New-York tribune., 1890-04-30
RATING WORSTED CLOTHS.
THE HOUSE DISCUSSING THE BILL ~
GLASS THEM AS wOoLLEN CLOTHS.
THE OBJECT OF THE MEASURE 10 MANI 0ANAf
A M1sAPPREHENs1oN WHICH HAD NAi'AN
rxnrR THE EXISTING TARIFF


NrsAPPREHENs1oN WHICH HAD ""iSHN
rxpER THE EXISTING TARlFf'
, On The House to-day, in Com
Wasn"s .so while considered the bill providing for
mi''eV ,acat,on q, worsted cloths as wooilens.
'e n,n.ov ,ad that the object OF the Dill was 70
- clear a Question which had ARISEN II, icSa'u l"
.,o classification Of worsted eoou' ~ Wv 'e sae
..s and to correct all doubt all" nus"
Continuing h. said that before .iio INNS y. NV
49, T.easurv on May q, 1oe9, worstcd cioth,
tary Oh inc aD'ount of work, costing the same.
ha'i"e -. -, rrecisey the same purposes. as woollen
anu "' x,uc q duty of "a cents pound, while
s. ~ voollen cloth was 80 cents pouhd.
~" e r,ng. added that the pending Dill was an exact
' :. ia hill introduced at the last congress py
~, ,vp' pnoc,nrdgs Of Arkansas and the gentlemen
80 ,he cher side had incorporated " III '''er i"rin
bill. . r.,.rc,,v sa,d that IL he could
ME- ,oeislaton he desired the manufacturers
se'" %, their wool free of duty. But tnls couia
"ou done ard the situation which confronted
w was this The present secretary Oh tie
oo"e in the face of the law, had decided that
was necessary in order to correct the
ho utv and that under tho law, he would direct
.hs customs officers TO impose the specific duty OF
.on,s s an worsed cloths. The importers paid the
Liner rate of duty under protest. In the circuit
Ccrt Of Ncw-York it had been decided that the
her rate of duty was unauthorized. and the decision
ou,d undoubtedly be affirmed by the United states
upreme Court The importer would recover from tle
ouhlc treasury all he had paid in excess OF Is or "A
-, af,ar having already added that excess TO the
rrca Of the article To the consumer This could not
he prevented now. Eut Congress could prevent the
importer, from continuing this until the supreme
Court rendered a decision.
Mr. Mills. of Texas said that. papaby wrong as the
hill was il might be better To pass it than to have the
pe6ple pay the duty twice.
MIR. Cummings. of New-York. said that the secre-
,srv had held ~ a matter of fact and not of law
that the goods not made of worstcd as that term
was known when the act OF 1883 was passed. Inc
same wool was now used in worsteds as was used be
fore 1883. The Importers relied on their khowieoge
~ this fact They had contracts based on the present
law and their goods were already sold to customers
The passage OF this bill Woule entail he"'S ioS'0' VII
these contracts.
Mr. Wilson, of West Virginia argued that the OIL
would impose millions OF taxation upon the consumers
Of worsted goods.
Mr. Breckinridge of Kentucky. protested against
the passage Of the bill. The wool classhcaon OF the
Act of 1883 had been carefully drawn. The wors'cd
men lad appealed in vain secretaries Folger. Man
ming and Farchild 1t was undoubtedly true that
there was not a lawyer in America VINO had examined
the question who did not believe that the decision OF
secretary Window was mistake. al.
Mr. Mckinley of Ohio vindcated the decision OF the
Secretary Of the Treasury and cited the opinion OF inc
bill provided for simple justice. 1t did not increase
the DUTY. The gentleman from New YORK lMr. Cuil
mings1 had said that there would be loss to the
importers. How could loss accrue to any citizen
Mr.. Cummings-Under the contracts they have
made since the decision of the court.
Mr. Mcknlcy-When the gentlemen whom my
friend represents before the committee two day
ago they told that there had not been single con
tract made since the decision of the court IN New
York asked than what harm was TO follow to
them and their answer was that the harm was {" fol
low 10 them from contracts made three months ago:
When pressed them TO know what duties they had
paid three months ago they said that they had paid
the higher duty under the decision of the secretary OF
the Treasury. Now We propose to continue those
duties, not TO increase Them
Mr.. Brecunridge offered an amendment classifying
woollen cloths as worsted cloths Lost.
The committee then and reported the bill TO
the House. On the passage of the bill no quorum
voted and there being quorum present, the House
adjourned.