New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-23
HONEST IMPORTERS SAFE.
AN EFFICIENT BOARD OF APPRAISERS.
ANSWERING THE CRITICISMS MADE BY DEMO
..,, ,.,.r,u,.,tp orc ANS-uOW


CRATIC AND MUGwUMP oRGANs-Ho"
THE LAW is ADMINISTERED.
The Board OF General Appraisers. when was ~
ooln,cd nnder the Customs Administration law WI"
enter on the sixth month of its existence on January =
- ho record which II has made thus far fuzzy JH7'o'
m cro.tion Nevertheless there is on" note OF u'9'"
hoard which comes from unhappy Mus""hp p'P.'
which is loudly calling for the repeal oil ~" w .
Kiney Tariff law and the Customs Nui'',''' ''',1
law and the consequent abolition OF the boaiu "
oral Appraisers Possibly this Mugwump oIsan nD'
bscome weary with disappearing ,ic -''N ''.
lin and is now magning the Customs Aunln.'""
Co.,, oc, and tbe Board of General Appraisers ioi
change. ,.. ebrle,,s
Certainly when a Free Trade contemporary aa 90
wildly for the repeal of measure t'ae was .,
prevent undervaiuations. on the grou"'' nc
edeytry of the law Is the sweeping away Vi NV '
ceannraisers who had the power to check cA'oSS''
,a,raons AZ basis Of customs rates. ii is TO be su
noctnd that the editor has been supplanted by 'ho W
corrjcble divl" Nor is there OCCASION Ioi ~"
when other wild outbreaks follow, such a. Vho oo'
Of the Administration act was, by ex'Hu'ns ioO''u
merchants judges and irrymen rom p'ru''ph,'on
Tho ax,nr OF dutsble values classihcations ana rd
'"0 IN enable n new Board of Appraisers TO be
nresided over BY Tichenor 10 put i''o ti0
hands OF an executive the arbitrary power uIue' III"
dictation of tariff benefciaries TO exact SUCH sum Va
tax as the Republican leaders might daf" 10 exact
One moro sample expression may be quoted su'H a.
protacton of honest importers was the avowcd mouVo
of the Customs Administration act, winch cuhhiieH
went before the Tariff Law and was to be an eSNchua
mart n, e. Honest importers fdrsooth when the pur
nose WAS TO do away with importers altogether eXcePt
ing on articles. unsuited domestic production.
So the Board Is only a tender 10 the Mckinney
Tariff law cannot check excessive NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. i
oncman affair presided over by Tichenor ana an III
stulmcnt Of oppression to Importers Well charges
i1bt ha dishonest European
merchants and importers who denounce the customs
act according TO Mr.. Tingle the supervising specia
Treasury agent because il takes their occupation
AWAY But how honest importers being lh!uieu
by the act and how is the Board depressing thein !
Now the truth is that those having business with the
Board of General Appraisers generally testify that It's
members discharge their duties ably. impanialy anu
expeditio,sy and that this institution Is supply
Ing long felt need. How body be called UNFAIR
or oppressive or one man affair which gives full and
free hearings all who appeal TO It! But the reco"
of the Board Of General Appraisers is the best answer
10 all reckless charges and mean destinations against
II. First, however, let it be remembered That the
Customs Administration law is OF Democratic Origin
When Daniel Manning was Secretary OF the treasury
he drew attention to the irregularities Of reappraise
mens at this port caused by the system of merchant
reappraiscrs and recommended the establishment here
of three general appraisers, who should make
all cappraisements necessary. Mr. Fairchd Endorsed
Mr.. ManDEgs plan, and it was warmly eSpouSed by sell
atOr Beck who the measures strongest champion IN
the United states Senate, which il passed without an
important division. Moreover, the proposition was moss
acceptable TO merchants and importers. who loath
TO give their rivals in trade opportunities to learn their
and business secrets By acting merchant
reappraiSers. So far known there has not been
one questionable act committed by the Board or one
of its members: but could the same be said OF tho
performances Of many merchant rcapprsers But the
present system has many advantages over those Of the
old method of appointing merchant reapprasers For
merly if an importer dissatisfied with the rate OF
duty imposed by the Collector, he could appeal to the
Secretary Of the Treasury But how much time did
the Secretary or his assistants have for such matters
Mr. Manning's recommendation is practical answer
to that question. Now to-day there nine customs
authorities at this port who accessible 10 the I'M
porers or merchants their representatives An ap
peal from the Collector can be made to one OF inc
General Appraisers, and eventually TO the Board OF
Three Appraisers who constitute the appellate court
OF the institution. But 1t generally happens that inc
important decisions Of the Board are the work OF the
whole body for it makes rulings to stand the test OF
the courts.
The question of fixing rate of duty does not reach
the Board except on appeal from the Collectors action
and IFS decisions in this respect are subject 10 review
by the United States Circuit Judge, and also by the
United States Supreme Court, that the hoaru mas
10 opportunity for arbitrarily imposing hishcr rae
Of valuation the records Of the Board VIII best ai'We
that Between the months of August ana E9VeHcl ii'
Board of General Appraisers received 80 dPpc.dll
for reappraisenens from the values assessed bS 1ir
local Appraiser of that number the Appraiser va
fully sustained in 1874 cases. and partially IN va, WI"
his value was advanced In only - Instances hul It
importer was upheld in 335 appeals. whl'H !, no
record of oppression Another Interesting lac' -
that the majority of opinions on classicatOh' nanu
down by the ard in this period were rendered Dy ui
four Democratic members, which does not looK a. u
the Board were one man affair, or made decisions al
the dictAtion of Republican leaders. . ~
The moral effect Of the enactment or the customs
Administration act 10 secure the InaAng OUT u
honest invoices No amount Of deception or ms
rcpresentation will obscure the tact that this law
is a valuable measure. II Is foolish therefore Tor
paper to try create prejudice against the hAiN o
General Appraisers by calling ID the IchehQr bodI9
and charge It's members with PSrtlSsnstp, an, IL,
president Of the Board George c. TichcnOr Obainc'
His present place after long and honorable connection
With the Customs service. through common consent
leading Republicans and Democrats Of the country
But as matter OF record il NAV be said tlat Coone
Tchenor attends almost entirely 10 the rontlne dute
Of the Board. while the questions OF reappraehehIs
protests and appeals disposed Of by the other egh
rnembcrs four of whom are Republicans and lou
Democrats men Of the highest character aud a6lnt
a thoroughly non partisan body, in whose hands tn
interests OF honest importers are safe.