New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-30
LOSSES BY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


WHAT THE AID vALOREM SYSTEM HAS DoNE-THE
NEED OF MORE COMPETENT APPRAISERS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: These surely the pressing needs OF the
time 1t is quite evident that Congress VIII not feel
called on TO pass as in $780, IAN act TO reduce the
reverue and for other purposes" We need
more income and to have our revenue laws inteHi-
gently and honestly enforced. The tarin question
will be fully examined In principle and detail by the
next Congress- and let us hope that wise ana JUST
legislation will follow. The subject IS very at
,ractlye one but want just now to say something
OF our Administrative customs. revenue laws anu
the practices Hereunder. Having had some per-
sona observation of these defective laws ana regu-
lations have seen them to be a source OF loss TO
the Government and a hndrance 10 honest com-
merce and manufactures.
From the tariff law Of l779 to that now In opera
ton the ad vaorem system Of duties. either pure
and simple In the present law. or compined WIN
specific duties. in the laws from the Morreii
tariff OF 1861 to the Mckinley law OF $780, has been
the basis Of the tariff rates on woollen textile fao-
rics one OF tn, most important schedules OF our
tariff laws The determine ton OF market value
has therefore always been the important question to
be settled. The laws have always attempted 10
provide at least theoretically. for appraisement by
experts but the practical results OF these laws
would be. II the interests involved were not 50
great and serious rich field OF observation for the
Wit and the satrist Political heeers. without aspe-
cial knowledge or mercantile experience and with
almost luacr personal unnness. have Tor years
formally appraised many millions OF dollars worth OF
valuable goods. That the gentlemen now employed
as experts are Of better class than formerly Is
probably due In great measure TO the competitive
Civil Service system OF appointment; but 1t is doubt
full II undervaiuations and the consequent DIS
organization II all business dependent on or COM
peting with important woollen textiles were ever
greater than at this time.
Successive Congresses have attempted to correct
this condition OF affairs but their efforts have been
mainly directed to organizing effective board for
the rehearing OF questions of appraisemen etc, on
appeals Of the importers claiming generalization:
very rarely II ever on appeal by representative OF
the people claiming differentiation To one VINO Is
AZ all acquainted with the organization OF the ap-
praisers' warehouse this seems to be beginning the
reform at the wrong end of the system
In 1893 over % 900 protests questions OF classca-
ton etc were flied with the Board OF General APP
nra,sers and at the same time there were unsettled
claims on a single line OF contention under the law
OF 1898 amounting to over AOOOONo 1t Is not 10 be
supposed that all even the most OF this immense
the first appraisement; but. II the initial apprase.-
ment and classification are correct ana accurate tne
work goe, on smoothly and collection OF the revenue
Thereafter is merely a clerical work But II is true
that much OF the litigation and loss of the contested
a ss Of fGss Of the His work is
Judicial in character. and therefore demands high
afYec directly the largest interests OF commerce
and manufactures well as The principal revenues
OF the Government For this 1t calls for technical
knowledge OF special lines of merchandise as well as
familiarity with commercial customs
All this Congress has heretofore expected 10 get
with gentleman included for about WV per an,
mum with an exceedingly fral tenure OF place and
no promotion for successful service Entirely 70 re.
verse this policy calls for courage or high order az
Washington but the game Is worth the candle
That Congress and Administration which snail solve
this problem will earn for themselves enduring
honor II the problem seems difficult to deal WITH
is n familiar one to every considerable merchant.
and he solves for his business on lines which the
Government must follow for it's vastly greater in
tercsts II II would have his success. He employs
the most competent experts he can find, and relies
on them to protect his interests, paying them ade-
quaely and keeping their services for LIE. II sue
cessful ,. m
should receive 49, 900 to 5000 per annum should be
selected for fitness exclusively, and be removable
only FOR cause not political. When this change 10
made a great step Will have been taken In admins
tratve reform: the Government Will promptly re-
ceive it's due revenues manufacturers the protection
from unfair competition which ~ contemplated by
the law and honest commerce the encouragement TO
which II ia entitled l.. b. c.
aI<Iil Apri n