New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-13
THE TARIFF on BOOKS AND ART.

Those provisions of the Dlngley bill as it was
renortod to the House which laid duties on books,
scientific apparatus and works Of art. whether
imDorted for purposes of exhibition and lnstruc-
tlon or for sale were generally and justly cen
sured as being both needless and improper. The
consent of the committee to modify those pro-
visions in the interest especially or educanonal
institutions and the passage of the bill so amend
cd by the House. caused much satisfaction The
concessions were welcomed because they ap-
Frcared TO be highly desirable in themselves, and
because they sgnfed a fair and becoming
sprl, in the tariff managers 1t must be adj
nitted. however that congratulations upon these
changes were heartier at the outset than they
have been at any time since then, for the good
reason that the more carefully they are con-
sidered the more inadequate they appear.
+ 1t has been the settled policy OF the country
70 admit free Of duty books engravings maps.
charts. etc which have been in existence more
than twenty years With respect to these arti-
c,es. and 10 others of similar character. without
regard TO their age brought hther for educa-
tional purposes in a general sense. including SCI
en,ifc apparatus for colleges and books printed
IN foreign languages. the Wilson bill suDstan-
TALLY re-enacted the Mckinley bill and left them
on the free list. The Dlngley bill. on the con-
trary. originally taxed them all, and the amend
meats with which it went 10 the Senate made
only TWO concessions When imported for the
rse of educational institutions. scientific appa-
"ratus instruments. chemicals. books, maps
"and charts such as are not made or published
..in tho United States" were restored 10 the free
LIST. and So under conditions presumably de-
signed 10 be similar though Obscurely expressed
,t, Iico1
were paintings siatuary and other works of ART
Otherwise. all these implements of learning
culture and establishment are TO pay not less
than % per cent. paintings in oil and water
colors having paid - per cent under the Nick in
lev act and being now admitted free OF duty.
We do not question for a moment the con-
scentiousness Of the trainers and supporters or
the Dlngey bill. but with respect 10 these pro-
visions we do not doubt that they are wrong.
The concessions which they have made do not
20 far enough. Books. prints. etc, which are
more than twenty years old and books in foreign
languages ought to remain on the free list. where
they have been for many years, and such OK
emptions as are made for the benefit Of colleges,
libraries, ART institutes and scientific investi-
cators ought TO be liberazed. Furthermore,
the phra seology of the most important conces-
sion Is sure 10 make the application OF it diff
cult and inconsistent, If It does not To n great
extent defeat the essential purpose. Scientific
apparatus. instruments, chemicals. books. maps
"and charts such as are not made or published
"n the United States" is a bad description. The
qualifying clause is open 10 different nerprc-
tations, would infinitely complicate instead Of
simplifying the administration of the law, and
for a time at least would be varionsly applied
according TO the opinions or whlms Of customs
officers Is microscope Of foreign make, for
example. which laboratory may naturally wish
TO possess. to be clsssed with articles "such as
are not made or published in the United States:
j Many are anxiOusly asking questions like this,
and thus far nobody has answered them. They
should be answered by decisive change In the
bill.
With regard TO the proposed tariff on art those
who take the keenest interest in the question
Including the makers Of pictures. are not agreed
"Free art has an alluring sound. and in theory
!. at least Is propitous to intelligence and rational
(. enjoyment. That the practical application OF
the principle has proved so is less certain On.
Der the designation Of paintings vast amount
ef trash has come in free, TO deprave the public