Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-31

ana malhs
A reduction from 20 cents to Is cents IS
made in hydraulic hose. oil cloth. includ-
ing linoleum. was reduced about one
third.
There was practically no change in the
wool schedule from the rates Of the
Dingley law. but there was a readjust<
ment between tops and yarns and a small
decrease on cloths with a cotton warp.
Mechanically ground wood pulp was ex-
empted from duty and placed on the free
list, with a provision for a countervalling
duty against Canada. The lower grade Of
printing paper was reduced from So to 1915
per ton and the higher grade from s. to
1916. There is an increase on surface
coated paper and photographic prints, in
Guiding post cards and cigar labels.
Bituminous coal goes down from e. cents
70 a cents per ton. and there are reduc-
tons on gun powder. matches and cart
ridges. Agricultural implements are cut
from 20 to Is per cent ad valorem.
Hides were placed on the free list. while
the rate on band and sole leather is re-
duced from 20 per cent to 8 per cent ad
valorem: on dressed leather from 20 per
cent to 10 per cent; boots and shoes from
% per cent to 10 per cent.
Fireworks are increased from 20 per cent
ad valorem to % cents per pound; wearing
apparel made of fur from 80 TO 20 per cent
and the higher class of jewelry from 50
per cent to So per cent ad valorem; pencil
lead is given specific rates instead of ad
valorem rates with a slight increase. For
the first time moving picture films are
named specifically in a tariff law. The bill
gives them a positive rate Of III cents per
foot.
Petroleum, crude and refined, including
kerosene, gasoline, naptha, benzine and
similar petroleum products are made free
Of duty and are left even without a
CUuntervuiling duty
The Dingley rates on women's and child
ren's gloves are allowed to stand. The only
change is a reduction on Schmaschen"
gloves not over fourteen inches in length
on which the rate is made SIPS a dozen
pairs instead of $1.75.
Administrative Features of Bill.
Practically all the administrative fea.
lures Of the bill which were adopted in the
senate were accepted by the conferees.
They include a new maximum and mini
mum feature, a corporation tax law in
stead Of the inheritance tax adopted by
the house, authorization for a bond issue
to raise money to bulld the Panama canal,
as well as numerous other features.
The maximum and minimum provision
prescrlbes duties in accordance with the
rates named in the dutiable list until March
81, 1910, when Is per cent ad valorem is to
be added automatically as the maximum
duty. The president is authorized to apply
the minimum rates, however, to imports
from a country which gives its best rates
to the products of the United States, and is
made the judge as to whether a foreign
country accords to the United States treat
ment which is reciprocal and equivalent.
When he finds that this condition exists
he is to issue a proclamation putting in eff
feet the minimum rates. and until the time
of the proclamation the maximum rates
will apply.
The president is empowered to employ
such persons as may be required to secure
information to assist the president in the
discharge of the duties imposed upon him
and information which will be useful to
the officers Of the government in the ad-
ministration of the customs laws. The
reciprocity treaty with Cuba is not af-
fected by the maximum and minimum
provision.
The president is empowered also to
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can be maintained by diplomatic action.
1t is made his duty to give ten days
notice after the bill becomes a law OF his
intention to bring those treaties to al end.
All other treaties which contain no stipula-
tion in regard to their termination by
diplomatic action shall be abrogated by a
notice of six months from the president to
those countries, the notice dating from
April 30, 1909, in which date Secretary Knox
notified foreign governments that the
United States would soon ask them to en-
ter into new tariff relations.
Free Philippines.
The Philippine free trade provision was
considerably elaborated by the senate;
provides for the free importation OF all
articles the growth, or product OF, or
manufactured in the Philippine islands
from material the growth or product Of
the Philippine islands or the United States
or both of which do not contain foreign
materials to the value of more than 20 per
cent of their total value" Rice is the only
exception TO the free provisions, but re-
strictions are placed upon sugar and
tobacco. The free importation of sugar is
limited to 300, 900 tons . year. on wrapper
and filler tobacco when mixed the annual
Limitation is 300, 900 pounds; on filler
tobacco, l,0jJ,0c0 pounds and on cigars $780,
900, 200.
A provision is included in the bill which
levies on all articles upon which any
foreign country pays a bounty or grant
upon its expectation, an additional duty
equal to the amount of such bounty.
1t is required that all imported articles
capable of being marked without impair
ment Of their value shall be stamped with
the name of the manufacturer and the
country Of origin.
A very elaborate provision for the ad-
ministration of the customs laws was
adopted by the conferees. It is practically
the same as that adopted by the senate.
II is intended to prevent undervaluaton
Of articles on which there is no foreign
market by which true values may be as
certained.
Customs Court Established.
Provision Is made for the establishment
Of a customs court of appeals, with head
quarters in Washington. 1t will comprise
a presiding judge and four associate
judges, at salaries Of $40. 900 a year. There
are to be appointed to conduct government
cases before this court a special assistant
attorney general at $4,000, a deputy assist
ant attorney general at $500 and four at
tornays AT e. on each