390 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 
under the terms of the minimum tariff, and that whenever he shall be 
satisfied that the conditions which led to the issuance of the proclama- 
tion no longer exist, he shall issue a proclamation to this effect and 
ninety days thereafter the provisions of the maximum tariff shall be 
applicable to all productions of such country whether imported directly 
or otherwise into the United States. 
These duties thus cast upon the president require him to keep in 
constant touch with the situation, not only of the treatment which our 
products receive when exported to foreign countries, but also as to the 
action of such foreign country in respect to export bounties, duties and 
prohibitions upon the export of any article to the United States, and 
its effect upon the United States and its products. There are many 
ways by which a country can indirectly discriminate against another 
‘country or its products. One way is to raise the valuation as appears 
on the invoice or bill of lading. This may result in the payment of a 
larger ad valorem duty or a higher specific one on account of a different 
classification. If such treatment is unfair, and is persisted in against 
the products of a particular country, and not pursued against those of 
other countries, the treatment is discriminatory. The value of the 
article exported then becomes of prime importance, for if the value 
stated on the invoice or bill of lading is less than it ought to be, per- 
haps so made with the intention of saving duty, then the foreign cus- 
toms officers have an equitable right to raise the valuation to a proper 
and reasonable amount, and such action on their part, provided they 
do the same with the products of all other countries, is fair and just. 
In order for the president to know in regard to this, he must have 
accurate knowledge of the cost of production of all articles exported 
from this country, and as any article made in the United States is likely 
at any time to be exported, he should also have knowledge of its cost, 
etc., so as to be ready to act, when the occasion arises, as provided by 
the act of congress. Some articles are now exported from this country 
at valuations less than they are sold here. Such practise is not contrary 
to the law of the United States, but it is contrary to the law of foreign 
countries to value articles for the purpose of customs lower than they 
are worth. What they are worth depends to some extent upon their 
cost in the country where they are made. 
The second branch of the tariff board’s duties is to secure informa- 
tion to assist the officers of the government in the administration of 
the customs laws. 
What has been said of importations into foreign countries applies 
to importations into our own. The proper administration of our cus- 
toms laws requires on the part of the various officers of our government 
a clear insight into the value and cost of all articles imported. The 
acts of congress require the general appraiser and the boards of general 
