Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08
COLLECTORS GET ORDERS
TREASURY DEPARTMENT BUSY
WITH NEW TARIFF ACT.
Thousands of Inquiries Are Elk
pected-Delay in Collecting
Corporation Tax.

Letters of instruction were forwarded
yesterday by the Treasury Department to
collectors of customs containing regula-
tions for their guidance in the admins
tration Of the Payne tariff act. Official
copies of the law already had been sent
to the collectors.
1t is expected that by Monday or Tues
day Of the week practically every col
lector at the large ports will become an
animated Interrogation point respecting
various phases of the new law. Scores
of questions as to its administration will
arise naturally, and a good many. per-
haps, unnaturally. 1t was in anticipa-
tion Of these inquiries that the circular
letters of instruction were prepared by
Treasury officials.
Special attention is paid in the instruc-
ton. to imports from the Philippines,
which are provided for i'm the Philippine
tariff law. Collectors have been instruct
ed to admit all articles from those islands
free Of duty. except rice. until further
notice. Collectors are required, however,
to report to the Treasury Department,
without delay, all entries of sugar, to-
bacce and cigars, SO that a precise tab
may be kept on such importations.
A perfect check Is required by the
law to be maintained on these articles,
as their importation from the Philippines
is limited by fhe terms of the law. Col
lectors in the Philippines will report to
the Treasury the amount Of such articles
shipped to the United States. and. in
turn. the Treasury will check the amounts
received in this country.
Philippine Sugar.
The law limits the free entry into this
country from the Philippines of sugar
to 100000 tons a year, filler tobacco to
1,OOO, 600 pounds year, wrapper tobacco
to 100000 pounds year and cigars to
15O, O,OOO.O 900 a year. 1t Is not expected by
Treasury officials that the amounts will
be exceeded for a long time. perhaps
several years.
The letter of instruction to collectors.
except as to that portion which relates
to imports from the Philippines. is prac-
tically Identical with previous instruc-
tions. differing only in references to par
agraphs of the law. Except as express
ly provided, the customs regulations of
1908 now in force are extended to the
importation and entry on merchandise
unde.- the new law.
The acting commissioner of internal
revenue has prepared a circular letter
| to revenue collectors respecting the re-
moyal, under certain conditions. of the
tax ON leaf tobacco. No change will
take place III the tax on cigars until
July /, 1910. and instructions respecting
IT will rot be issued until shortly before
that time.
Will Wait Until September.
Collection Of the tax on corporations
IL lodged with the commissioner OF In
ternal revende Until the recently ap-
pointed commissioner. Royal E. Cabeli,
of Richmond. Va, shall assume the du-
ties of his office about September 1. lit
tie. II anything. will be done In prepa-
ration for the work. A division Of ex-
perts will be organized. and these ON
eiais MI prepare the instructions to the
collectors and agents. probably late in
the approaching, autumn.
The law requires that the corporations
shal, make their returns to the bureau
by January l, 1910 From these re.
turns tire assessments of the tax will
be made. and the collection Of the tax
will begin july next