| Show fierman tar iff regulations arouse lively tilt washington tan 22 president roosevelt today transmitted to the senate and house copies of the tariff regulations negotiated sonie time ago between the united states and germany together with a proposed amendment to the customs administrative act putting the same in dorco as a statute in the senate abo message aroused lively discussion in executive session when it was taken up the remarks were not addressed to the message so much as to the policy of considering alt in executive session as well as the policy of the president in connection with the agreement his course not only in negotiating that instrument but in proclaiming it to the world as he did last july was sharply criticized criticised it was declared that the agreement make changes which are equivalent to legislation and it wag pointer out that all legislation affecting the tariff roust under the constitution originate in t no house of representatives attention wag called to the third section of the mckinley McKin lev law as possibly permitting the presidents course but his critics contended that husat tion in this case had gone far beyond the limits permitted by that section stress was laid on the fact that the president biad not only negotiated the treaty but that he had given out as a complete performance for mance without referring H to the senate for action this the senators seemed to consider especially reprehensible hen sible and far beyond the authority of the chief executive it was pointed out that the german kaiser had not only referred the agreement to the reichstag for its action but that he had even consulted both the local and national boards of trade beuce the president was charged with being even more autocratic than the head of the german empire it was also declared that under the system of valuations provided for by the treaty great injustice would be done to the united states senator heyburn made strenuous objection when the question was raised that tho message was a subject for consideration in the open senate instead of behind closed doors tho idaho senator maintained that an open senate debate would only plunge the senate into an almost endless tariff discussion senators mclaurin teller and others called for an open session and their plea finally won but not before senator gallanger and one or two others had delivered their sentiments concerning the action of an executive in calling for legislation whenever the spirit moved him it was finally decided to refer the message to the committee on finance if a bill is to bo forthcoming it will be from that committee it Is thought by omo senators that a resolution by senator galinger GalHn ger which was introduced early in the session may have had something to do with the appearance of the message and a request for legislation in the german american matter at this time the figures which the gallanger resolution produced about a week ago showed quite a reduction in the value off german exports to the united states since the regulations passed and since the system of in spooling consignments consign ments was discontinued by our consular officers and agents after referring to the proposed amendment to the treaty the president in his message dated january 22 1908 says 1 I earnestly recommend to the congress the enactment into law of amendment at an early date besides promoting harmonious relations between the contracting parties to the agreement in question I 1 regard the proposed legislation as a meritorious measure for the improvement of our customs administrative aca the provisions of which are applicable to importations from all countries alike an accompanying communication addressed to the president by soars tary root and dated january 9 1908 transmits copies of the new kempor ary commercial agreement between the united states and germany alan ed april 22 and may 1907 with the report of the american corn mission on which the agreement Is based mr root states that the several modifications of the customs and con sular regulations oe the united states set forth in the idiomatic note from the se rotary of state to the german ambassador at washington dated april 22 1907 relating solely to matters within the power of the executive to regulate have been carried into et feet and extended so far aa practicable to all countries alike the diplo matte note from the secretary of state to the german ambassador dated i may 2 1907 he states calls for a recommendation to congress that certain amendments of the law be made after giving the text of these proposed rates secretary root says that the proposed changes are as follows 1 the right is given to add to the invoice value at the time of entry in the case of consigned goods 2 also the right to deduct from tho invoice value at the time of entry for purchase as well as consigned goods 3 A margin of 10 per cent of variation is fixed within which additional duties shall not be assessed 4 in tho case of under valuation the limit at which the presumption of fraud arises and the merchandise Is seized by the collector Is reduced from 50 per cent to 35 per cent 5 the word unintentional Is inserted in the description of the clerical errors for which additional duties may be remitted in order that errors which are not manifest but which can be demonstrated to the satisfaction is of the secretary shall per mit he avoidance of additional duty 6 additional duties are to be construed to be penal and within the purview of sections and of the revised statutes and sections 17 and 18 of the act of juno 22 1874 7 no additional duties are to be assessed on goods subject to specific duty and as to which the regular duty Is not charged by reason of the difference between the entered and appraised values that it when tho advance over the entered value by tha appraiser does abt increase the rate of duty 8 the privilege is given of paying duty on less than the invoice value |
