The Washington herald., 1921-03-21
WILL HEAR PLAN
TO BASE TARIFF
!. ON U. 5. VALUES
House Ways and Means
Body to Hold Session
Today.

While awaiting q decision as to
the order Of tax and tariff revision
Republican members Of the Ways
and Means Committee will meet to-
day to give further consideration to
the bill providing for American val
uation Of imports to eliminate the
foreign exchange factor entering
into the present basis of foreign
valuation.
Experts who have been working
on Q draft Of q bill may have 1t
ready for approval at today's meet
ing.
Howard Drafts Bill.
A tentative draft of a bill pre-
sented for consideration by Henry
Howard. chairman of the executive
committee of the manufacturing
chemists association, which strongly
favors the proposed change In basis
Of valuation. provides for applica-
tion of the scheme as follows:
That whenever imported mer-
chandise Is subject to an ad valorem
rate of duty, OF to duty based
upon or regulated in any manner
by the value thereof. the duty shall
be assessed upon the actual market
value or wholesale price thereof, at
the time of expectation to the
United States. in the principal mar
kets of the United States; that such
actual market value shall be held
to be the price at which such mer-
chandise is freely offered for sale
to all purchasers in said markets.
In the usual wholesale quantities..
Base value on U. s. Cost.
This draft provides that II the ap-
uraisinx officer cannot ascertain TO
his satisfaction the actual market
value, he shall use. all available
means in his power to ascertain the
cost Of production Of such merchan-
disc at the time Of expectation TO
the United States and in the United
States, such cost of production 70
include the cost of materials and OF
fabrication, and all general ex-
penses to be estimated at not less
than 10 per cent, covering each ana
every outlay of whatsoever nature
incident to such production, to-
gether with the expense OF prepar-
ing and putting up such mercnan-
disc ready for shipment, and an
addition of not less than eight, nor
more than nifty per cent upon the
total cost as thus ascertained; and
in no case shall such merchandise
be Appraised upon original appraisal
or reappraisement at less than the
total cost of production as thus as
certained."
The Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee already
have determined that instead OF
providing for appraisal Of value
either on the date of'exportation as
provided in this tentative draft or
on the date of entry at an Ameri-
can port as advocated by some, mar
ket values shall be determined
twice a year by the appraisers.
Commerce Heads to Argue Issue.
Consideration of recommendation
for general policies to cover tariff
legislation will be taken up by a
special committee of the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States
at a meeting in Chicago today.
This special tariff committee.
which is headed by Harry A
Wheeler. of Chicago. will endeavor
TO agree upon a statement of policy
with relation to the manner in
which the new tariff laws should be
adjusted to meet international con-
ditions.
Inasmuch as the Chamber of
Commerce represents diversified in
terests. including both manufactu-
rers who are not interested in ex-
port trade but are chiefly desirous
of shutting out competitive products
from other countries and those who
are most anxious to extend their
export trade. a solution of the prob
lem will require an adjustment of
views which will be acceptable to
all claimants