high duties upon some thousands Of
impored articles rather than low duties upon Few,
general application OF specific rates wond be Impossible
without inictng still further hardship and injustice
upon the ageroceviug classes in the community and
those who constrained to live on small In
comes Specific 1levied upon all imported
articles and especially on all articles OF clothing Woud
for them be highly oppressive unequal and unjust
system specific rates must be adjusted and arranged
,th regard to the values and therefore, when prices Of
imported articles are. as now, tending dOwnward
specific rates obviously increasing without teItua
change In the law. have It also clearly In mind how
yexing and unjust is a compound system. made up OF
nd vaorem and specific rates 90 the same article and
how still more vexing and unjust ia specific rate on
speeed article varying with foreign value. a. Ia the
present scale of rates on steel and wool
but we are confronted with the faehat the Treasury
ustannually obtain hardly less than 00'
from merchandise, which Is sum less by some
$4,000 900 than received last year 1t will be well
nigh impossible in my opinion for human wit 10 lev!
that amount Of tax without inhicting hardship and In
Justice upon somebody. either importer or consumer
on some vested whether agricultural or manu-
featuring Especially is that true OF taxes levied ON on
coasts or on our frontier upon arriving merchandise HI
Government is now beset on one side with the CON
narrative Injustice and hardship upon individuals