New-York tribune., 1896-01-25
TO STOP CONGRATULATIONS
ANOTHER HEARING BY THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE.

osro> r,,poRrERs TESTIMONY AS TO MAR
xEr vArIEs'-orHERs WHO WISH TO BE
HEARD MUST APPEAR ON WEDNESDAY.
fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
Washington Jan 2i-Severa importers have Sig
n,eed n desire to be heard by the Committee OF
Wavs and Means the pending propositions 10
or,and the customs administrative law. or course
they cannot reasonably expect that these hear'ns'
Will be indefinitely continued, strong az Is ,he ue
sire of the members OF the committee 10 nave 'nc
benefit OF information and practical suggestions
which may be OF assistance to them IN framing
amendments to the existing law. 1t Is desirable IN
o,or respcct that such information and suggestions
as inporters and others may desire to submit shoud
he offered on Wednesday, January %, when the
next regular meeting of the committee VIII pe heu
beginning at 10 o'clock m. AT the close OF to-day
herring Chairman Dineley remarked that nc pre-
sunoed II the number Of importers and others who
desire TO be heard that day should he so large
s 10 make 1t necessary the hearings would be con-
tinued long enough to give an opportunity FOR all
Of them to submit their Views. and other members
of the committee who were present tactly agreed
with him. IL ought to be generally understood,
therefore by importers and all other persons VINO
arc Interested In the matter now pending. and who
desire to appear before the committee that 1t VIII
be necessary for them to do Wednesday. The
committee has been exceedingly indulgcnt thus far,
but II cannot yield further 10 the personal con-
vcnence OF individuals with due respect to its public
dutlea
AT the suggestion and request OF Assistant Secre-
tarv IIarnlin OF the Treasury Department. who was
acting I'm entire good faith the committee decided to
hear J. r. Lesson OF Boston. on Wednesday OF this
week lie did not appear on that day but IL was
announced that he would be on hand to-day. and
snecial meeting was therefore called. He did not
appear to-day. but sent dispatch to Chairman
D,ngicy saying that he had been detained by 'pri-
- hef he Por m
mitee on Monday. 1t is pretty safe to say that If
Mr. Lesson appears on Wednesday he Will he heard.
II Is barely possible that the committee VIII he
able to frame a bill II he does not appear at all.
glad as Il would be To receive the benefit Of any
suggestions he might offer.
At to-iays session Of the committee Edward W.
Atkinson Of Boston. who Is member OF Boston
firm engaged In the Importation chiefly OF wool,
Egyptian cotton and machinery for textile manu-
factures was heard. He explained that his firm Is
a direct Importer and does no consignment business
except In articles tina, are free OF duty Mr. At
knson protested In the strongest terms against any
provision which would enable any person other
than an Official OF the Government TO obtain any
Information in regard to the importers business
The relation established by law between the I'M
portcrs and the United States. he contended. was
n confidential one. which ought TO and must be kept
sacred while he and every honest importer would
welcome the drastic measures to prevent un-
deryaluations OF imported merchandise and insure
the collection OF every dollar OF revenue honestly
due the Government. he was firm In the conviction
that the exposure 10 domestic producers not en-
gagged In the importing business Of the invoices OF
imported goods. II statement OF the appraised
values OF such goods. together with all discounts
and allowances. would be TO disclose the entire
importing business To IN. general public
lie also suggested that through the medium OF
domestic producer II would be easy for the corpeti
tor OF an importer IN the same Inc to obtain n COM
plete knowledge Of his rivals business In support
OF his contention on this point Mr.. Atkinson sub
mlttcd II protest signed by Jordan Marsh Il Co, G.
+. Avery x Co. and r. II. White X Co. with the
remark that those names would be accepted he
h,iicVcd. representative ones and entitled 10 as
great consideration the Of 800 individuals
and firms would be Mr.. Atkinson greatly
troubled also about the means which II was pro
posed 10y the Draper bill 10 employ 70 ascertain the
market value OF imported merchandise subject
duty lie declared point blank that the quota
tons in trade Journals and bona iide offerings of
goods alike worthless: that none OF them
appeared be that the market value" At whole
sale OF article is the price nj which purchaser
~ able to obtain II under any circumstances.
When his attention called by Chairman Ding
ley tho fact that the market value" OF dutiabe
mcrcha ndisc Is phrase clearly defined 10y the law.
Mr. Atkinson was constrained to admit that this
was true. but added that he thought the law was
bad
II was noticeable throughout that while Mr. At
kinson ready and fluent. not to say severe In
his criticisms the amendments proposed. and
while he prOessed to desire that everything possi
bic should be done To prevent underyaluations and
other frauds he had not single suggestion offer
such frauds the existence OF which he did not
at tenn