The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-01
MAXIMUM RATES REPORTED
SENATE COMMITTEES AMEND
MENTS no TARIFF BILL.
1t Fixes the Maximum Rates at 2B Per
Cent. at Vaiorem In Addition TO the
Minimum Rates-Amentimen Also
Provide for Customs Court Of Appeals.

"Dh" o'
to take the place OF part Of the admins
trative features of tho House tariff bill
were reported to the Senate to-day from
the Committee on Finance by Senator
Aldrich, the committees chairman. The
amendments we're adopted at a meeting
OF the committee held this morning. at
which the Democratic members we're
present. No opposition was made by
the Democratic committeeman. although
It Is expected that they will make a fight
on the floor against one provision which
fixes the maximum or punitive tariff rates
at IS per cent. ad valo-em in addition to
the minimum rates to be prescribed in the
forthcoming law.
In the tariff bill prepared by the House
the maximum rates of duty to be made
applicable to the products of countries
which discriminate against the products
Of the United States are OF various per-
centages. On some products the rates
prescribed in the Dingley law are to be
levied as maximum rates; upon other
products the maximum duties are to be
the minimum duties plus Is per 9 n OF
those minimum duties, and Upon other
products the maximum rates are to be the
minimum duties plus 20 per cent. of those
duties. In most cases in the House bill
the maximum or punitive rate is an addi-
tional 20 per cent of the minimum rate.
The Senate Committee. however, has
providedtthat'the maximum rate shall be
rs per cent. in all cases, except those on
coffee and tea. of the value Of the article
upon which the maximum rate is assessed
plus the minimum rate. Thus if an
article valued at 81 and assessed at 10 per
cent. ad valorem. or 10 cents under the
minimum schedule. has the maximum rate
applied to it the maximum duty would be
10 per cent. plus rs per cent. equalling IS
cents, or rs cents more than the minimum
rate.
Should the Senate provision be adopted
the maximum rates would be greatly
in excess Of the maximum rates provided
for in the House bill. An article valued
at 81 and assessed under the minimum
tariff at 10 per cent. ad valorem, or 10
cents, would under the maximum or punt
tive tariff of the House be obliged to pay
an additional duty Of only 20 per cent.
Of the minimum duty. which in this case
would be 2 cents. making the total maxi
mum duty IL cents, as against IS cents
provided for in the Senate amendment.
The Democrats will probably attack the
Senate provision o. the ground that 1t
paves the way for the imposition Of pro-
hibitive tariff duties.
The President is authorized to assess the
ma ximum rates on the products of coun-
tries which -unduly discriminate" against
the products of the United States. From
the date the new tariff law will take effect
until March 81. 1910. the maximum rates
will be applied to the products OF all
countries. but after that date the Presi-
dent may apply the maximum rates to
any country which comes within the cate
cory of having unduly Disseminated
against American products,
To assist the President in securing in
formation to- enable himtto determine
whether the maximum rates shall be i'm
posed against any country and to inform
Congress on the subject Of the tariff the
President is authorized to employ persons
to make Investigations relating to the
trade of the United States with foreign
countries. For the purposes Of the max
imum or punitive tariff coffee and tea.
which are on the free list in the minimum
schedules, will be assessed at five cents
a pound n 10 cents n pound respectively
when the maximum rates are applied.
There is no intention Of using this adj
ditional tax on coffee as a club to compel
Brazil to take her duty off that product.
although it is realized that n duty on
coffee may be useful in obtaining con-
cessions from Brazil. The duty on tea,
it is c%ontended, will serve a useful purpose
in preventing Oriental countries from
discriminating against the products of
the United States.
The amendment ~embodying tho maxi
mum provisions of the tariff bill was sub
to the Senate shortly after that
body met to-day. Late this afternoon
just before the Senate adjourned the
offered as substitutes for
part Of the administrative features of
the House bill worc laid before tho
amendments arc intended partly to
gtren the administrative fe,tures
Of the present tariff law in such u way
tho present loss of revenue from
gross differentiation may be minimizei.
One provision directs that where an
article dutiable in the United States at
an ad valorem rate is sold abroad in the
open market or it's wholesale price abroad
Is known the ad valorem rate Of duty on
chat product shall be assessed on its
wholesale price abroad. When an
made dutiable at an ad valorem
rate under the American tariff Is not sold
In the open market OIL its wholesale price
cannot I've readily ascertained
tn aed valorem assessment will be made
the basis Of it's wholesale prioe in the
United States.
One of the amendments provides for
the present General Board
Of Appraisers in New York. nine in num-
Der, at the present salary Of 1900 each.
but it provides in addition that a court
Of customs appeals shall be created. to
OF a presiding judge and four asso-
judges to be appointed by the Presi-
dent by and with the consent of the Senate,
each Of whom shall receive a salary of
BIC, 900 a year. The court is to hold its
in Boston, New York. Philadel-
phia, Baltimore. New Orleans, Galveston,
Portland and San Francisco
in such other places as it may
designate. The clerk of the court, who
Is to receive a salary Of $4,000 a year. is
10 have an Office In New York snd the
is to be open for the transaction Of
business in New York in ninety days after