The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-07-22

we find in the decisions OF ms =
rreas,,rv Department an unfailing source
~ amusement. The pamphlet issued
from time to time embracing them IS
often funnier than PUCK or Life.
They belong to the solemn and uncoh-
sc,ous stvle of humor, but their richness
* none the less on this account.
VINO. for instance. would expect to ma
n an oficial publication a page devoted
% 3 deanition Of Christmas trees in the
following exquisite style Of naivete:-
TIC goods are small evergreen trees cal
nf near the ground. and known as Shr ms
mas trees. They are usea ou1rnS +,on I'M
mas festivities. either IN the cono5 nrna-
ported for hanging presents anu ~
manfs or the branches are stripped "
and the foliage used for evergreen S,st,-
orations. They were assessed = az,
as nonenumerated nmanuaac 6 art
ticles at 10 per cent, under section q a. ~
az Iulv' 1881. and are claimed TO pc en-
titled to free admission either unaer para-
graph 617 as crude vegetable substances;
Under ~paragraph 500 as unmanutaclureu
finber ar under the provision OF para
graph 700 for logs in the ougn. ,mbar
We find that the goods are not timber,
logs. nor vegetable SUBSTANCES ol lne
KIND QGSCftUtQ ~
surely the circumlocution Office OF
Dickens imagination never surpassed
this.
Incidentally, the ruling is made that
zfoss often grows on the bark of a tree
or nendent from its limbs, and cones nans
from the branches also; put va eeneris
opinion hat a tree Is not eJusoena ss
with any of these articles.
In the same pamphlet in which the
above appear, we find a disduisition upon
TOW watches, from which we extract a
few lines
These goods are dumb Watches sd so are
similar 10 the goods held TO pc toys ~
q. AZ 1850. They were assessed LOT IVY
as jewelry at go per cent; 9noer are
claimed to be dutiable at 30 per cent. q :
fovs iinder paragraph AIS. or at other rates
under various provisions Of the tariH.
The general appraisers ruled that they
were toys. that they were not compare
lively expensive articles to be worn Tor
personal adornment." and that they are
.des;gneo to be carried or used as play
things for children Certainly this de-
ctsion displays almost human intelligence
mt Il leaves us marveHling at the genius
of the original official who classified toy
watches as jewelry. He should end up
as Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee in a Republican Congress-
a side light on the ways of Camp
Meeting managers is cast by Decision
No. 1855. AS an example of a non
seo,,itur it is a wonder and we give it in
full
The Assistant United States Attorney
At Madison. Wis, Henry 7. Sheldon. has
submitted TO this qfllee IN tq6 eeS Monona
lake sunday School Assembly. A. cor
poration which. he states. maintains anu
carries on a camp meeting OF ounuaS
school and church members en- grounos
omned IN themselves near the city OF
Madison every summer. charging an
admission fee of 25 cents for entrance 70
fhs grounds" and giving every day our
inc Hhe session. and often twice a day.
! entertainments On the grounds,
consisting of lectures. speeches. concerts,
etc.. to which no admission is chaIsea -
that "the performers at these entertain,
1nents are paid by the corporation, ana
that sthe admission fee charged ar me
gate to the grounds goes simply 10 pay
the expenses of maintaining the groupos
and running the camp meeting.
Upon this statement of facts, 1t Is held
by this Office that the Monona Lake sun
dav School Assembly Is not to be regard
ed a. the proprietor of a public exhibition
or show for money within the meaning
and intent OF the eighth paragraph or
section 2 OF the act of June l3. 1898. and
you may. therefore, Withdraw the demand
notice which you have served upon the
president Of this corporation for payment
Of special tax under that paragraph.
Let US hope that the return in votes
FOR this original ruling may be all that a
O.. o. p. official could desire. No such
1iberality of Interpretation is shown in a
decision upon the gauge of the Dog
Brand of ale and porter. bottled in Lon
don. This fluid is imported in bottles Of
two sizes. which. however. sell at the
same price. the difference being acct
dental and trivial. The Department, all
together ignoring the element Of price,
calmly orders that the duty shall be as
eessed on the liquor according to guam
tity. Probably those who study 1t out
will consider this the most grotesque de-
cisIon Of all. But there is no limit to a
Federal officials capacity for making an
ass or himself. nor yet Tor inficting every
possible hardship on the trade Of the
country
GENERAL OTIS denial is not very
convincing.
NOW we shall be able to get al the
root Of the trouble in the War Depart
ment.
THE Tribune Is pleased with the pro-