The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-27
UNDER THE
NEW CUSTOMS LAW.
Wind0m's Circular Defining the
Administrative Act.
Importers Are Dissatisfied With One Section
Special Agent Evans Geographic
Suggestion.

Collector of Port Phelps yesterday re-
ceived circular from Secretary of the
Treasury William Window defining duties
and giving instructions reletaye to the
effect of the new customs administrative
law. which will go into effect on Friday
next. This law has made many radical
changes in the customs service, chief Of
which is the adjustment Of the old stytem
of merchants appraisement aud the sub
stitution of the new board of nine general
appraisers. the circular bears date of July
10, 1890, and is as follows:
TO Collectors OF Customs and others:
First-1i is proper that certain general pTlnci-
pies should be announced, which, In The opinion
of the depar tnient, must govern the application
of The vaIiou provisions OF the new law TO the
current business al the several ports.
Second-The duties upon inn orted merchdn-
disc are held TO attach TO the merchandise at the
time uf It's arrival In port OF the United States.
The date Of arrival OF merchandise intended for
Immediate transportation without appraisement
Will be that OF its arrival In an exterior port Of
the United States. Therefore, The assessment OF
dulles upon goods, which arrive on or before
July 3lst last. VIII be made Oh the basis oil the
present laws, even If entry Of such merchandise
suall be deferred until afler tile 3Ist OF July.
1hird-InyoiceS authenticated before the first
day OF August prox. Will be accepted al any
time thereafter, provided the Consular certih-
Gates conform 10 The present requirements of
law. Con sulsT certificates after the hrst day of
August must conform 10 the requirements OF the
act OF June 10, 1890; but. in view of possible
difficulties in Obtaining an immediate conform
iIy with such requirements, invoices which
accompanied by certificates not in all respects
In accordance with the law of June 10, 1880,
will be regarded as informal and Will be ac-
copied as pIo forma invoices, under bona TO
produce a properly certified invoice within six
months from the date Of entry.
FOurth-ln the entry OF merchandise bills OF
lading drawn 10 the order of persons doing BUSH
ness as bankers and indoTsed by Them to the
order OF the actual importers OF the merchan-
disc specified therein Will be accented when pre-.
scented by such imI OTiers in making entry OF
said merchandise, tue same as II originally
drawn TO their order.
Fifth-After July 81, 1890, no damage war
rants shall be issued by collectors Of customs,
but proceedings under warrants Issued on OF be-
fore that date Will be carried on as under the
present law.
Sixtn-In case OF protest against the action Of
collectors or of appraisers, which may be filed on
or before the 1St day Of August, proceedings
will be governed by the law OF June 10, 1890,
even wien such protests shall relate to mer-
chandise which shall have arrived on or before
July 81, 1890 But all proceedings on the esli-
mate and assessment OF duties upon such mer;
chandse and upon the original appraisement and
liquidation Of the same shall conform TO the re-
qulIements Of the law under which The goods
were imported, Invoices covering goods, which
are III bonded warehouse August 1st Will
not therefore, require liquidation under the new
law.
Seyenth-A list will be furnished prescribing
such fees as Will he charged after August
/, 1890. All other fees are held TO be abolished
under lie new law.
Eightn-AteDtiOn is called to the provisions
of Section 8 OF the new law, which defines the
dutiable value Of imported merchandise TO con-
siSt Of all COSTS ana charges that attach to the
goods In condition packed ready for shipment 10
the United States All such costs and charges
which are specified in The invoice will, therefore,
be Included In determining the value for the orig
lnal estimate Of duly.
Ninth-It is the opinion of the department
that Section 20 of the new law permits the re-
tentlon OF merchandise IN bonded warehouse
far Than and not more
Than three years from date OF impOrta-
ton, without the imposition OF the addi-
Iiunal duty Of 10 per centum provided by Sec
lion 1870. Revised Statutes upon its withdrawal
Tor consumption. WILLIAM WINDOW.
Secretary.
The construction given to the customs
administration law by the circular appears
to be perfectly satisfactory to the Import
ers here. except as to Section 3, and as to
that section there are strenuous objections.
Said Special Agent of the Treasury Evans
yesterday:
"The construction given to the law by
Section will, lii my judgment, produce
great Inconvenience to common carriers.
Suppose, for instance, that ship arrives in
this port with all of her cargo consigned to
Chicago, st. Louis or New York. Under
this Section the railroad company, which
is already under bonds to deliver the goods
safely, will have to give additional bonds
for the production Of the corrected invoice,
as required by the new law.
1T will be a great nuisance. The proper
party to give the bond is the importer at
Chicago, ST. Louis or New York, and the
place to give the bond is at the residence Of
the importer, and not way off here in San
Francisco, where nobody has any interest
in the goods but the railroad company
which carries them"
Special Agent Evans sent the following
telegram to Washington upon this subject:
Hon. o. Il. SpduldinQ, Assistant Secretary
TUsLin0fOf- d.. Hinder PatapIaDh
8, Circular 10. would 1t not be well to require
In case of goods arriving al an exterior port for
transportation without appraisement TO have the
con. ignee at final port TO give the bond to pro-
duce corrected invoice, when such invoice au-
thenticaled after August LIST Is informal
j. I. EVANS, Special Agent.