Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-03


bears both specific and ad valorem
duties nj the same time. such n duty
being designated as compound" A
specific duty has no relation 10 value
and Ia not affected by n change in
the standard OF value, nor is the spe-
cihc portion Of n compound duty.
The opponents OF American vaiua-
ton. In their literature. assume TINT
all duties are ad valorem. They add
them all together indiscrirninatelv md
charge the sum total to America n
valuation. In cases In which specific
duties constitute the major portion oil
the duties involved. they give the to-
tails, refer only 10 the ad valorcn rate
and assert that the figures show the
results that viii follow the adoption
'of American valuation.
Quote 1920 Figures.
THE latest figures furnished By tho
tariff commission are for the year 192O
For that year imports subject to nd
valorem and compound duties com
prised but i2.40 per centum Of our
total imports and but 80 per centurn
OF dutiable imports, and yet scholarly
advocates OF foreign valuations sol.
emnly assert that American valuation
VIII reduce our imports by more than
one half
Foreign valuations literature some
times asserts that American valua-
ton will make higher tariff rates.
while 1t Is perfectly patent that II
will tend to make lower rates. The
some time, however. they have been
silent aa To rates and assert that
American valuation viii make higher
duties. The valuation being once de-
termned. in flying the rates the Con-
gross may az easily provide for lower
duties as for higher dutie~, az the Con-
gress may elect 10 realize lesser or
larger revenue or 10 give lower or
higher protection. To assert that
American valuation will make duties
higher or lower is TO indulge in a con-
fusion OF terms that is lnexcusable
In the serious discussion Of n public
question.
THE unanimity with w9lich i'm
porters are carrying on their present
campaign is beautiful. They are OF
one mind in complaining OF high dut-
les under the pending tariff bill. but
as If in prearrangement, none of them
challenges a single rate carried In the
bill. II is too clear for controversy
that the adoption Of a uniform val.
uation, although It be higher than anJ
former valuation. makes neither higf
duties nor low duties. II duties ar,
too high, the fault lies in the rate.
and in the rates alone. and yet import
ers stubbornly refrain from challeng
ing high duties at the one logica
point of attack. The inference Is ir
resistible that they have agreed amonl
themselves TO permit the Congress
to write all ad valorem rates. so lon,
as the Congress shall permit the i'm
porters TO control the valuations ol
which the duties are TO be calcu
lated.
Considering a tariff bill as a reve
nue. measures only, as a tax on i'm
ports in lieu of the manifold taxes
levied upon the domestic producer, NJ
one has yet suggested n reason VIII!
imported goods of equal quantities
equal qualities. and equal actual val
ues in American markets, shall no
be subject TO equal duties at our Gus
tom houses. I fancy, that no one cal
give a valid reason why the importe
who has wide margin between hi
cost in a foreign market and his sell
ing price in the American market
should pay but a fraction OF the Ia
levied by the same law upon the i'm
porter who has but narrow mar
gin between his foreign cost of tn
same commodities and their sellin
price in our markets. The burde
, rests upon the advocate of a law s
at variance with correct principles. I
, produce a substantial argument I
l sustain it. The advocates OF foreig
valuations have offered no argumen
| They have been content TO muddy tn
r water and make good their escape.
Equal Taxes on Equal Values.
= "As a democrat. 1 am content 10 has
my advocacy of American valuatio
9 upon the correct principle OF equs
taxes upon equal values; or. as W
4 love to express IL. equal and eXaC
! justice to all. and special privilege
10 none II I We're tempted to pla
favorites In legislation. as no demo
: crat ever really is, I would not b
: tariff taxes increase the natural hand
: cap OF countries paying higher wage
: by laying the heavier taxes on in
ports from those countries and lighte
! taxes on imports of equal value froi
I. countries paying lower wages.
:, "It is argued by advocates of foreig
valuations that we should make
easy for nations recently associate
a with us in war to pay thei, debts
a us in merchandise. 1t so happens this
:, our former associates who owe l
!, money are the nations paying tf
q higher wages. Tariff duties based q
Il foreign valuations. therefore. discrin
q mate against their goods at Amer
= can custom houses. and tend TO ST,
r our market for imports over who'll
to the low wage countries that wel
o not our associates and that owe I
g no money.
II IF | We're an advocate OF pr,
: tective tariff. | would find il difticu
o to be patient with those paragraph
is In the literature OF the advocates
d foreign valuations in which they pr
y test their undying allegiance 70 Il
l. protective principle in tariff legisl'
ton. They stoutly aver that tn,