Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-24
THE TARIFF.
Importers Find an Alleged Defect
in the Mckinley Bill.
An Error Which, 1t is Claimed, Will
Suspend the Practical Operation
OF the Measure.
New York Importers of Cheap Woolens and
Worsteds Announce Their With
drawaI from Business.


Special to the Gazette
NEW YORK, Oct. 23.-Illustrations of
the disastrous effect of the Mckinley
tariff act upon business. and of its in
tiuence in raising the prices of the neces-
sites of life continue to present them
selves. The announcement was made
to-day of the withdrawal from business
of the house of Herman BerheImer, Son
s. Co., No. 10 Leonard street, who have
for many years been large importers of
woolens and worsteds used in the cheaper
and medium grades of clothing. Jerome
Berheimer of the tirm said TO q reporter
for THE GAZETTE: 'We are compelled
to close out our business because of the
prohihitory tariff raised in the new law
against the goods which we import. The
effect of the bill upon this trade is an
other proof that the new tariff is rich
man 8 tariff, and is regardless of the in
terests of the mass of the consumers.
Tue general character of the law is well
understood by business men, and | be-
lieve it is becoming painfully evident TO
the common people. Its immedla to re-
suits must be- greatly to increase the
price OF manufacturers under the forced
restriction of supply, and drive out of
business many large importing houses
which, like ours, have handled the less
costly lines of foreign goods
DEFECT.
The importers of this city are in high
glee over the discovery of an alleged de-
feet in the Mckinley bill, which it is
claimed will suspend its practical opera
ton until the error can be remedied at
the next session of congress. The error
is in the omission from the draft of the
bill signed by President Harrison of q
section included in the bill as passed by
the house and senate. The question of
iuvalidation is one of constitutionalIty to
be finally settled by the United states
supreme court. If the bill is invalidated
all importers VINO have paid duties under
the new tariff are entitled TO rebates
amounting to the difference between the
old and new rates. A number of impor-
tiers have had q protest prepared ad-
dressed to the collector, oOiecting to the
assessment OF the duty under the new
tariff schedule. The customs officials
claim that the omission referred to only
relates TO the internal revenue, and does
not affect the part of the bill relating to
customs duties.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TALK.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-Secretary
Window said this morning he knew moth
Ing officially about the protests against
the legality of the Mckinley tariff bill.
''I don't,'' he said, "'regard it as the
province of an executive officer to ques-
ton the constitutionali.y of acts of con-
gress. 1t is for him to inforce the law
and not to determine questions affecting
ito
the Mckinley tariff act as l find it ap-
proved by the president of the United
States, and certified to as correct by the
president of the senate and the speaker
of the house of representatives., aud
shall continue to do SO unless a compe-
tent tribunal, such as the supreme court,
decides the law is unconstitutional. 1t
is not for me to question the validity of
any of the signatures to the bill, neither
is it for me TO determine whether the
bill signed by the president did or did
or did not in fact pass the lower house.
Much less is it for me to determine whether
the omission of the tobacco drawback
section or any other provision of the
bill inyalidates the law as q
whole. AS l understand it the
act of October l, 1890, is law in the
land. My duty, therefore, is plain, and
l shall execute its provisions to the best
of my ability. Its cOnstitutionality is
question for the courts, and until they
decide against it shall be governed by it
as it stands.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL MILLER
positively declined to discuss the gues-
ton, saying it would be manifestly i'm
proper for him to do so unless it came to
him in an official way.
Mr.. Mason, comm issioner of the inter-
nal revenue. who is specially charged
with the execution of the tobacco provis-
vision of the law, confined his remarks
in regard to the alleged illegalty
of the law to the following
statement: ~ will obey the law
as certified by act of STATE. 1t is not
for me to say whether or not the omis-
sion of the tobacco provision vitIates the
tariff. Being merely an executive officer
of the government, l must inforce it as
find it. Anyhow the tobacco schedule
does not take effect until January l SC
that if congress desires to refund two
cents per pound on all tobacco when the
law takes effect it has ample time to
legislate to that end
No alarm whatever Is felt here among
the friends of the Mckinley bill as to the
VI lls CuhcLluSuL. LUG pICce-
dent of number of years, - an old and
experienced employe of the house said
to-day Ieayes no doubt that an error,
whether of omission or commission, in
the enactment of q bill passed by con-
gress does not vitiate any part of the
measure except that part to which the
error relates. Errors of some kind oc-
cur, - he said, Sat every session of con-
Crpss in at least ODa n mora n tho i'm.
portant bills, and to hold that al omis-
sion, the insertion of any paragraph,
word or punctuation mark invalidates
not only the part of the bill to which the
error is relevant, but the entire measure,
would establish chaos in the affairs of the
government and compel congress to re-
main constantly in session to correct i'm
mediately upon discovery errors IN bills
signed by the president in order that the
operations of the government might be
carried on. -