New-York tribune., 1890-01-17
TIE T4RIFF METHODS.

Tho report BY the Committee OF Ways and
Means ON the Administrative Customs bill, eN-
mining the measure and recommending its
pa.,acc. bring, before the House one OF the
most important subjects thar require l"el-la-
tion. II j, crcditablc that the matter is placed
in ,ha1c for final action thus early in the
session: two years ago Speaker carlisle had
hardly formed his committees by the 10Th OF
.Ianuarv II j. also Cr,dltahle that the meas
urc j, separated from the 1an1 Dill, ~o that u
NAV not bee delayed until the committee has
recommended changes of duty. and the con
trover>y on that subject has been brought to
an end
Il NAV not bc generally understood. though
lv importers and other, who have practical
connection with the work of the custom house
II doubtless, it, that the administrative part oi
the law i,'a~ important as any other portion oi
the tariH. hut requires separate consideration
and treatment. without regard to the rlt" al
duties which may be- imposed or the CHANCES
i'm rate which may from tim" to tam" h' made.
The hin ot mc'hod~ ~ il may hc called has Do"
proper connection with the hiI OF duties. h'
the duiic, what they may. 1t is for 'h" n'or">
of the public and of everybody except those
impor vino wish 10 Ir dishonest that 'h'
method, should ic a. complete and 'n"cl'"
~ po~~iblr. 80 that just the du'i", required h}
la, may hc a-ccltlucd and col0ct"d no mo"
and 40 lc,>. Tine same thoroI-hnc,- of method
i. necessary. whether thr dug Doc protective ot
for ,cycrluo. raised or lo,crcl and Dr. ought 10
be the cndcalor oi all who have part n the
framing or the administration of thr Iaw to
make thc bin of methods a- perfect q, pos
slide. # wa, ore of th. most serious offence
Of Mr.. NH, and his Democratic associates ~
committee that they fastened the bill OF meth
obs. which all parties should take an equal
interest in pcrTcc'ing and passing "a, carly a~
rracticaLlc. 10 tho h.u of dutio~ about which
parti.., were not agreed. 80 that it. WAS impo~
>itlc 70 do anything 10 reform defects o..
abuses of method without adopting at tine
same time Nr. Nil>', reduction of duties.
Chairman Mckinley gor~ to work iu the
isht way. The bill of method, is offered hH
itself carly i'm the session. SD thar % may b.
considered and passed without any partisan
division. Ills committee, while doins It's part
to ,crIcct the measure. doc, not claim credit
for it, provisions %, % whole In Fact the bill
is thr work of various committees IN S"v"al
CongIc~~c~. helped materially 10y the olcaN
Of three successive Administrations. and IT,
most important provisions have been officially
recommended hy Secretaries of the Treasury
representing both parties. II represents tho
requirement. which pmcticaI experience has
shown to be necessary. and ought to have the
favor Of 10th Iar'ics m the House Most ol
it., pio, i.i0n, concern dc'aii, which have hccu
explained in public documcn,, and in dis
latohc, and require mo- discussion. one feat
ar. of especial importance. however, is the
change in appointment Of appraisers, 50 that
importer, themselves shall no longer be called
upon 10 participate in rcapp'ai~emcntS upon
issues raised hl other importers. The cAprn
cncr under ihr cNi,'ine system Aa, been 50 an
satisfactory that the propicty Of the chang
can hardly bc que, iorct.