The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-27
THE NEW TARIFF LAW.
Secretary Gage Decides 1t Became OPP
erative After Friday Midnight.


WASHINGTON, July 26.-The secretary
of the treasury holds that the new tariff
act was in effect at the beginning of the
day which it received the approval of
the President, and therefore, became op-
erative after midnight of Friday, July 23
Assistant Secretary Howell to-day sent the
following telegram to collector of customs:
Department holds that new tariff law COW
ers and includes all customs business of
July "A" Later in the day a formal cir
cular of instructions covering more fully
the departments views on the subject was
printed and mailed to all customs colec-
tors 1t reads:
THE President having this day approved
the tariff act recently passed by Congress-
the tariff act of Aug rs, 1894, SO far as it
came void and of no effect at midnight on
July 23 1897 (See Synopsis 1881 and 16,14S.)
All merchandise entered at the custom
mouse on and after July "a, under the rate
or the act last mentioned, will be subject
to liquidation under the provisions of the
new act. All existing regulations relating
to the importation of merchandise and the
proceedings pertaining thereto will con-
tinue in full force and effect, unless duly
modified or revoked"
The opinion of the attorney general has
not been requested on the matter, the de-
partment holding that the question is of
taking it to the courts for final determina-
ton, Independent Of what the views of the
law officers of the government might be
as to the merits of the case. Senator ALI
son was at the Treasury Department to-
day, and in the course of conversation
on the subject said that in his opinion
there was no reasonable doubt that the act
covered all of the day on which it became
law This also is the view OF all of the
prominent officials of the Treasury De-
partment, including the collectors of GUS
toms Of New York and several of the lead
ing ports of the country.
Sufficient data on which to base a 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 $200 QUO. The internal revenue
department probably will save even a
customs branch of the service. During the
five days from Tuesday, July 20, to and in
cluding Saturday, July "a, the internal rev.
enue stamp agencies sold approximately
So 800 in beer stamps alone, and of this
amount 1t is estimated that not more than
one third, or ST. 266, reached their desti-
nation before the act Went into effect. The
saving to the government on the sales of
beer stamps alone is expected to aggregate
not less than $lS3, 000 Commissioner For
man to-day telegraphed ali stamp agents
10 settle only on the OASIS OF the increased
rate of 7la cents per barrel, and it is ex-
pected that these instructions will apply to
all cases where the stamps were not ac-
tually affixed to the packings because the
new rate become operative. No figures as
to the amount of cigarette stamps disposed
of have yet been received, but it is be-
lieVed the sales have been abnormally
large as the rate of tax on cigarettes
speaking generally, was increased 100 per
cent, or from so cents per thousand to ST.
The inducements to tobacco manufacturers
to lay in a large supply We're therefore even
greater than in the case of the brewers.