The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-07-28

sLelI They he Tszed by the specific or A
Ssioresn system.-Ar. Audersons Con-
esusion-

Vsioresn system.-Nr. Auderson's Con-
esusion~
IL there is any one class of articles
on which il II difficult to collect ad
va,orem duties and ON which specific
duties might he levied with a nearer
approach to justice. it is wines. spirits
and liquors. No other class Of import
ers have objected so strongly, and with
SO much logic. To the ad valorem sys-
tenn in the Reform clubs proposed tarin
bill as have the wine and spirit mer-
chants They say that no matter how
well the system might work. when ap' |
piled To other imports IL would fail in
their case, because there is no criterion |
by which to estimate the value OF a |
wine II can only he ascertained by !
taste and smell. and the estimate OF
one man might differ greatly from that
Of another man with different likes
and dislikes. There being no way OF
appraising accurately the value OF
wines, etc. dishonest importers would
get in their goods at very low prices
The system in fact would put a pre-
MUM upon dishonesty and the honest
importer would vanish. The importers
one oversight and one that is fatal to
their claims. They see only their own
side of the case and not the side of the
millions of consumers. whose welfare
is of far greater Importance Specific
duties would wrong the consumer, for
they would compel the user Of 81 wine
to pay the same duty rs would be paid
by the user of $40 wine.
The arguments pro and con have
Just been published in American Indus
tries and in the Wine and Spirit Circu-
lar. Mr. Henry T.. Gourd. an importer
presents the case against and Hon. r.
Ellery Anderson. chairman of the tariff
reform committee of the Reform club.
presents the case for ad valorem duties
We qnote the summing up by Mr.. An
derson:
"After having examined with great
care many letters and communications
which have attempted to point the
advantages of the specific as against
the al valorcm rate. in its application
to such articles as wines. spirits. to-
bacco. sugar and lumber. l am led to
the conclusion that there is but one
great subject to be considered and
studied in relation TO this question.
and that is the subject of fraudulent
undervaluations. This is the only mat
ter which furnishes a substantial argu-
ment in favor of specific rates IL il be
true that we cannot substitute reli-
/ able and honest tribunal of appraise-
ment: IL il be true that corrupt and
fraudulent bargains will be made be-
tween INSCRIPTIONS importers and the
official appraisers. so that the honest
merchant Will find himself unable to
compete with his INSCRIPTIONS neigh
Dor: and. finally. il il be true that all
these difficulties can be avoided by the
adoption of specific rates. ] am quite
ready TO conceie that a strong case Is
made ont in their favor. But am no.
at all prepared to admit that our APP
praising boards are inefficient and cor
rupt. or that our merchants are habit,s
ally dishonest. or, finally. that .he
adoption of the specific method would
materially decrease the temptation 70
frau dulent undervaluation.
"A specific rate based simply upon
weight. cubical contents or yard meas
urement is an impossibility and never
has been attempted The inequality
of charging expensive goods at the
same specific rate as applied to goods
of lower cost is SO glaring that the al
vocates of the specific system imrnedi-
ately diserentiate the rates in proper
ton To the value of the goods This
compels the establishment of divisional
lines. at which lines the specific rate is
advanced. The result is an enormous
temptation To bring the goods belong
ing to higher field of value just with
in the limitations which entities then
to pay the lower specific rate The
amount thus saved to the importer i
very much greater than could he the
result of mere differentiation. especial
~ when the ad vslorem rates are a.
low as those proposed in our bill
ION the other hand. when the govern
ment official resists the application o
the importer To have his goods -
classed as 10 pay the lower rate. an ex
cess Of official zeal has frequently LEI
To an erroneous classification which
has cost the government many millions
Of dollars and caused an almost endless
amount of litigation. The hat-trim
ming case is a familiar illustration
The recent decision of the United State
circuit court Of appeals in the leaf "a
bacco case is another. These case
grew out OF the tariff act of March
1883. which provided that leaf tobacco
of which IS per cent is OF the requisite
! size. and Of the necessary fneness o
: texture 10 be suitable for wrappers
and of which more than 100 leaves ar,
required TO weigh a pound. IL no
stemmed. are dutiable at IS cents;
stemmed. at 81 pound All other Il
bacco. in leaf. unmanufa -turei and no
z stemmed. dutiablc at IS cents"
: ITO carry out the provisions of thi
act IL was necessary To open and pul
2 TO pieces each bale of leaf tobacco
which destroyed its value for wrappers
: Collector Robertson adopted rule b
which the greater part cf the Tobacco
was charged with duty at the rate @
> IS cents pound The importer
I claimed that their tobacco was onl
c liable at the rate of IS cents a pound
q After long contest. the issue was d.
r cided against the United states. an
= overpaid duties amounting To on