New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-02
THE MCKINLEY BILL IN THE SENATE.
VOTE TO BE TAKEN TO-DAY on THE CUSTOMS
ADMINISTRATIVE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF THE DEBATE

OF THE DEBATE.
Washington, May (>peclaD.-Thc Senate was nm
able to finish the consideration Of the Customs Al
illustrative bill today but agreement was reached
by which vote will be taken the bill. with the
pending amendments. at 4 O'Clock 10 morrow afternoon
lhe debate to-day along much the same lines as
that OF yesterday, the greater part Of the discussion
turning On the question Of allowing jury trial In inc
Circuit Court in OF appeal from the board Of
three appraisers, Mr.. Gray's amendment, which pro
Vdcd Idcucally for continuance Of the present sys
ten OF jury trials rejected by tho decisive vote
Of 81 TO 10. The debate which preceded the vote
was lively and interesting. senator Allison making IA
particularly striking and effective speech on the I'M
propuciy OF injecting into the orderly process of the
determination by law Of the amount Of duty to be
collected by the Government imports, the judgment
OF twelve men, Who, from the necessity Of the case
would be Incapable Of giving satisfactory decision
The Government had provided for an appeal from the
decision of one appraiser to board Of three appraisers
and from the board Of three appraisers 10 the Circuit
Court. aud still again from the Circuit Court To the
supreme Court. No such liberal concessions were
made 10 any other class Of taxpayers in the country
But the importers, or rather the representatives here
Of importing houses abroad not content with all
these privileges. They were bent forcing stu
another appellate tribunal into the law-thc jury
seeming 10 prefer appeal TO jnly Of incApcrt
citizen, 10 appeal to trained official of the grade
of United STATES Judge. No one, fact. stood out
for free jury trial in the Circuit Court after MI
AsOn's statement except SIR Gray, aud his advocacy
of the amendment plainly political ana
partisan 10 affect anybody but few Of his southern
Colleague the constant opponents OF everything that
tend, to make the execution Of the tarh laws speedy
and Efficient.
Probably the most striking thing of all IN the dcbat"
was The announcement by senator iiSco,k That he ana
Mr.. Evarts had come 90 agreement on an amend
mcnt to section H. which would guarantee To the I'M
porter recourse 10 jury trial under certain definite
restrictions. MIR. Eyar~ had proposed that after the
appeal had reached the Circuit court, und-r the
regulations laid down I'm section i TO the record
and the taking of additional testimony BY an appraiser
appointed 10y the court, the Judge wa to proceed Ia
Iy the according 10 law. which, IN Mr. ENart'
opinion. implied common law trial before jury.
Ihc amendment has now been changed - a. ~ allo"
the Circuit Court Judge. IN hls discretion Ia receive
evidence apart from and additional ~ the record oi
sent In by the appraisers. and IN hi, discretion also,
send difficult question, Of fact for uIIl to jury
Mr.. H-coch said that several members Of the Finance
COMMITTEE lad >-nlfod their ascent 90 such an amend
mcut. and the chance, are that II viii become phrt
Of the bill. II -.c-. certainly. all ihtt An Importer
could lc expected 10 AK for. and is intended a fnl
concession To N" merchants Of NcW FORK VINO NAV
think the retention OF the jury ~ nc of some practical
advantage.