Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-19
TARIFF DUTIES IN VERMONT
Treasury Department-Some Ver-
mont Pension Bills.

Washington, u. e., June 1.-THE treas
ury department has recently settled several
more or less troublesome tariff problems
arising at Vermont collection ports. One
of these is from the board of appraisers i'll
New York. but made public here in Wash
ington, affecting the duty of a collector to
transmit protests. The controversy arose
over protest made by Clement q Bray
as to the rate and amount of duties to be
charged by the collector at Newport VT,
for merchandise brought in there by rail-
road June S. 1901. The matter has been in
process of adjudication ever since. Mr.
Somervillo rendered the decision of the
board. holding that these protests, in this
instance being about som, potatoes, must
be forwarded. The text of the decision
follows:
This protest challenges the correctness
of the weight of the merchandise under
consideration, which consists of potatoes
An inspection of the record shows that the
collector was in doubt as to whether he
should transmit the protest to the board Of
classification for decision, because he as
sumed that the question involved was not
one of classification or valuation. He was,
however, instructed by acting Secretary
Spauldng to send up the protest for decl-
sion, the secretary observing that, while
the board had held that the action Of
weighing officers was not subject to review
so long as they act strictly within their
ciple in performing the duty imposed by
law yet 1t is evident that the question
whether or not in any given case such OF
tcers have proceeded upon wrong prin-
ciple is a matter upon which the board, and
mot the custom officers of the several
ports, should pass, and that, therefore,
the importer had a right TO have his pro-
test transmitted. This is undoubtedly Il
correct statement of the law. Any other
view might result in denial of justice, and
would prevent the possibility Of the ques-
tons at issue ever being reviewed by the
federal courts.
Upon examination Of the record, VIC are
Of opinion that the evidence fails to show
that the merchandise was weighed upon
any wrong principle, or that the weigher
committed any error of which we can take
IcoSnizance. The protest is overruled and
the decision of the collector affirmed"
The collector at Newport has also been
instructed as to new rule in force for
assessing duty on fresh water fish, when
imported in packages of less than one half
barrel capacity. He is Informed that 1t Is
the practice in the New York custom Of
flee to assess such products at 50 per cent.
ad valorem or at one fourth Of "A cent a
pound according to which may prove to he
the higher rate applicable thereto. This
practice conforms to the rulings of the
board of appraisers and hereafter that is
the duty which will be assessed at Yer
mont ports. The question has been one of
classification under different paragraphs of
the Dinsley act.
The collector at Burlington a few days
ago wrote to the Treasury department re-
garding a consignment of sewer pipe ship
ped by the Standard Drain Pipe company
of St. John, Quebec, and entered at Bur
Ilington last April under classification as
common salt glazed stoneware not dec
Grated" He assessed it at % per cent. adj
valorem but inquired of the department
as to the correctness of this. Acting s. C.
reary Spaulding has answered him as FOL
lows
| with a view of securing uniformity IN
the classification Of sewer pipe, you will
hereafter assess duty thereon at IS pei
cent. advalorem under the provision in
paragraph 81 of said act for article and
wares composed wholly or in chief value
of earthly or mineral substances, not eS-
pecially provided for in this act if not dec
GRATED in any manner" leaving importers
to their remedy by protest under section
IA of the act Of June 10, $780,"
A few Vermont pension bills have pas.
sed Congress or one of the houses thereof
and are in a fair way to receive President
Roosevelt's signature before this session
Is over. The House has voted favorably or
an increase to 80 Of the pension Of Free
man r. Cove, late Of Co., X, fourth Yer
mont regiment. 1t goes now to the Senat,
but may not pass there before next ses
sion. In similar situation Is a bill tC
pension at the rate of sl2 a month Emol,
S, Barrett, whose son. William II. Barrett
was private OF Co., f, 18th Vermont Tn,
Senate has passed a bill to increase tn,
pension OF James f. Gray, late of Co., q
third Vermont, to $50 a month; likewis,
a bill to increase to a similar figure tn,
pension to George w. Shaw. late of Co,
&c, 18th Vermont. These two bills now 81
to the White House and the President will
probably sign them within II week.
/, The Postoffice department gives motto,
that Chester, johnson, Bradford, Bethel
Putney, and Morrisville will become inter
national money order offices on July first
Notice is also posted that on August first
II rural free delivery route will be put fl
operation at East Hardwick. VT. in tn
, second Congressional district. 1t Is lai,
out 21A miles long and will accommodate
46S residents. Mr.. Haskins has designate,
Mr.. Arthur James Burbank as carrier.
{ bill to grant pension to Minerva Hun
|, and to increase the pension of Eliza j
/ Aldrich has been introduced by Represen
tative Haskins, In the House.
The Treasury department announces tn
appointment of j. f. Richardson of North
field as a cadet in the revenue cutie
service.
Is IL burn' Use DR., Thomas Ecectri