Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1897 — EXTRA DUTY MAY BE IMPOSED. [ARTICLE]

EXTRA DUTY MAY BE IMPOSED.

Question as to the Meaning of the Discriminating Tax Clause. Involved in the question of the interpretation of section 22 of the new tariff law with regard to the 10 per cent discriminating duty ®n foreign goods coming into-Ute United States from Canada or Mexico, which is now before the attorney general for decision, is another question of equal if not greater magnitude. This -other question has almost entirely escaped public notice, but it is giving the treasury great concern. It was referred to the attorney general by Secretary Gage for interpretation along with the other features of section 22 which are in controversy. It involves the question of whether this disci iniinating duty of 10 per cent does not apply to all goods imported in foreign vessels landing at United States ports which are not exempt from discriminating tonnage taxes by express treaty stipulation. The question arises from another slight deviation in section 22, which, if made intentionally, would seem to indicate that it was designed to discriminate against three-fourths of all the big transatlantic and transpacific steamship lines, as well as many of the South American lines.