New-York tribune., 1909-07-05
FOR CUSTOMS COURT.
Senate Finance Committee agrees to
Stand by Tariff ReUisiOn.

Washington. July Agreement to stand by the
section the tariff bill providing for the tabish-
ment Of a customs court originally reported.
was reached to-day by the Senate Committee on
Finance The provision has been singled out for
attack in the Senate
1t been charged by opponents of new
court that its personnel has been agreed al
ready. This was denied to-day by Senator Adrich,
chairman OF the committee who added that he
knew President Taft would select the best men
who could be found fill these places if the
court created.
The charge that the creation Of the court would
be a reflection the judiciary which has heard
customs cases in the past also denied to-day
by Mr.. Aldrich In regard to these criticisms Mr.
Aldrich said that customs inevitably raise
questions OF a technical character and that they
should be tried before men who possessed a full
knowledge of the tariff laws and the methods re-
sorted to for the evasion OF these laws
President Taft is in sympathy with the effort TO
establish court competent to deal with all phases
of customs litigation, according TO Mr. Aldrich.
The latter said that the chief objection to the
establishment OF the court came from attorneys
who received about 81 100000 a year in New York
City alone because Of court rulings inconsistent
with the intent OF the tariff law. All honest i'm
porters and all other persons who desired to have
the tarif law impartially applied. said Mr. Aldrch,
favored the establishment Of the court
Complicated problems connected with ascertain
ing values of foreign goods imported the United
States when there is market in the place OF
manufacture by which the values may be deter
mined were considered at tO-day's meeting. AS a
result amendments Will De offered 10 Section II Of
the tariff bill relating this subject
AS originally reported. provision for tn =
fixing OF values the basis OF the recognized mar
ket prices in the United States. Two classes OF
importatiOns were taken into considerat tion-gocds
sent to this country consignment and goods sold
outright to the American importer. In the past
complaint has been made that foreign goods were
brought into unfair competition with American
manufactures through the process of undervalua-
ton II OF the tariff bill is designed to pre-
vent differentiation.
In fixing the valuation OF such imports the Sen
ate amendment provides that the wholesale price Of
similar goods in the markets of the United States
should be assumed TO be the value OF the foreign
goods after allowances had been made for the cost
OF transportation and insurance. and. in the case
OF consigned goods, a commission to exceed 8
per cent for handling Importers who buy their
goods outright protested that the commission gave
an advantage to concerns which handled consigned
goods The complaint Of the importers was weighed
by the committee to-day and their contention ad-
mtted. The amendments agreed will give 10
the purchasing importer a deduction equal 10 the
commission allowed 70 the consignee, to cover the
actual expenses connected with making the pur-
chase
The committee viii also recommend that the
drawback feature the DtngIey law be re-enacted.
When the tariff bill reported the committee
had struck out the drawback provision adopt
ed by the House. but nothing offered in its
place. The House provision eliminated the idenJ-
fcation clause OF the drawback While the Senate
committee realizes that the drawback provision OF
the DingIey law has worked satisfactorily It
has not been able work anything on
which all members could agree. II thN Senate ac-
cepts the Dngley provision effort will be made
in conference harmonic Il with the feature
adopted by the House.
No definite agreement was reached as to the to-
bacco paragraph, but it is the consensus or opinion
that the war tax viii not be restored. but that a
provision will be inserted compelling fun weight
packages. The tobacco question viii be definitely )
decided at another meeting on Tuesday.