The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-05-06
MORE DEMOCRATIC INEFFICIENCY
Blundars OF That Party are Classical,
Yet PrOsaiCal.

Washington, May 4 I915.-One of the
classic blunders Of the present admins
tration is now before the Court of Gus
toms Appeals, and decision is looked
for at an early date.
The court is expected to interpret the
meaning of the provision in the Under
wood Tariff bill proposing to give five
per cent. discount in customs duties on
merchandise imported in American YES
sells. Thus far that clause has failed
In its purpose, just as the tariff measure
of which it is part failed to provide
acknowledgements.
Enacted October 10, 1913, it failed on
its first test, and that test applied, too,
by the then Attorney General less than
30 days after the bill was signed.
No sooner had the tariff bill been pre-
sented to the Secretary of the Treasury
for administration than doubt arose
in his mind,.as to the validity of the five
per cent. discount provision. He ap-
pealed for advice to Attorney General
McReynolds, who is now on the Supreme
| Court bench. The provision was pro-
nounced imperative.
The five per cent discount to Ameri-
can vessels cannot be given" is the
language of the Attorney General quot
ed by the Secretary, without impair
ing the stipulations of existing treaties
between the United States and various
other powers, and consequently the sub
section is imperative.
Acting on this opinion the Secretary
of the Treasury issued an order to Gus
toms collectors, instructing them to
make no allowance of discount on duties
under this provision.
Importers who had relied on the law
appealed to the Board of General Ap-
praisers. Their ruling resulted in fur
Their confusion, and neither side being
satisfied, the case was taken to the
Court of Customs Appeals, more than a
year after the law had passed.
The Democratic Committee report on
the five per cent provision defined it as
"a discrimination in favor of American
shipping, designed to build up our mer-
chant marine and keep at home mil
lions of dollars now being paid to for
eign vessels to carry our products to
foreign markets"
Yet although they fully realized the,
tremendous Importance of this measure
which they said involved millions of
dollars, they lacked the foresight to
consult their own Attorney General as
to the possibility of enacting it into
law. They had vague idea of what
they wanted, adopted vague method
OF trying to secure it, and by careless
guess work threw the whole matter
into the courts.
Furthermore, even if the principle of
discrimination had not been questioned
by the Attorney General the provision
was so clumsily drafted that three diff
ferent interpretations have been placed
upon it. Counsel for the importers
claimed one Interpretation. government
attorneys claimed another, and the
Board of General Appraisers furnish a
third different from all,
During the debate in Congress on this
provision, Republican members repeat
eddy warned the Democrats that, quite
apart from its policy, its phraseology
was meaningless and should be correct
ed to become effective.
1t was so much breath wasted. The
majority stubbornIy refused to accept
either caution, suggestion or amend
ment. The result has been that this
very important clause has thus far
proven.mere useless verbiage, except
to cause litigation and expense to all
concerned. About the only purpose it
has served is to emphasize the fact that
the inefficient methods of Democratic
legislators have made it impossible for
them to put even their own ideas into
effect.