Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-05-09
FEATURES OF THE
new TARIFF BILL

new TARIFF BILL
CONTINUED from page g.
per cent to 4 per cent, while broOms
are substantially reduced. being cut
from 40 per cent to 10 per cent Jew
elry has been but slightly reduced, fall
ing from 1914 per cent to go per cent.
A good illustra ton Of the attitude
adopted with respect to the application
OF the tariff is seen in the item. pre-
cious stones. uncut, which are given a
rate of 10 per cent, Notwithstanding
they were on the free list under the
act of 1909
Changes In Classification.
Few changes have been made in
classification. AID valorem rates. how
ever, have been substituted for specific
rates and for the complicated and cum
bersome compound rates of the Payne
law. This is particularly true Of the
textile schedules-cOttOn. flax, silk and
wool-in which the present classified
tons depend upon various conditions,
such as the count of the thread, the
condition of the yarns. the weight and
value of the fabric
The classifications by values Of ar.
ticles has been eliminated as far as
possible. 1t was found necessary in
! few instances. in order to place q
low rate of duty on common or
cheap article Of ordinary use, to make
the classification dependent upon the
value and place a higher rate upon the
more expensive article Of the same
character and description. This is true
in the paragraphs providing for CLUES
and gelatins, that providing for pocket
knives. blankets and for jewelry.
Customs Administrative Changes.
The customs administrative situation
has long been unsatisfactory under ex-
listing enactments and is regarded as
being of primary Importance, for the
reason that rates of duty in them.
selves are not conclusive until they
have been interpreted and applied to
actual importations through classical
ton and appraisement. The tariff act
of 1909 made considerable changes In
the previously existing system Of ad.
ministratiOn and abrOgated number
of useful notifications which had been
introduced into previous practice as
result Of the commercial agreements
negotiated during the second ROOse-
welt administration. 1t. however, fail
ed to substitute a more satisfactory
system of classification and appraise-
ment, and defective methods have con-
tinued to prevail ever since. How bad
the situation has been is indicated by
the recognition of enormous customs
frauds in the federal service. these be-
ing corrected only after lengthy de-
lay. in which tardy reparation was
made to the government for what 1t
had lost. That these frauds extended
almost throughout the whole range of
trades is a startling fact, to Which
witness has been borne not only by
the secretary Of the treasury. but by
many others whose official duties gave
them knowledge of the situation. Two
commissions appointed under the last
administration to examine into GUS
toms administration conditions have
detected great evils and have made
extensive recommendations for i'm
provement, none of which. however.
has been carried out, except the re-
moval Of two members of the board
Of appraisers at New York city.
That 1t is necessary to take steps to
strengthen the administrative features
Of the customs laws has been recog-
nized by the treasury department, and
two commissions have already been
appointed and have made reports in
this connection. The president Of the
United States appointed committee
to inquire into the practice of pro-
cedure and the administrative methods
of boards Of general appraisers The
secretary of the treasury appointed
an appraisement commission ito in
vestigate and report on both the prin-
ciples and practices of the appraising
work Of the government"
The reports of both Of these COM
mittees were before the ways and
means committee and were given care
full study. The provisions recon-
mended follow in large measure the
changes suggested in one or the other
of the reports referred to. These re-
ports were made by officials Of the
government charged with the cOllec.
ton Of the customs and represent the
views of persons of experience. To
their conclusions we have given much
weight.
Maximum and Minimum.
Paragraph Of this section takes
the place Of section 2 of the Payne
bill. which provides for minimum
and maximum tariff for the United
States. Section 2 is repealed. and Par.
agraph A reads as follows:
| That for the purpose Of readjusting the
| present duties on importations into the
| United States and at the same time to en-
courage the export trade of this country
| the president Of the United States Is au-
| thorized and empowered to negotiate trade
agreements with foreign nations wherein
| mutual concessions are made looking to-
ward freer trade relations and further re-
| cprocal expansion Of trade and COM
merce. provided however. that said trade
| agreements before becoming operative
| shall be submitted to the congress Of the
United States for ratification or rejection.
The minimum and maximum tariff
provisions adopted in the Payne bill
have not been productive of any eff.
fective expansion Of our foreign trade
and commerce The conventional tar
iff being the minimum rate and the
president being authorized to enforce