Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-08-07
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. !
Washington, Aug. Z.


Washington, Aug. Z.
Despite sill OF the efforts OF Congress
TO eliminate the 'jOktr" in the leather
schedule the administrative officers have
discovered that part Of it yet RENAME.
10 consequence it has become neces
sary for the Treasury Department to an
nounce its purpose to cOnstrue the Law
ia accordance with the 'manifest inlen-
ton" OF Congress, rather than its ex-
act language. The hide and leather
schedule was amended by the passage OF
concurrent resolution reducing the
rates on manufactures of leather so
as to compensate for the placing of hides
% the free list. The last part of the
paragraph, number $50, reads; "Thal
harness, saddles and saddlery, 10 sets or
in parts, finished or unfinished, COM
posed wholly or iu chief value of leather,
shall pay a duty of 20 per cent ad valo-
rem." That represented a reduction of
As per cent 10 the existing law, from 40
per cent 10 the bill IS 1t passed the Sen
ate, and from S5 per cent as 1t originally
passed the House.
But paragraph 46l in the bill as II
finally became law seems to have been
entirely overlooked. There 1t is pro.
vided that: "Harness, saddles, saddlery,
10 sets or in parts, finished or uDfinish-
ed'' shall play a duty Of 80 per cent ad
yalOrem. The question has already
risen as to which rate shall apply. Ordi-
narily In such cases 1t has been the
practice of the Treasury Department to
accept the language of the higher num-
bered paragraph as representing the
later action OF Congress. But in this in
stance the department has determined
that II was the manifest intention"
OF Congress to impose the lower rate Of
20 per cent on harness, etc, when made
principally OF leather and decision to
that effect has been rendered.
No action Whatever has as yet been
taken, according to Secretary OF the
Treasury McVeagb, towards the lorna.
ton of the board of tariff experts which
is to collect information to assist the
president in putting into effect the max
imum and minimum provisions of the
new tariff law. "Not even the presi-
dent has yet begun guessing as to whom
be will appoint to do this work." said
he, referring smiliugly to the sugges-
lions that have appeared In the news.
papers as TO the probable sppointees. 1t
is expected, however, that speedy de-
termination will be made in this matter
That part of the law will go into effect
on April 1st of next year and In the
meantime there will be great deal OF
work to be done. 1t is probable that
the board will visit Europe.
Gen. AinswOrtb, adjutant general OF
the army issued detailed history today
of the operations of an imposter calling
himself Harry King, and claiming to be
an officer Of the army, who is supposed
to be the person giving that name who
is now under arrest at San Francisco.
The impostor began his operations as
long ago as September, 1905, at Mt.
Carbon, w. Va, where he left behind
various hotel and lodging bills. Kings
latest operations we're in California and
on the Pacific coast as far north as AL.
berla.
Secretary of the Treasury McVeagh
said today that 1t was by no means GER
tain that any of the certificates Of in
debtedness authorized by the new tariff
law would be issued this year. Ii the
condition of the treasury became such
hat additional cash was necessary above
that raised from the usual SOURCES of
revenue, of course, he said, the depart.
ment would avail itself of the authority
conferred. But whether necessity would
arise he was unable to predict, as it
would largely depend upon the practical
workings OF the new tariff schedules
and internal revenue regulations end the
amount Of revenue 10 be derived therfrOm.
10 view of the fact, however, that the
secretary hss announced that it is not
the purpose to issue any of the Panama
bonds authorized by the tariff act to be
issued at a higher rate than two per
cent, until some additional legislation
has been enacted to equslize them with
the outstanding Panama bonds which
only pay two per cent, 1t follows that
the current expenses of the construction
OF the canal will have to be paid out of
the general revenues OF the treasury.
For this reason it is expected that the
treasury will fad it necessary within The
next two months or 80 to issue the short
term certificates to an amount necessary
to reimburse the cash account for this
extraordinary expense. When this
time will arrive is, Of course, uncertain.
The secretary OF state telegraphed
the governor of California today request
ing him to take all necessary acton to
secure adequate protection for Greek
subjects reported to have been arrested
and PIT in jail without sufficient reason,
at Lincoln, Calf.