The Washington times., 1907-12-03

erciEe Of the authority conferred t1pon
me President BY the third section OF
ne ne arm act OF July "a, lsyI' / extended
the reduced tariff rates provided for
IN that section TO Champagne ana all
other sparkling wines, and pursuant to
which the German conventional or mini
mum mum tar1n rates were extended TO about
So1R per cent Of All the exports from the
Unied States 20 Germany. This agree
ment Is 20 remain in force until the
S0th or June, 1908. and until six months
aLter notice by either party 10 termi-
The agreement and the report OF the
commission on which IL Is based viii
DC laid before the Congress for its In
fornlatiOn.
Abuses in Customs System.
Ttls careful examination into the tariff
relations between the United States and
Germany involved an inquiry into certain
OF 0 II methods Of administration which
had been the cause OF much COMPLAINT
on the part Of German exporters. IN
this Inquiry i became satisfied that GER
tain vicious and unJusuhable practices
mad grown up IN our customs edn1inis-
traucn, notably the practice Cf deter
mining values OF imports upon detective
reports never disclosed TO the persons
whose interests were affected. The use OF
detectives, though often necessary, tends
toward abuse, and should be carefully
guarded. Under our practice as I Found
become gross and discreditable Under
II, instead Of seeking information as to
the market valIe Of merchandise from
the weIl-Snown and respected members
OF the commercial community in the
country or Its production. secret state
mentS were obtained from informers and
discharged en-, ,plOyes and business rivals
and upon this kind or secret evil
dence the vFlaes of imported goods were
frequently raised and heavy penalties
were frequently imposed upon importers
who were never permitted TO know what
the evidence vas and who never had an
opportunity tC meet it
II is quite probable that this system
tended towards an increase az the
duties collected upon imported goods
but l conceive II 10 be q violation of
law TO exact more duties than the law
provides. just as il Is a violation to
admit goods upon the payment of less
than the legal rate of duty. This prac-
tice was repugnant to the spirit Of
American law and to American sense Of
justice. In the jugment Of the most
competent experts OF the Treasury De-
parJment and the Department of Com
merce and Labor il was wholly unnec-
essary for the due collection Of the cus-
toms revenues, and the attempt to de-
morallzation which naturally follows
from a long continued course OF re-
lience upon such methods.
l accordingly caused the regulations
governing A4lS DIdncn OF Inc customs
service TO be modified so that values
are determined upon 6 hearing in which
ali the parties interested have an op-
portunity to be heard aud to know the
evidence against them Moreover our
Treasury agents are accredited to The
government Of the country in which
thtv seek information. and IN Germany
receive the assistance OF the Quasi-of-
flcla4 chambers Of commerce in deter
mining the actual market value OF
goods. In accordance with what i am
advised 10 be the true construction of
the law.
THESE changes or regulations were
adapted 70 the removal Of such rnani-
they ought 20 be confined to our rela-
tons with Germany: and I have ex-
tended theil operation to all other
countries which have expressed a de-
sire TO enter into similar adniniztra-
tive relations.
Would Remit Chinese Indemnity.
I ask for authority to reform the
agreement with China under which the
indemnify Of 1890 was fixed bv re
mitting and Cancelling the obligaffor
of China FOR the payment OF All that
part OF the stipulated indemnity which
Is In excess OF the sum Of 81, SIS. 492. SO. and
interest at per cent. After the rescue
IF the foreign legations in Peliur dur
ms the BoNSr troubles in 1860 the. pow-
ers required rom China the payment
OF equitable indemnites TO the several
nations. and the final protocol under
which tbs troops were withdrawn
signed at Pekins, September Ts0i
h1sA the amount of this indemnity