The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-20
WANTS
CUSTOMS COURT
Chairman of Senate Finance Com
mittee Says Payne Bill Will Raise
Needed Revenues.

WASHINGTON, April l9.-In open
ing the tariff debate In the senate to-
day. Senator Nelson w. Aldrich, chair
man OF the finance committee. ex-
pressed the utmost confidence that the
schedules OF the Pane tarin Dill. as
amended by the senate committee,
would raise all the revenues needed
for public expenses Oh lioerai scale.
lie declared that the expenses or
the government could be considerably
reduced. and pleaded that tao new
measure be given = trial before any
resort be had 10 specia, taxation such
as that on incomes. inheritances.
checks, kilograms. etc.
With regard TO his belief that ex'
penditures can be cut down from the
unprecedented extravaganza II last
year. Aldrich said:
From an investigation, more or
less superficial. | am myself satisfied
that the appropriations made last
year could have been reduced e. least
CSC 900. 900 without impairing The eff;
iciency OF the public service. There
are periods in the life of nation
when the spirit OF extravaganza per
vades the atmosphere and the public
money Is scattered right and left.
often without reference 10 the results
to be secured. | hope and expect TO
see radical reform in this direction.
VIC have. within the past few years.
created many unnecessary bureaus
and multiplied employees heyood In
possibility OF efficient work.
NO one committee or official has
been charged with the duty OF at
tempting 10 coordinate expenditures
with revenues. and extravagant and
unwise appropriations have been made
without relation 10 the economical
administration OF the government.
III this work OF necessary reduction
in expenditures and In reform IN
methods OF appropriation to With the
senate is pledged am authorized 10
say that We will have the earn st sup
port and active cooperation Of the
president and the administration"
For the purpose OF ascertaining the
relative revenue producing Qualities
OF the senate bill and the act OF 1897.
Aldrich said, the committee applied
the rates OF the senate bill TO the i'm.
portations OF 1907 u show the reve-
nue. that would have been deriye.
upon the importations made in 1907
If the senate bill had been in force
during that year.
I'VE have selected the year 1907
for the comparison" he said, "as this
was the last year in which the finances
-afru- BUSINESS or the Country We're IN a
normal condition.
The statement shows that II the
senate bill had been In force In 1907
the customs revenue produced by 1t
would have been $4,000 900 greater
than those collected under the Ding
ley act. the totals being $332.a00, 900
under the act OF 1897. and $340, 000, 900
under the senate bill.
This increase OF revenue is due to
advance in rates on a few articles Of
luxury, such as wine, spirits. etc. 1t
IS also due to the substitution made
in the bill, in all cases where e wcs
possible, OF specific for ad valorem
duties This will prevent nndervalua-
ton and consequently increase reve-
nues. This increase will be more
marked in the silk schedule than
elsewhere.
The changes which We propose to
make In the administrative act in
clude % new definitions OF Gutiable
value, and new methods in proper
ascertainment: (2) more efficient col
lection machinery. and GO c provision
for the creation OF a customs court TO
insure the uniformity Of decisions ia
customs cases. The provisions sug-
gested will. In the opinion of the COM
mittee. result in the collectio OF =
certain percentage more revenue In
the importation OF the same articles
than was collected under the act Of
1897.
In making this estimate, Aldrich
said that he had assumed that canal
bonds" coulf be sold from time 20
time. to reimburse the treasury and
that they were now available for that
purpose. Further legislation would.
however, be necessary to secure that
result.
The comptroller of the treasury"
he recalled. has held that 100000. 900
OF the amount paid is not reimburs-
able under the provisions Of existing
law This lack OF authority will un-
doubtedly be remedied by a proper
amendment