Evening star., 1897-07-26
AFTER MIDNIGHT FRIDAY
When the New Tariff Law Went Into
Effect.
Decision of the Secretary of the
Trcasury-IHstructiO to COL
lectOrs of Customs.

The Secretary of the Treasury holds that
the new tariff act was in effect at the be-
ginning of the day on which it received the
approval of the President, and therefore
became operative after midnight of Fri
day, July D. Assistant Secretary Howell
today sent the following telegram to col
lectors of customs:
Department holds that new tariff law
covers and includes all customs business of
July a.
Later in the day formal circular of in
structions, covering more fully the de-
partn;ent's views on the subject was
printed and mailed to all customs collec-
tors. The opinion of the Attorney General
has not been requested on the matter, the
department holding that the question is of
sufficient Importance to justify them in
taking it to the courts for final determine
ton, Independent of what the views of the
law officers of the government might be as
to the merits of the case.
Senator Allison was at the Treasury De-
psrtllert today, and in the course of a
conversation on the subject said that in his
opinion there was no reasonable doubt that
the act covered all of the day or which it
became law. This also is the view of all
of the prominent officials of the Treasury
department, including the collectors Of
leading ports of the country.
Over 100000 in Duties InvoIved.
Sufficient data upon which to base close
estimate of the amount of duties involved
has not been received but it is stated
roughly that it probably will be between
100000 and s2o0,o0o The internal revenue
department will probably save even a
greater amount by the new ruling than the
customs branch of the service. During the
five days from Tuesday, July 20, to and in
Guiding Saturday, July "a, the internal
revenue stamp agencies sold approximately
81, ,1S1 500 in beer stamps alone, and of this
amount it is estimated that not more than
one-thrd, or S1,727,266, reached their desti-
nation before the act went into effect. The
saving to the government on these sales of
beer stamps alone is expected to aggre-
gate not less than s1S3,o0O.
New Rate on Beer.
Commissioner Forman today telegraphed
all stamp agents to settle only on the basis
of the increased rate of ~ cents per bar
rel and it is expected that these instruc-
tions will apply to all cases where the
stamps were not actually affixed to the
packages before the new rate became on-
erative. No figures as to the amount of
cigarette stamps disposed of have yet been
received, but it is believed that the sales
have been abnormally large. as the rate of
increased 100 pr cent, from fifty cents
per thousand to one dollar. The induce
me1ts to tobacco manufacturers to lay in
a large supply were even greater than in
the case of the brewers.
Instructions to Customs Officials.
Assistant Secretary Howell issued the
following circular to customs officers this
afternoon:
''The President having this day approved
~, ri
the tariff act of August 2S, 1894 SO far as
it has been superseded by the new act, be-
came void and of no effect at midnight of
July %, 1891.
All merchandise entered at the custom
houses on and after July u, 1887, under
rates of the act last mentioned. will be sub
ject to liquidation under the provisions OF
the new act.
'All existing regulations relating to the
Importation of merchandise and the pro-
ceedings relating thereto Will continue in
full force and effect unless duly modified
or revoked"