The Washington times., 1909-03-17

rom any country which gives Ine Cnit-
ed States as good terms by way Of tar1l
as that given to any other nation, and
she maximum rates are applied 70 those
countries which discriminate against the
trade of the United states or fail 10
give the United States tariff rates as
favorable as those given any other ma
uon. This section is self-actlng, max
ing it the duty Of the executive to col
maximum. in accordance with the terms
of the bill, leaving it open to the courts
70 decide upon the legality Of the &C
ton.
Revenue a Question.
One problem that confronted the COM
mttee was the question OF revenue.
The business of all commercial nations
has been depressed for nearly two years,
and thus has affected our commerce and
greatly reduced our revenues, so that
We have a large deficit, but the rev.
enues under the present law are i'm
proving from month to month, as bust
ness conditions are becoming better
The last normal year Of imports was
: the fiscal year ended June 80, 1906; 1907
was an unusually prosperous year, and
the revenues from customs exceeded
those OF 1906 by $50. 900. The COM
mittee have therefore taken the year
1906 as the basis to form their estimate
of the revenue-prOducing qualities or
The new bill.
Should the next fiscal year prove
prosperous and the normal conditions
OF 1906 return, on account of the large
increase in population. the revenues Tor
1910 would show a considerable increase
over the estimates OF the committee.
Deficit to Be Wiped Out.
With a return to anything like nor
NAL conditions during the next fiscal
year, it is safe to predict that the
deficit would be entirely wiped out; but
In case II is not, the bill provides for
The issue of Panama Canal bonds to
reimburse the Treasury for the $4,000
coo paid out in the original purchase of
the canal This would more than
make up any probable deficiency.
There is also re-euaCted the provision
for the issue of certificates to run one
year TO renlenish the Treasury, raising
the amount from Sl0o 100000 TO S2S9,ooO'-
600, an amount sufficient TO provide at
any time against two or three years OF
depressed business conditions.
Method of Valuation.
The bill adds new paragraph to sec
ton II of the customs administrative
act, which provides for the abpraise
ment of goods imported by consignment
and not by sale where there is no mar
ket price at the place Of the origin OF
the goods After re-enacting the present
provisions to ascertain the value the bill
adds this paragraph:
The actual market value or whole
sale price, as defined by law, of any
imported merchandise which is con-
signed for sale in the United States or
which is not actually sold and freely
offered for sale in usual wholesale
quantities in the open market of the
country of expectation to all purchas-
ers, shall not in any case be appraised
at less than the wholesale price at
which such or similar imported mer-
chandise IS actually sold and freely Of
fered for sale in usual wholesale guam
titles IN the United states in the open
market to all purchasers, due allow
ance by deduction being made for esti-
mated duties thereon, cost Of transpor-
tation, insurance and other necessary
expenses from the place of shipment to
the place Of delivery, and reasonable
commission not exceeding 10 per cen
tum, II any Of the same has been paid"
IL VIII be seen that this provision is
only applied to consigned goods, and
not TO those actually sold for importa-
ton.
Philippine Importations.
The bill provides for reciprocal free
trade with the PHILIPPINE Islands on
all articles, but limiting the sugar 10
be imported free of duty TO 5000 tons;
wrapper tobacco to 10000 pounds, and
100000 pounds of filler tobacco, and
I50.O0O,0oJ cigars in any one fiscal year.
cigars to paw full tariff rates This eX-
emption from duty is confined 10 the
growth or products OF the Islands, now
ever, and does not admit articles I'M
ported into the Philippine Islands from
a foreign country without payment Of
|, fun rates Of duty on such importatons-
Patents
A section is added applying the same
rules to patents Obtained in the United
States by aliens iiat are adopted by
the country OF which these aliens are
citizens in respect 10 patents issued
there to citizens of the United States.
This will either compel foreigners OBJ
tanning patents IN the United States to
build factories and manufacture here
for our trade or eventually forfeit the
right TO their patents.
Cuban Reciprocity.
A section is inserted, preserving the
Cuban reciprocity provisions Of the pres
ent law.
Foreign Trade Agreements.
Provision Is made to terminate the
various commercial agreements with
foreign countries. according to the
terms OF. said agreements, by notice, ana
IN the meantime keeping faith in those
agreements. The provisions OF section
4. applying the minimum and maximum
rates, viii take the place OF these Sec
L0DEs
Customs Revenue
The estimated revenue under the tar
III duties prescribed in the bill amount
10 about S300OOO,OO0.
Internal Revenue.
The bill provides for a tax OF. trans
fers Of property, both real and personal.
by inheritance or succession. and by
will. It is believed that this provision.
when in full operation. will bring In
revenue Of S20.OOO.0O0, although no &C
curate estimates can be made
The tax on cigarettes is increased,
> those weighing over three pounds per
thousand, from $500 TO $3.50, and those
weighing less, from 800 to $50.
New Language.
The committee has examined thor
oughly all the decisions Of the courts
ard Of the general appraisers for the
last fifteen years interpreting the mean
ing of the language of the tariff laws.
and has framed the language OF the