New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-17
THE NATURALIZATION BILL.
PROVIDING FOR HONEST APPRAIsALs.
MEASURE OF GREAT vALUE-lTs PROVISIONS
AND PROSPECTS.

A
AND PROSPECTS.
r1Y TgLyGRAPI TO THE Tribunal
WASHINGTON Feb. 16.-Mr. Allison, from
tho Senate Committee on Finance, reported
today the differentiation bill, so called, Which
in its present shape has the unanimous support vi
the committee This probably is one OF the most
important bills submitted for the consideration OF
the Senate in the course of the present congress
II is the result of nearly two years OF careful ana
panstaking investigation. TO aid them IN this
work the committee have had the counsel ana
advice of the best experts of the Treasury Depart
ment. and have heard the testimony of merchants,
manufacturers and importers alike. While Secre-
tary Fairchild has not formally approved the bill
as now submitted to him. he does not oppose it,
though he probably would like to see it modified
in one or two minor particulars. The main points
OF the bill and accompany ing reports nave ALREADY
been made public. The changes made by the
committee since then refer mostly TO Judlclai
proceedings growing out of erroneous appralSe,
ments, and do not affect the general character Oh
the measure as previously agreed upon. ne o hd
radically changes the system uhdcr WlHch uhc
revenue from customs is collected. III does away
with many Inconsistencies in The present law,
simplics matters and attempts 10 pro'ldc ior
uniform system OF appralscment ~, .
Under its provisions a permanent Board OF
Appraisers consisting OF nine men Is created
all of them employees OF the GONernmeht-Wn09
are paid $4,000 year though that sum VIII
probably be increased TO $1,000, the sum now
paid to the Interstate Commerce COMMISSIONERS,
whose duties are no more important perhaps than
those of this Board. 4 permanent Central Board
of three with offices in Newly DIRK, TO whom all
apDeals coming from the remaining SIX appraisers,
who are TO be stationed in different paris OF the
country, is also provided for. by system OF
Interchange and comparing of samples ii is hoped
to obtain uniformity in appraisement, which,
under the present order of things where one and
the same class Of goods has paid different duty
in Boston from that paid. say in Newly has
never been the case and which in reality has
been one of the main sources Of abuse and con-
sequent loss to the revenue. The system OF mer-
chant appraisers is entirely done away with.
that the basis of appraScmcnt shall hereafter be
the price Of the imported article in the principal
market Of the country whence it is imported.
There arc many provisions. too, defining clearly
the mode of preparing invoices and ccrtilicatlon
by consus. 1t is believed that if the bill becomes
a law and is faithfully carried out it Will cilecu-
ally put n stop to the gross frauds now beng
perpct rated upOn the revenue. Having the unanl-
nous support Of the Finance Committee: there
cannot possibly no politics in It,. While II
may not b. perfect in ali paricu ars and may fairly
he subject to improvement in minor details. IT has,
as a whole, the support OF all honest importers,
who under the present system are driven 10 thc
wall bv dishonest councillors II is opposed by
those who have prOsrered under the present adj
miniStTatiOn of the customs laws and whose object,
of course, can be no other than TO pcrpctuatc an
order of things under which they have grown
rich.
Mr. Allison gave NOTICE today that he would
call up the bill Wednesday next and press its
consideration until passed