Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-30
Importers Find an Alleged Defect
in the Mckinley Bill
An Error Which, 1t is Claimed, viii
Suspend the Practical Operation
Of the Measure.
New York Importers Of Cheap woolens and
Worsteds Announce Their With
draWnl from Business.
ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION.

NEW YORK, Oct. 23.-lllustratlOns VI
the disastrous effect of the Mckinley
tariff act upon business. and OF its in
fueuce in raising the prices Of the neces-
sitIes 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. rs Leonard street. who have
for many years been large importers of
woolens and worsteds used in the cheaper
aud medium grades OF clothing. jerome
Berheimer of the firm said 10 q reporte r
for THE GAZETTE: eve are compel led
TO close out Our business because of the
prohibitory 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 q rich
man 3 tariff Rld is regardless OF the in-
terests or the ass of the consumers.
The genera! character of the law is well
understood by business men, and I be-
lieve it is becoming painfully evident to
the common people. Its immedIa te re-
suits must be greatly TO increase the
price OF manufacturers under the foIssS
restriction of supply, and drive out OF
business many large importing houses
which, like ours, have handled the less
costly lines of foreign goods
A DEFECT.
The i'm porters of this city are in high
glee over the discovery of an alleged de-
feet in the Mckinley bill, which il Is
claimed will suspend it's practical opera
ton until the error can be remedied at
the next session of congress. The error
ia In ha ha Of ha
bill signed by President Harrison of
section included in the bill as passed by
the house and senate. The question of
iuvaldation is one of constitutioualIty to
be finally settled by the United states
supreme court. If the bill is invalidated
all importers who have paid duties under
The new tariff are entitled TO rebates
amounting to the difference between the
ola and new rates. A number of iInpor-
tiers have had n protest prepared ad-
dressed TO the collector, Directing to thes
assessment OF the duty under the new
tariff schedule. The customs officials
claim that the omission referred to only
relates 10 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
!gg officially about the protests against
the legality OF the Mckinley tariff bill.
81 don't, - he said, "regard 1t us the
province of an executive officer to uues-
ton the cOnstitutionalisy of acts OF con-
gress. 1t is for him to inforce the law
and not to determine questions affecting
its Rnlity. ] am therefore executing
the Mckinley tariff Act as / find It ap-
proved by the president of the United
States, and certified 10 as correct by tue
president OF the senate and the speaker
OF the house of representatives,, and
shall continue TO do so unless a compe-
tent tribunal, such MS the supreme court,
decides the law is unconstitutional. 1t
lie not for me 10 question the validity of
any of the signatures TO tbs bill, neither
Is II 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 il for me to determine whether |
the omission of the tobacco drawback |
section or any other provision of the
bill invalidates the law as |
whole. I As 1 understand it the |
act of October / 1890, is law in the
land. My duty, therefore, is plain, and !
shall execute is provisinns TO the best
OF my ability. It's constitutionality is a |
question for the courts, and until they
decide against it shall he governed by it
as 1t stands
ATTORNEY GENERAL MILLER
positively declined TO discuss the ques-
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, commissioner of the inter-
nal venue, who is specially charged
with the execution OF the tobacco provis-
vision of the law. confined his remarks
In regard TO the alleged illegality
or the law TO the following |
statement: ~ will obey the law
rs certified by act of ate. 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
N the government, l must inforce IL as
fnd it. Anyhow the tobacco schedule
ioes not take effect until January /, so
hat IL congress desires 10 refund two
cents per pound on all tobacco when the +
aw takes effect it has ample time to
eEtslste 10 that end.
No alarm Whatever Is felt here among
he friends of the Mckinley bill as TO the
egality OF Its enactment. "The prece-
lent of number of years, an old and
'xperieuc e6 employe OF the house said
-O-nhJ nO uOuUt luht du |
whether of omission or com N ission, in
he enactment of a bill passed by con-
yress does not vitiate any part of the
Measure except that part to which the
'rror relates. Errors of some kind &C.
'ur,' he said, cat every session of con-
,ress in at least one or more of the i'm
,ortaut bills, and to hold that an omis-
ion, the insertion of any paragraph,
word or punctuation mark invalidates
lot only the part of the bill TO which the
rror is relevant, but the entire measure,
you'd establish chaos In the affairs of the
government and compel congress TO re-
nam constantly in session TO correct i'm
nediately upon discovery errors In bills \;
igned by the president in order that the
perations of the government might be
arried on.''
T1xaf