The herald., 1896-01-08
COMMITTEE WORK
Efforts to Prevent Underv aluation by Custom $
Officials

Efforts to Prevent differentiation by Customs $
Officials
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE house ways
and means committee will begin work to-
morrow on q proposed scheme of legisla-
ton to prevent uuderva|u uation of imports
by the customs officials. Hearings will
be given to interested parties, and tomor-
row there will appear before the commit.
tee Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Hamln and two members of the New
York board of appraisers. The plan upon
which the committee wi base its work
has been outlined by Representative Draper
of Massachusetts, and it is probable that
the committee will investigate the present
system of values carefully before it fin
ishes.
1t is General Draper's belief that foreign
dealers secure distinct advantage over
American producers in the home market
under the prevailing methods of appraisal
and that there is in operation a far reach
ing and successful arrangement to ship
goods into the country far lower than the
tariff rates.
The principal points of the legislation
which he suggests are:
That the prices at which imported goods
are appraised to be given by American
producers of similar goods when asked for.
The foreign price lists and offers for
sales. as we'll as sales, be considered aid
no apprsisements below them made.
That no deductions for commissions,
bounties, etc., be allowed.
That in cases of appeals from appraisers
to the board of general appraisers, the APP
praisers and collectors state in writing the
reasons for their valuations and may APP
pear personally before the board, and that
American producers also be alloTed TO
testify.
The creation of six commissioners, SAL
aried at $4,000, to be sta lone at The prin-
clpat ports to make re orts upon prices
and with the assistance of United states
consuls keep The government posted.
Mr.. Draper believes that some of the
rules outl ned might be followed under the
existing law, but as they are not, he rec
ommends administrative amendments
which will secure their enforcement.
"When there is a contest over valua-
tons" he said, 1.-THE importer appears on
one side, with a direct pecuniary advant-
age in securing low rates and is repre-
sented by attorneys, they also with direct
pecuniary advantage in obtaining low
rates. On the other side is the appraiser,
merely perfunciory officer of the
government. II is The purpose of this plan
to secure equal advantages for the Ameri-
can PRODUCERS of goods of the same classes,
whose interest it is to see that undervalua-
business TO the interest of the importer"
The chief benefits from the changes pro-
posed will accrue to the manufacturers of
woolens.
THE CABINET MEETING
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.-All the members
attended the cabinet meeting topay. The
meeting was a protracted one. In view of
the bond call and the pending economic
legislation, it is thought these subjec s
came in for consideration at the long ses-
sion. Representative Turner of Georgia. a
prominent Democratic member of the
ways and means commit ee. was at the
White House at about the same time the
cabinet assembled, giving rise to some
conjecture that he was being consulted as
to the probable situation of the arilf and
bond legislation when it was returned to
the house.