The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-18
IN THE HOUSE..

Immediately after the approval of the
journal. the bill for the revision of the
customs administrative act of June 10,
1890, proposed by the committee on ways
on ways and means taken in committee
of the whole.
Mr.. Payne, Republican of New York,
opened the debate in general statement
of the bill and what it was intended to
secure thereby. The law of 1890, he said.
proved a great advance upon former leg
islature, and the six years experience
in it's operation demonstrated the pres
ence of some weak spots The chief of
these was in respect to under valuations.
The amendment proposed by the coII-
mittee, Mr.. Payne said, required notice
to be given In all cases of appeal to the
board of general appraisers and the de-
oision of the; board as to matters -of fact
shall be final. Other amendments re-
quire that the invoice shall be
made out in the currency of the country
of expectation regardless of the currency
in which the goods are paid for; persons
in foreign countries making declarations
and invoices to make oath before local
magistrate or other official authorized by
the laws to take such oaths, as required,
iu order that they may be punishable for
perjury. Under the present law their
who have no legal authority to admins
ter oaths in foreign countries and of
course there is no punishment for false
oaths under such circumstances.
One of the most important amendments
related to the assessment of additional
duties for undervaluation. Our present
law provides that where the appraised
value exceeds the value on entry, by not
more than ten per cent, only the same
duty shall be collected as though, the
true value had been correctly stated in
the entry. In case the appraised value
exceeds the value in entry by mole than
ten per cent, the additional duty shall be
collected equal to ten per cent of the total
appraised value, for each one per cent
such appraised value exceeds the value
declared in entry.
1e If the value is advanced II per cent by
the appraisers, the additional duty will
be 20 per cent of the total inyoieed as
valued by the appraisers. If advanced ten
per cent, the usual duty on the appraised
value only would be collected. The
amendment provides that the additional
duty shall commence at point, where
the value fixed by the appraisers exceeds
that stated in the invoice, and shall be
equal to one per cent of the total ap-
praised value, for every one per cent In
crease of valuation by the appraisers,
such additional duty to be limited to
fifty per cent of the appraised value.
1t prohibits any remission of the addi-
tional duty, and further provides for the
forfeiture of goods when the value is ad
vanced more than fifty per cent by the
appraisers. In cases where the importer
| appeals from the decision of the collector,
the bill provides for fee of SO to be
assessed. There is no expense at present
attaching to these appeals.
Mr.. MoMillin, Democrat of Tennessee
founded his objection upon the impracti.
| ability of enforcing the assessment anG
the collection of
ADDITIONAL DUTY
oweing to the difficulty of the appraiser:
themselves reaching an agreement in re
spect to the value of the goods.
Mr.. Hepburn, Republican of Iowa, ap.
proving the bill, expressed the hope thai
the committee would extend the reform
to further defend the revenues of the gov
erpment. He suggested two or thre,
! changes or improvements in the bill.
Mr.. Grow, Republican of Pennsylvania
! took advantag of the opportunity tx
make general tariff speech from the
Continued on Second Page.