The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-31
WARM SPEECHES YESTERDAY
GREAT EFFORTS BY DEMOCRATS TO
MAKE POLITICAL CAPITAL.
Insincerc DE nand for n Duty on Hides
-Progra rme to Be Pursued by
the Minority To-Day.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-The Repub-
lican members of the ways and means COM
mittee tonight agreed on the terms of the
retroactive provisions of the tariff bill.
fixing April 10 as the date at which the
new duties will begin to take effect. There
is little or no likelihood that the Senate will
adopt the amendment. the overfiowng
weight of legal opinion being that the pro-
vision would be invalid. but if the commit
tee and probable House action deters heavy
importations after April Is the object
of the amendment will be i'm a measure
gained. The trade situation becomes be-
couded and involved by to-nights action,
and the importation of merchandise will be
largely colored with the speculative ele-
ment
An Associated Press dispatch says Chair
man Dngley and his colleagues of the ways
and means committee will attempt to have
the duties imposed by the new tariff bill
go into effect before the bill becomes a law.
This novel and much-discussed policy was
definitely resolved upon at a meeting of the
Republican members of the committee held
tonight The subcommittee, consisting of
Representatives Grosvenor of Ohio. Tawney
of Minnesota and Dalzell of Pennsylvania.
which was authorized to report the propo-
sition presented an amendment which they
had written and their colleagues instructed
MIR. Grosvenor TO offer the amendment to-
morrow in the House. There is no doubt
that il will be adopted by party vote. The
substance of the amendment follows:
That the duties imposed by the bill shall
be enforced and collected all goods i'm
ported subsequent to April 10 and prior TO
the passage of the act. not purchased or
in transit prior to April l. 1t creates a
lien on the goods thus imported for the
amount of the duties imposed and also
makes the importer and the person in whose
possession the goods may be found, If not
a retail merchant or a carrier, liable for
the amount of the duties or for the ex-
cess imposed by the bill above the amounts
such articles may have paid. 1t also re-
quires customs officers to retain samples of
imported goods to the end that the evil
dence OF identification may be preserved.
1t provides for bringing suits to recover the
duties both against importers and whole
sale merchants, and gives TO Circuit Courts
of the United States full and complete juris-
diction TO hear and determine such actions
and to enforce the judgments.
WILL DISCOURAGE IMPORTS.
The members of the subcommittee had
investigated the question of the constitu-
personally and had secured the opinions
of able lawyers. among them the attorney
general of Ohio When they presented to
their colleagues the authorities on which
they propose to sustain the amendment
there was no dissent from their views
Letters have poured in on Mr.. Dingley and
his colleagues this week from importers
asking what was proposed to be done in the
the amendment provide for enforcing the
new rates on the I'd of April, two days
after the bill Is 10 be passed by the House,
but this seemed distinctly unfair 10 dealers
who might have ordered goods before that
date. If importers can place their orders
and get goods through the customs houses
feet them, but they Will be obliged TO take
their chances in such attempts. While there
is much doubt expressed by members of
Congress as to the validity of the proposed
amendment and as 10 its acceptance by
the Senate il will doubtless have the ef-
feet of discouraging importations while the
hin is pending before the Senate. Import
ers will hardly care to run the risks of the
litigation in which they might become in
VOved
tee relies to sustain its action is decision
of the Supreme Court growing out Of the
Wilson act. That act did not become a
stated that the duties therein imposed
should be levied on and after Aug. /. 1t
Uas before Congress, therefore, nearly a
month after the time fixed for its begin
ming and as the House accepted the Sem
ate amendments without sending the bill
70 a conference between the two houses
The intention of the leaders 10 change the
date of its enforcement in conference could
NOT he carried out The Supreme Court de-
cided in effect. however. as its opinion is
interpreted by the ways and means COM
,nittee that the rates of the act became
lucrative on the date declared by the act
aithough that date was twenty-eight DAYS
before il became law. There are also
decisions by state courts in cases involving
taxation which the committee will quote
as authorities.
The theory of the amendment was ex-
nlained by a member of the ways and
npeans committee in these words 1T only
relates to goods contracted for subsequent
to the date on which the bill passes the
House and the importer will make all pur-
chases with notice of the purpose of Com
oress TO impose and collect certain duties
On goods imported after a certain date.
II, other words. he knows that goods which
he imDorts will be liable for higher rate
~ duty and therefore he could not avail
himself of rules usually applicable TO bona
5da purchases. The law when enacted
would simply relate back to and impose
dnties upon goods purchased for import
efTer the importer knew that such duties
were 10 be imposed. This will not be re-
troactive, but retrospective legislation"