New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-30
TO CHECK ANTICIPATORY IMPORTATIONS
A PLAN UNDER CONSIDERATION BY REPUBLICAN
MEMBERS OF THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE.

Washington. March 29-The proposition which
has been discussed by the Republican members OF
the Ways and Means Committee since they began
work on the Tariff bill that all goods imported
after certain date before the enactment OF the
bill shall be made to pay the duties carried by the
bill is likely crystalline into definite form. IT Is
possible. If not probable, that an amendment will
be made TO the bill in the House 10 effect this pur-
pose. and April is the date which 1t Is pro-
posed that the Dngley bill shall into effect.
The question has been investigated by a sub-com-
mttee consisting of Messrs. Dazel OF Pennsyl-
vania; Tawney. Of Minnesota. and Grosvenor. Of
Ohio They have considered the legal aspects Of
the plan carefully. and have obtained opinions from
lawyers who said by them to be high authorities,
the effect that the plan is constitutional. They
have not drafted an amendment yet, but one Of
them said to-day that they will prepare amend
ment which will declare in substance that all i'm
ports made on and after April ., 1897 shall be du-
able at the rates finally fixed by the bill. This
amendment, the members of the subcommittee as
sert, will be passed by the solid Republican vote
of the House.
1t is difficult 10 secure any authorized statement
on the subject from the Republican members of the
committee, because their plans have not been per-
fected a final decision reached. Chairman Ding
ley, when asked about the matter. said: There has
been much discussion of the policy of making such
an amendment to the bill. but nothing definite has
been decided upon.
one member of the subcommittee mentioned
above declared that there was no doubt Of the
ment of the bill on which its rates should become
operative. This would not be retroactive legisla-
tion but retrospective" he remarked There are
no direct decisions of the Supreme Court upon the
subject, but we have such authority as Judge
have declared the right of the Government to tol-
low goods from the hands OF the importers TO the
hands of the purchasers TO collect taxes upon
them II this amendment is adopted, goods act
ualy purchased before April and goods In
transit before that date will not be assessed at
the higher duties"
in cases where duties are lowered by the Ding
ley bill will moneys in excess OF the Dingey rates
paid on goods imported between April and the
date of the enactment of the bill be refunded by
the Government?" was asked.
No; this Is not contemplated the reply.
This member contended that the proposed plan
would be perfectly just. because the importers
Government on all purchases they might make
after April 2.
II is understood that no plan for requiring the
importers TO give bonds for the payment of addi-
tional duties after their goods have been taken
from the custom-houses has been made. because
II would be difficult to fix the amounts OF bonds
equitably on account Of the uncertainty existing
as TO the changes in rates which may be made by
some regulations for following imports from the
custom houses and keeping certified records Of
where to look for the collection of additional
payment thereof IL necessary.
Another Republican member OF the committee
affirmed that the proposed amendment would not
be adopted. 1t would be exceedingly unjust to i'm
porters and to business men generally, he said
because no one would be able to predict what
changes the Senate would make In the bill and
no man who imported goods after April and be-
know what rates he might afterward be called
upon to pay. He expressed doubts OF the consti-
tutonality OF the proposed amendment. said tina II
it would bring uDon the Government endless. lti-
cation. and he did not believe the Ways and Means
said had been endeavoring TO devise some method
of stopping the anticipat tory importations which
bnt the PROPOSED amendment in his view was
clearly retroactive and unconstitutional