Las Vegas optic., 1914-10-30
SHIPPERS MUST
TELL CORRECT
PRICES
LAW INTENDED TO PROTECT
AMERICAN IMPORTERS GOES
INTO EFFECT


New York, oct beginning to.
morrow a new import regulation,
compelling foreign shippers to show
when, where and from whom goods
were bought, will be in effect De-
spite many protests from business or
ganizations. the treasury department
has decreed that President Wilson'S
executive order establishing the new
regulation must be carried out.
The portion of the law which has
formed the basis Of a long.drawn out
relates to the declaration
to be filed by the shipper abroad at
the time of shipment, which informa-
ton the government desires to estab-
lish true market values
The American Importers associa-
ton appointed committee to take UP
the matter with Secretary McAdoo,
and secured a postponement last
spring, until the treasury officials had
weighed the complaints. The German
American Chamber of Commerce also
put itself on record at that time as
opposed to the application of the new
rule.
Importers here declare that during
the present stress Of business cond
tions, the government should do all in
its power to aid merchants in getting
goods over here, and it is their belief
that the new ruling will affect the i'm
ports
In behalf of the government, off
oials of the treasury department con
tend that it is high time more infor-
nation is vouchsafed by shippers and
importers regarding the prices cir
cumstances of sale and character Of
goods than has been the case hereto
fore. In addition to this, it is pointed
out that the department OF commerce
requires some of these data in order
tc make its statistics more reliable
and accurate. All this is authorized
under the new law and must be fur
nished beginning tomorrow if invoices
are to be passed by the customs Of
fers at the different ports.
On the other hand, ex-Judge Shar-
retts, counsel for the importers, main
tsins that many Of the constructions
Iplaced on the law by the executive
tconsular regulations are erroneous
--,-----i--5 So sirssttol yesterday, lie
said:
ITO force consignment houses doing
a legitimate business to publish the
name and address of every firm, large
and small, in the United States to
whom they have sold or agreed to sell
imported merchandise, together with
the widely-varying prices charged
therefor dependent on the cost Of
transportation size and character Of
the purchasing firm, the quantity OF
goods, intended length of credit de-
manded. amount of duty paid the gov
ernment, and the expense incurred in
taking conditional orders, could be Of
no possible benefit to the government
even for statistical purposes.
| On the other hand, othe information
contained in the invoice and entry,
and which is usually guarded by bus
mess houses as a trade secret, would,
despite every precaution, become
known to competing importers or do
mestic manufacturers, amended at
least in the temporary discontinuance
OF such importantions. If the govern
ment enforces the regulations as they
stand it will result in trade demorali-
zation that will postpone indefinitely
the era Of prosperity we have been
told is at hand'
| It Is said among the importers that
they will test the legality of the new
regulations in the courts. On the 9th
or hand, the domestic manufacturers
are said to be unit for the new law,
which they claim was promulgated to
protect home industries from unfair
competition through the undervalua-
tion of foreign-made goods as they
come through the custom houses.
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