New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-17
THE SILK RIBBON DECISION.
A SURPRISE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE-HOw
FAIRCHILD OPENED THE WAY.

A SURPRISE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE-HOw
FAIRCHILD OPENED THE WAY
Washington, Oct 16 Special The decision Of the
United States Circuit Court in Philadelphia that silk
ribbons, etc. imported under the name Of hat trim
mngs are subject TO a duty of only 20 per cent
al vaorem instead of so per cent ad vaorem caused
good deal of surprise among members of the Senate
Finance Committee and others who took part in the
revision of the tariff In 1888 The trainers Of that
revision never Intended that silks, laces etc, should
be admitted under the guise of " hat materials at
a rate lower than so per cent ad vaorem.
The first step in that direction taken March
o. 1855, in Treasury ruling by c. 5 Fairchd, then
Assistant Secretary under which ribbons Of different
colors and widths, the principal component of which
IS silk provided they commercially known as hat
trimmings. although suitable and oc-
casonally used for other purposes have since been
admitted at 90 per cent ad valorem instead Of 30 per
cent. BY subsequent decisions Of the Treasury De
partment under free-trade influences various other
articles styled hat materials" which should pay
higher rate Of duty have been admitted at 20 per
cent One of them beaded Lace
Naturally, these Treasury rulings resulted in
heavy Increase Of importaons Of silks laces, etc,
under the name of hat trimmings" The increase in
inportations in 1855 over 1854 was almost half
million dollars-nsarly all in the nine months follow
ing the Farchld decision The increase in 1856 over
1855 was S53s 600 In tweny-one months, therefore,
the value of imports increased, under the stimulus Of
The decision of the court the necessity for the
enactment of the Senate substitute more plain and
imperative than The ambiguous paragraph
in the law and the one upon which the courts opinion
rests, reads as follows;
Hats and so forth materials for. brads plas.
fats laces trimmings. tissues, willow sheets ana
squares, used for making or ornameh,hg ha'' oEn
leaf willow hair wkalebOne any other substance or
material, not specially enumerated OF PROVIDED ior III
this act, 90 per centum al valoIem
~
10 remedy the defect in the present law by the In
sertion Of the following provision
Hats materials for, braids plaits flats, willow
sheets and squares. tit only for use IN making or OF
namentlng hats, bOnnets and hoods, composed OF
straw, chip, grass palm Leaf, willow hair WnalebOhe
OF any vegetable material o no. sp pd 1,aore o
Respecting this provision, the Finance Com
mittee, in its report says:
II Is clear from comparison Of the two paragraphs
terals Tor hats composed any other substance or
materials" than straw. chip etc. would sun remain
porting silks laces etc as hat materials, at 20 per
centum ad valorem, would continue.
The senate substitute corects the de!ecs in the
present law, which, If permitted TO remain, viii de-
stroy important branches Of the SILK manufacturing
Industries of the country and greatly oudanger other
branches which may be affected by the decision
Philadelphia, Oct 16 (speciaD.-Within short
time appeal will be brought before the United
States Supreme Court in the matter of John Wana-
Cadwalader, issue bearing on hat trimmings and
the tariff thereon. ct-Attorney Read to-day
said the would, without doubt, be appealed
A DEMOCRATIC SNUB FOR WORKINGMEN
Washington, Oct. 16 (specialD.-The Democratic
oriiy which controls the House of Representatives
has again exhibited its hostility TO workin gmen. Among
the measures reported by the Committee Labor is
one which provides that the claims for of
wages due laborers under the eighhour law shall
be referred the Court of Claims for adjudication.
Many times in the last ten months efforts have
been made by the friends OF the bin TO have 1t
considered, and they have been defeated every time
by the Southern Democrats. To-day business from
the Committee Labor again In order, and
Mr.. Plumb, Republican member Of the committee,
moved that the House proceed with the consider
alton OF the eighthour bin The Democrats voted
in a body against the notion and u was rejected
by a Of "a TO 81. Thus, for the twentieth
time, al least, within many weeks, the Demo
cratic majority I'm the House has shown its real
feelings toward labor Workngmen and Union vet
Grams alike the objects of Democratic hostility
IN Congress
PENSION BILLS APPROVED.
Washington, Oct 16.-The President has approved
the acts granting pensions TO Anna NJ Nogcs Joseph
l. Young, j. W. Lalght, George T. Russell Mary A.
Pfefer, Statira Young, Arson Ward, Samuel HelIdrk
susan Y. Wilcox. Lydia a. WILDER, Ransom Riley
Dulcena Moo Benjamin +. Bar, Joseph Welsh
Samuel Anderson, Sarah A. Mason, Margaret Qulnton
Washington Ryan, Mary +. Tanner, Mary A. Van