The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-03

in character and applicable to all indi.
vidual incomes in excess OF $500 per an
mum, instead Of restricted TO COrpOratiOns
and SUGGESTIONS only, 50 that at this time
the income tax plan is still I'm a very in
definite condition.
An argument has been printed by author
ity of the ways and means committee
showing from a Democratic standpoint the
necessity OF the changes effected by the
new administrative bill just reported by
Chairman Wilson and lis colleagues. This
argument gives a fun explanation OF the
reasons why the in its recent
tarin bill abandoned the specific duty in
so many cases in favor OF an ad valorem
duty. THE Democratic party" the cir
cular contends. lis charged with the grave
responsibility Of effecting a complete re-
vision of the existing customs tariff. 10 the
end that the burdens OF taxation. rem
be lightened. The Mckinley bin, however.
was not the only Legislation of the Fifty
ton among merchants and importers. The
passage of the customs administrative act.
involving, as il did, an entirely new de-
parture in customs administration, prob
ably caused in the mercantile world. tenn
porarily at least; as great or greater an.
Great pressure VIII undoubtedly be brought
to bear TO secure its repeal, as well as
that OF Its own sister" Such a move
would receive support from many mer-
chants, regardless OF their political anllA-
tons.
Continuing. the circular says: at the
present day the proper administration and
Interpretation OF the customs laws becomes
politically of the most vital importance 10
the Democratic party. Radical tariff re-
auctions are imperative, but an enormous
revenue, az least, say Soa,O0,Wv yearly,
must still be raised through the tarln FOR
the support of the government. It viii be
plain, upon reflection, that this vast amount
can only be collected by a rigid interpreta-
ton and administration OF any new law
which is TO be substituted for the existing
tariff. The effect Of SPECIFIC. duties Is al
most completely TO stop the importation OF
lower grades OF goods, which are used I'm by
far the greater quantities. Thus much rev-
a.t.a 10 IAne a~l 10 nAat 80 the annaa
unduly increased. This effect is seen upon
almost all Of the goods on which specific
duties are levied.
AID VALOREM DUTIES COMMENDED
A valorem duties. on the other hand.
levied on the value of the imported goods
are the fairest, most equitable kind OF
duties. The rate is absolutely the same on
all grades of goods of the same kind, but
the disadvantage OF such duties Is that they
offer a great temptation 10 importers to
undervalue goods on entering them in our
ports. As a result many goods get into
the country at lower rates than are legally
due. thus discriminating against merchants
the Democratic party when Ia power, from
the earliest times. has been TO substitute
shown in the celebrated Walker tariff in
1876. which consisted entirely OF az yalorem
Springer Wool bill. passed by the House %
Representatives, which placed wool on the
rree list. CnanglnR the duty upon MOOlel1
wholly from specific to ad valorem."
The following are pointed out as the
principal defects of the present. customs
Jury Cpon questions OF fact, arising upon
the question Of classification. has been
sa5en away from the fe i import TSomm The aev gSSs s-
cisiOn OF the Circuit Court TO the Circult
Court of Appeals. while the importer can
thinks the question involved is OF sufficient
Importance TO warrant an appeal. The ex-
sting law levies duties upon the value oe
in which the imported goods are stored.
thus increasing the total duty levied. In
praisers, exceeds the value entered by the
importer by more than 10 per cent a penal
duty of 2 per cent on the appraised value IN
addition TO the corrected legal duty IS
levied for every 1 per cent. that such ap-
praised value exceeds the value declared
in the entry. The me importer nIs Q as IS not not S Sel sTSea
before the board Of general appraisers upon
Questions of classification. If judgment IS
importer upon an appeal the excess of duS
ties is refunded TO him without allowances
f interests or costs. The present law re-
peals all damage allowance upon goods IN
Most of the above objections are re-
moved by the new administrative act pre-
pared by the Democrats, and the official
report accompanying the bill will contain
exhaustive arguments TO sustain the
changes. The printed circular
ing the changes above enumerated, cons
ci7des as Follows: ''Such a law would rene
der it Impossible for merchants 10 import
goods directly from foreign Manufacturers
and TO enter such goods at any port IN the
country, with the certainty that the duties
would be uniformly assessed and co.'s
lected. no one port being favored at the exs
peuse of another. Such uniformity could
not be attained under the old system.
The danger which threatens the business
interests of the country is not from the re-
duction in existing rates Of duty, but from
the confusion which will ensue, provided
the lower rates of duty are evaded BY
underyaluations, thus causing, ct one blow,
a falling off in revenue and ruin 10 the
honest Importer, Unless the lower rates
of duty enacted by Congress are rigidly
and uniformly collected, our people will
lose sight of the material benefits sure to-
follow a genuine measure OF tariff reform.
for those benefits would be swallowed up
i'm the grave injury caused by undervalua-
ton to our business interests. The mis-
sion of the Democratic party. among
others. is to demonstrate that tariff re-
form will benefit our whole people, mer-
chants as well as laborers. The customs
administrative act, amended on the lines
ss laid down above, insuring rigid enforce
ment of such tariff laws as our party sees
fit 10 enact, would greatly assist In that
demonstration"
-rU Enr EII InrxTER