Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-29

Washington, July 27.-The treasury
officials have already discovered a
number of inconsistencies in the new
tariff act, some of them it is feared
being incapable of reconciliation. 1t is
pointed out that section 262 places a
uuty on plums at % cents per bushel
and section 264 fixes the rate at 2
cents per pound. Another section
fixes the rate Of the duty on hides Of
cattle at Is per cent. advalorem and
admits raw skins free. The question
involved is in the classification of
calf skins, it being contended that
commercially calf skins are not
classed as hides of cattle and hence
are entitled to free entry which is
liable to be contrary to the purpose
of congress. Attention is also called
to the fact that the provision as to
licenses for customs brokers was, by
lnadvertence it is believed, left out
of the act.
Circulars are in preparation con-
STRUNG a number of sections of the
act. Persons entering this country
are permitted under certain restric-
tions to bring with them free of duty
usual and reasonable furniture. .
niture as would be reasonable and
useful for the personal use of persons
in their conditions in life.
A circular issued Monday from the
treasury department to collectors and
other officers of customs says: The
president having approved the tariff
act recently passed by congress, the
tariff act of August %, 1894, so far as
it it has been superseded by the new
act, became void and of no effect at
midnight, July %, 1897. All mer-
chandise entered at a custom house
on and after July "a, under the rates
of the act last mentioned, will be sub
ject to liquidation under the pro-
visions of the new act. All existing
regulations relating to the importing
of merchandise and proceedings per-
tanning thereto will continue in full
force and effect, unless duly modified
or revoked"
Senator Allison was at the treasury
department Monday and in the course
of a conversation on the subject said
that in his opinion there is no reason
able doubt that the act covered all of
the day on which it became law. This
also is the view Of all the prominent
officials of the treasury department,
including the collectors of customs of
New York and several of the leading
ports of the country.
Sufficient data upon which to base a
close estimate of the amount of duties
involved have not been received, but
it is stated roughly that it probably
will be between 100000 and 5000, 900.
The internal revenue department prob
ably will save even a greater amount
by the ruling than the customs
branch Of the service. During the five
days from Tuesday, July 20, to and in
Guiding Saturday, July "a, the inter
nal revenue stamp agencies sold ap-
proximately $5,1S1 800 in beer stamps
alone, and of this amount it is esti-
mated that not more than one-third
or S1,727, 266 reached their destination
before the act went into effect. The
saving to the government on these beer
stamps alone is expected to aggregate
not less than $1S3, 200.
Commissioner Forman Monday tele-
graphed all stamp agents to settle only
OF the basis of the Increased rate pei
barrel, and it is expected that these
Instructions will GIply to all cases
where tie stamps we're not actually
affixed to the packages before the new
rate became operative. No figures as
to the amount Of cigarette stamps
disposed Of have yet been received, but
it is believed that the sales have been
ahnormally large, as the tax on Gig
arettes, speaking generally, was in
creased 100 per cent, or from 90 cents
per thousand to 81, the inducements to
tobacco manufacturers to lay in a
large supply were even greater than in
the case of the brewers.
QUEEN REGENT COURTEOUS.