Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-01
GENERAL TARIFF INQUIRY
Proposition Advanced by Senator Spooner
Today.
Three Appraisers Selected to study
Indust ries of the Country-Their
Condition to BE Considered.

The amendment offered by Mr.. Spoorcr
for a general tariff inquiry is as follows:
That within sixty days after the passage
of this act the Secretary Of the Treasury
shall designate (and may from time 20
time change such designation three CT the
general appraisers appointed or 20 he APP
pointed under the provisions of section II
of The act entitled An act to simplify the
laws in relation to the collection of the
rev enues." approved June IT., lS.I,. not more
than majority of the number designated
as aforesaid to belong to the same political
party, who shall exercise the powers and
perform the duties hereinafter prescribed
in addition to those now or from time 10
time to be devolved upon them by law.
First. They shall thoroughly inv"stig ate
the condition of the industries of the coun-
try upon whose products. manuf ac:ured
or otherwise. duties are IMPOSED by law,
taking single schedule or a group of cog
nate OF interGcpcndent schedules at a time
to be designated in writing from time to
time by the Secretary of the Treasury. and
likewise the condition Of the indus' ri.s of
other countries manu- facturing pr Oducing
goods, wares or merchandise sold III compe-
tition with simila. products of this country.
including especially the difference in labor
cost, and other elements or factors enter
ing into and bearing upon the matter of
which in their Judgment should he consd-
cred in imposing rates of duty. both with
regard to obtaining revenue thercfrom and
WIN regard also to aqualiziag conditions
between the comparative products of every
kifd. of this AID other countries. AMI in
determining what products Of other coun-
tries should be admitted to this country
free of duty.
Second They shall also carefully analyze
the duties imposed by the various sched-
ules of this act, and Of such tariff acts as
shall he from time to time enacted for tie
purpose of ascertaining and reporting any
errors OF CiaSSiicati ton. inequalities of rates
imposed upon different elements or articles
which enter into manufactured products
ana such manufactured products, what
uutieS are necessary by way of CompcnSa-
tlon TOR other duties, what duties SHOULD he
specific, ad valorcm or compound and gen
orally information in their Judgment neceS-
ShrE Tor the correction of any inequalities.
ihconsEs tencies or other defects of any kind
IN the schedules examined
Third. They shall from time to time make
report 10 the Secretary of the Treasury of
the information obtained by such inveSti.ya-
tioh ana otherwise. with their recommended
tons thereon. Each said report shall be
signed by all of said designated appraisers
who agree to the same, and if any thereof
snail dissent from said report, either as to
the inlerences drawn by the majority from
the facts obtained in said Investigation or
as to its recommendations, wholly or in
part. it shall be their duty to make sign
and transmit to the Secretary of the Treas
rry a minority report. stating in full the
reasons for their dissent ami employing
their own recommendations They shall
also make such further kindred invaStiga-
tions as the Secretary Of the Treasury may
from time TO time direct.
That the general appraisers designated
by the Secretary of the Treasury, as here
inbef"re provided. may. for the purposes
OF their investigation, with the approval
OF said Secretary. visit any part of the
United States. and said Secretary may
from time to time direct one of their num-
Der to visit foreign countries for like pur-
poses.
1t shall be the duty of the Secretary of
the Treasury, whenever he shall receive
from said designated general appraisers
reports upon any schedule group of
schedules. aforesaid. to cause to be
printed by the public printer loo copies
of the same. together with all statistics
and evidence submitted herewith. and to
furnish two copies of each said report.
majority and minority, to each member of
the House of Representatives and the Sem
ate. 1t shall also he the duty of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to communicate the
same to Congress in the month of Decem-
Der in each year. with his recommended
lions i'll the premises.