New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-12
MILLIONS MAY BE SAVED
A BILL TO CHECK UNDERNALOAllO>"
PREPARED.

IMPORTANT ACTION TAKEN BY THE WAYS NM
MEANS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO THE
CUSTOMS LAWS PROPOsED-THE pow
Frs OF GENERAL APPRAISERS
ENLARGED REMISSION OF
PENALTIES FORBIDDEN.
FAY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.l
Washington. March 1.-THE Committee on ways
and Means to-day finished rs consideration OF ue
bill TO amend thu Customs Administrative ao' %
1890 and Mr. Payne was Instructed 70 reP''' - "
the House There division In the coih''''''e''
and the repor. will therefore not Only BE- unanimous
hut Will be heartily supported by all the methD"!s
OF the committee The bill has been am ni'' anu
modified in some important respects by the COM
nttee and there Is good reason to nope 'h'' 4"
will meet the approval OF everybody VINO "'5''
that the revenue from customs shall not b. UNA
fully curtallci by undervaluatlona whether ilan''-
lent or otherwise Most OF tho amendments are IN
substance those recommended by the Board Of Zen
eral Appra,sers the Farchild Commission and As
sistant Secretary Hamlin. Of the Treasury Depart
ment. The first important amendment pfoP'S'' "
the existing law provides that:
Consular officers shall not authenticate 'nvo'c .
end collectors shall refuse 10 re-.
entries upon invoices unless the PROVISIONS '' '''S
section are f tS fonp clSr Of the Treasury may
in his discretion require that me forcgons VA,
by the Secretary OF the Treasury. which oaih sha
be administered by an oficcr %: the country ~ y
portation having authority 70 administer "t'i9
which the laws Of that cOuntr, attach me lrnai's
OF perjury when falsely mao fIoN.,e' ,n' LIZ ivi.
required he declaration 10 invoices OF .Ni.'. " IN
any foreign countries or consular g.stF.',. ~ .S
United States 10 be made inicr Dd,n u. ~
Consus shall refuse certiication 20 Invoices u"'
merchandise exported from that country or goh-''i
district .he United States shall Dr. dei.y,re4 90
entry unless and untl the said oath mas been H''y
made and certified by said Consul
An amendment to Section 5 o, the existing law.
which IL regarded as necessary and important. pro-
vdes that:
No person holding license @ trance, business
as custom IS, house br.kcI under inc H. 49,,
mated 10 administer o4ths and take a Know .is.
Lover To- sdmiris;cr such oaths and take such ac-
acknowledgements is hereby revoked as To- al PERSONS
50 licensed TO transact bueln~es custoni-house
brokers a, the cato of the passage o. this at.
no REFUND OF PENALTIES.
Among tho Other provisions OF section Of the
law as amended In committee. are the following
II the appraised value Of article - Imported
merchandise subject 20 an al valorcm guiy. or -
value thereof shall exceed the value declared n ihe
entry, there shall be levied collected and paii an
praised value thereof FOR each per centum that
such appraised value excerIs me V%.ur a., sr.l n
the entry. such additional diiy - De- NinI' - ~
per ccnum OF the appraised value OF sncn afii" or
struei TO be penal Gas has been ne case M 4'r 'h
listing law. and shall rot be ren.tci nor payment
from a manifest clerical error. nor shall they De-
funded in cps OF the expectation OF IN" merchan-
disc. and shall not DO subject 10 tho dement, oi oi"
back
All these things have been and are now dons hy
authority 0. tho Secretary OF tho Treasury under
existing law. construed by Mr. Oney when he
was Attorney General. The amended section FUR
Their provides that II the appraised vaue OF any
merchandise shall exceed by more than 30 per cent.
the value declared in the entry except when arising
from a manifest clerical error. such entry shall he
held 10 be picsumptively fraudulent. and the coll
lcc'or OF customs shall seize the merchandise aui
proceed In OF forfeiture for violations OF the
customs laws The undcrvaluation shown by
the Advertisement shall be presumptive evidence q
fraud and the burden Of proof shall be on the
claimant 10 rebut tho same
DETERMINATION OF VALUES.
Section II OF the law. amended by tho com
mit,ee makes 1t lawful FOR appraisers IN determine
ing the dutiabe value o, imported goods. TO take
into consideration the wholesale price at which such
or similar merchandise IS sold offered for sale in
the United States. after dcductng estimated duties
thereon the cost OF transportation. insurance and
other actual and necessary expenses from the place
Of shipment to tho United States. and a reasonable
commission II any has been paid, not exceeding
per cent ono OF the amendments proposed 10 sec
ton "A OF tho law provides that each notice or pro-
test filed by an importer shall b. accompanied by
fe, Of s.. which shall be refunded only In case OF
refund OF the duties. Another amendment 10 the
came section provides that IN OF an appeal
from decision OF the Board OF General Appraisers
tho appeal shall be filed in tho United states or
cult Court OF Appeals for review o. the decision
OF said Board upon any questions OF law. Notice
OF at least twenty days OF tho time set FOR hearings
held under the provisions OF this section shall be
given by mail In writing directed the importer.
his authorized agent attorney. at his place or
business residence: Provided. that at any time
within thirty days after any decision is made by Il
board such decision may be vacated and set aside
by tho board making IT on application In writing,
accompanied by satisfactory showing by the person
Interested that such notice never given or re-
ceved
POWERS OF THE GENERAL APPRAISERS.
Section Is. as amended In committee. embodies the
recommendation OF the Fairchid Board In regard
to the Jurisdiction OF the Board OF General Ap-
praisers The decision OF the Board on all ques-
tons OF fact is be final and In cas-" OF an APP
peal the Circuit Court Of Appeals Is 10 have jurls-
dction only OF questions OF law. This section gives
10 the Board OF General Appraisers exclusive Jur@-
dicton OF all disputed questions relating 10 the
classification and appraisenent Of imported iner-
chandiso. II, however the court shAll require
further elucda ton Of any question or fac IN oin
10 determine the law questions invoiFci, the i''i'
Of General AIpraisers can DC Gass mp" ndtionn
section the bill favOrably reported by II several
to carry out the provisions Of the revenue LAW OF
1894, which requires the snmplng ana asshylhs 81
imported silver oree and other ores containing Ieau'
WHAT 1T IS EXPECTED TO ACCOMPLISH
I, ia not expected even by It's trainers. that tho
hill ~ IL shall become law, will absolutely stop or
prevent all undervaluations OF Imported merchhh-
disc but II IS expected that the number ana extent
OF such undervaluations will be materially dimih-