The Washington times., 1929-08-20
SEEN
ON VALUE
SYSTEM
~ international News Service
The Presidents far ,reachin,

~ international News Service
The Presidents far reaching
Apower to revise tariff rates
under the flexible tariff pro-
vision and the time-worn prac-.
tice Of assessing rates against
the foreign valuation of i'm
ported articles viii be retained
in the new $7OO, 100000 tariff
bill by the Republican men,
bership of the Senate Finance
Committee, it was indicated
today.
) A majority of the committee Re-
publicans apparently favored the
flexible provision. although the new
plan, approved by the House prob
ably, win be modified. There ap
peared some disposition to change
the House provision, giving the
President authority to transfer the
application of rates from the foreign
valuation to the American valuation
of imported articles. This particu-
lar feature of the House bill has been
attacked as unconstitutional and a
delegation of Congressional powers.
No Delay Expected
% The question OF valuations prob
ably will be settled without much de-
lay. Senator Reed t7) of Pennsyl-
Wania. has sponsored plan to adOpt
IL United States valuation" while
many Industrial interests have ar
gued for American valuations.
Under the "United States valuation,
duties would be assessed against the
American wholesale selling price of
imported articles. The Tariff Com
mission already has prepared a
Atranslation OF the new duties into
rates based on United States valua-
fion. The new duties were based on
foreign valuations.
The American valuation plan was
discarded years ago and there sp-
peared no chance at all of its adop-
.tion. While Reed has won SOME
converts to this United States
PLAN there appeared every likeli-
hood that the committee Republicans
would reject it.
May Change Jurisdiction
One highly important Adnlnistra
tive change may be authorized.
transferring the whole judicial
branch Of the customs service from
the Treasury Department to the
Department. OF Justice. The Treas
ury and the judges of thefcourt have
recommended the changes since the
United States Customs Court-sit.
ting in New York City-is the only
judicial tribunal outside the De,
partment of Justice.
A number of House changes in
other administrative features of
the tariff law already have been
approved by the Senate Republicans.
This list includes the exclusion OF
all books urging treason, insured,
tion or injury to the President; the
exclusion Of cattle or meats from
countries where the hoof and mouth
: disease is prevalent and the ex.
clusion of unhealthy foods" The
old provision barring convict-labor
goods from other countries also was
adopted.
New Rates Unsupported
The new rates, made public yes.
ferday, found little support among
Insurgents or Democrats Senator
Thomas D.) Of Oklahoma immedi-
ateiy announced he would sponsor
a resolution rejecting all increases
except those applying to- agricu;-
tura1 products. This was the pro-
! posal made, in effect, by Senator
Borah R.) Of Idaho, last June,
which the Senate rejected by the
close vote OF SO to 80. Thomas said
he felt the Senate would adopt his
resolution when it returns for bust
ness after Labor Day. Borah said
he would support it.
Comment on the new rates was
unfavorable among all but the Ad-
ministration ranks. Two typical
statements would indicate the Demo
cratic.Insurgent sentiment.
THE more you study this bill, -
observed Borah, "the less you like
) It, .
'T'his bill would give the pro-
ducers of my State 10 cents" coun.
tered Thomas, "and charge them a
dollar for it."