The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-31

turNl, by Which tho producing powcr OF
the country has been increased aud Its
consuming powor diminished" ~
Collector Potota reviowa In detail tho
frauds praGticDl In tho several classes
Of importations. Hero is nm example:
"Broadclothu havo boon entered, pay.
Ing duty OH nm invoice cost OF 0S to 70
cents Il yard-not tho square yard, but
tho running yard-whon tho raw ma
tcrlal itself was worth tho prices. |
could multiply instances Of tho most
0normouB' frauds praCtiCcd In tho Inn
portNtlon OF other articles. OF morchan.
disc, but doom 1t unnecessary. Such
10 tho measure OF fraud prAcsiccd
through tho agency OF tho parties thom.
selves by tho means OF false invoices,
which hHYo become so common as to DO
regarded as almost commercial usage.
Tho effect OF this system Ia not only 10
opOn tho door 10 fraud, but It actually
invites importations on foreign account
aud takoH away business from our own
merchants. There Is no doubt that II
tho subject wero roferred TO practical
business men, TO our merchants and 10
those whose duty II IL to administer
tho law, 1t would DO decided with sin.
gular unanimity that tho nd valorom
system Ia defective, and that 1t works
injurlously to public rs well aF to pri.
vato interests. Tho theory may DO per-
feet, but Its successful operation Is i'm
practicable in consequence OF universal
and permanent objections, tho ialibill,y
OF human judgment and tho corruption
OF tho human heart."
DECEPTIVE AND RUIHous.
In conclusion Collector Peters do.
clared that "the present system Yield
Ing protection when 1t Ia not wanted,
and denying protection when It Is
needed, Is OF all systems tho most tan.
taizing, deceptive and ruinous." In
his reply, dated Noyember2, 1S40, which
was approved and forwarded to Secre-
tary Meredith by Collector Maxwell, OF
Now York. Mr.. Maxwell, an officer of
great experience, said:
THE temptation to undorvalue under
universal system Of nd valorcm duties
Is shown in tho numerous instances
that occur under tho present tariff in
goods formerly subject to specific duties,
which ure advanced by our appraisers
from y to 20 por cont, and submitted
TO by the importers without exercising
their right to call for a reappraisement
by merchants as provided by law. The
effect produced upon tho business OF
American merchants by the universal
system OF I'D valorom duties has been
very largely increased ratio OF i'm porta-
tions by foreigners over Americans,
owing to the increased facilities for I'M
dervaluations by I'D valorem duties and
the low estimate OF the solemnity of
custom house oaths entertained among
merchants in many foreign COUNTRIES"
Similar strong testimony against nd
valorem duties. and in favor Of specific
duties, was given by the collectors OF
customs and other customs officials ut
Boston, Philadelphia, Charleston and
other ports. 1t must be remembered
that the opinions thus expressed were
based, not upon abstract theories, but
upon actual observation and export.
ence gained in the administration OF
tho tariff act OF 1916. These opinions
and testimony against the ad valorem
system are not to be overthrow or i'm
pcached by the nero unsupported as.
sortion OF Chairman Wilson and his
Democratic colleagues that under the
tariff from 1916 to 1861 this system was
again tried and proved to be as success.
full in administration. as it WIS Just in
principle"