New Ulm review., 1913-04-16
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chanass In Classification

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Changes IN Classification.
Few changes have been made In
classification. Ad yalorem 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. dax. silk and
wool-in which the present classifca-
tions depend upon various conditions,
such % the coant sf the thread. the
condition Of the yarns. the weight and
value of the fabric.
The classiicatiens BY values Of ar.
tieles has been eliminated as far as
possible. It was found necessary in
a few instances, In order to place a
low rate Of duty on common or
.chesp article of ordinary use, to make
the classification dependent upon the
value ana place q nlgner 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 e1-
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 classifica-
tion and appraisement. The tariff act
Of 1909 made considerable changes in
the previously existing system Of ad-
,ninistration and Qbrogated number
6f useful notifications which had been
introduced into previous practice as a
result of the commercial agreements
negotiated during the second ROose-
welt administration. It, however, fail
ed to substitute 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 10y
the recognition of enormous customs
frauds in the federal service, these be-
ing corrected only after lengthy de-
lay, in which tardy rcparation 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 whosc-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 it 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 a 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 a 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-
tion Of the customs and represent the
views Of persons Of experience. To
weight
Maximum and Minimum.
Paragraph A Of this section takes
the place of section 2 of the Payne
bill. which provides tpr l. minimum
and maximum tariR for the United
States. Section 2 Is repealed, and Par
axraph A reads ~ 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 tho United States Is au-
fhorized and empowered to negotiate trade
agreements with foreign nations wherein
mutual concessions are made looking to-
- V,eov frada relations and further re-