The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-27
In EFFECT SATURDAY
Important Tariff Rulings by the Secretary
Of the Treasury.
EXTENSIVE INTERESTS AFFECTED.
Will Snve n Largo Sum I'm Import
Duties Internal Revenue Depart
ment VIII Asrap Substantial Ad.
vRt,tnEe-AnconsisteI in Ratos
ofDulies Discovered.
Washington, D. c., July 2s, 1897.

" aSnlnStOn, -. u, july %, gS9f.
The Secretary Of the Treasury holds
that the new tariff act was i'll effect at
the beginning of the day on which il
received the approval Of the President.
ana. therefore, became operative after
midnight of Friday, July 23d. Assist
ant Secretary HewolI to-day sent the
following telegram to Collectors OF Gus
toms: Departments holds that new
tariff law covers and includes all GUS
toms business Of July gath" Later in
the day a formal circular Of instruc-
tions. covering more fully the depart
ment views on the subject, was printed
and mailed to all customs officials.
The opinion of the Attorney General
has not been requested on the matter,
the department holding that the qucs-
tion is of sufficient Importance 10 JUS
tify them In taking 1t to the courts for
hnal determination. independent of
what views Of the law officers Of the
Government might be as to the merits
of the case. Senator Allison was at
the Treasury Department to-day, and
In the course of a conversat tion on the
subject, said that in his opinion there
was no reasonable doubt that the act
covered all of the day on which it be-
came law. This also is the view of
all Of the prominent officials of the
Treasury Department, including the
Collectors of Customs AT New York and
several OF the leading ports of the coun-
try.
Sufficient data upon which to base a
close estimate of the amount of duties
involved has not bee nreceived, but it is
stated roughly that 1t probably will be
between 100000 and 100000.
The Internal Revenue Department
viii probably save even greater
amount by the new ruling than the Gus
toms branch of the service. During the
nve days from Tuesday, July 2oth, to
and including Saturday, July 24th, the
internal Revenue stamp agencies sold
approximately S., ISL 500 In beer stamps
alone. land of this amount It is esti-
mated that not more than one-thIrd, or
Sl,727.2G6, reached their destination be-
fore the act went into effect. The saw
Ing to the Government on these sales
is expected to aggregate not less than
S1S3 0CO.
Commissioner Forman to-day tele-
Gmphed all stamp agents to settle only
on the basis of the increased rate OF
IA cents per barrel. and 1t is expected
that these instructions will apply to all
cases where the stamps were not ac-
tually affixed to the packages before
Inc new rate became operative No
nEurcS rs TO the amount OF cicaret; q
stamps d!sposcd OF have yet been re-
ceived. but is 1t believed that the sales
nave been aDnormally large. as the IA te
OF LAX on cigarettes. speaking generally
cents per thousand to SI.o0. the Induce
mehtS TO tobacco manufacturers to lay
IN 4 large supply were even greater
than in the case of the brewers.
DISCREPANCIES DISCOVERED.
The Treasury officials already have
discovered n number or Inconsistencies
IN the new tariff act, some or them. IL
Is feared, being incapable OF rccorcilia.
llon. 1t is pointed out that section o6o
PAGES duty on plum$ ut - cents Der
nushel and section 2G4 fixes the rate at
cents per pound. An error in these
paragraphs as to currantS was correct
Ell In conference. Another section
iiNcS The rate OF duty on hides of cat
tie at 10 per cent. and admits raw skins
Tree The question involved IS in 1hc
c!aSSfication of calf skin, 1t being con-
tenued that commercially salf skins are
not clasSed rs hides Of cattle, and hence
are entitled to free entry. which Is be-
llefcd TO be contrary TO the purposn Of
So'sreSS Attention Is also callel TO
the fact that the provision as tn tho
licenses for customs brokers was hy in
aaTertance, 1t is believed, left out of
the act Circulars are In preparation
constituting number OF the sections ~
the act. Persons entering this country
are permitted under certain restrictions
to bring with them duty free usual ond
reasonable furniture" This Is inter
preteu to mean such furniture as would
oe reasonable and useful for the pc,.-
sonal use of persons in their condition
In life.