The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-28
K. SMITH.
REPORT.

The committee OF commerce and manufactures re-
ipe6fully fubnit their report on the memorial of
the PRECEDENT and directors Of the New York ilate
company.
Two aiooiations of individuals in the nate Of New
York Were formed, one in the year 800 and the o.
1903, for the purpoie of exploring and opening
Suarries of ate, within Dutcheis County in the faid
Fate. After expending comfortable capital they fate
that they have been fucoessf in finding fate Of an ex-
eellent quality. This they have bought to market
In CREST quantity, and offer it for iaie at reduced
price of fifty per They allege that hey are ca
Pable of iuPpyIng the whole doHle1ic demand for
this uisul article of building, and could ey furni
fate of various iize. and tiotEeAes for expectation
But they complain OF the rivathip and competition of
the importers Of fate from foreign countries who by
means Of hyperion numbers and capitals can without
fenfbie Inconvenience luomt temporary loes, I'M
Sersll The petitioners and interrupt the regular cours
Of their ionefc iniulry. For the fake of prevent
ing hefe dicouraging enbarralsments they iocit an
ircreaie of impo the importation of Gate from for
eSn parts.
in the preamble TO the act " making further pro-
WHOM for the payment of the debts of the United
States, paiied Auguh 10th, 1890, it is declared that
duties were laid goods, wares, and merchandise i'm
ported FOX the dic"gc the debts Of the Urite States
ani .bs encouragement. and protection of Dasutawes by
the fra fiction of that aG, ilate charged with
duty Of roper cent ad valoreH Afterwards by the al
on of the frontiers and for other Purpoes therein men
bnel," pafied May 3D. 1899, additional l-2 per
cent added but this ceaad at the end otwo years
by It's own limitation Then again an additional FIVE
per cent ad valorem was laid upon imported late,
BY the frf fiction OF the act for laying additional
dues on goods, wares, and merchandise, imported in
to the United States" paiIed June 7th, 1894
A further innpoh Of 10 per cent wa, laid by the
hrn ledon Of the {" act further to proteG the COM
and leanlen of the United States againH the
Eaf6ary powers" pafIed March o5th 1904, upon all
goods" wares and merchandise chargeable with an
al valorem duty Safe within this cas Of ar
t;c!es. The money collected goes TO " the Mediter-
ranean fund.-" and this additional ~ per cent. will
not be Discontinued until three months after ratiica-
lion of treaty OF peace with Tripoli.
Hence it appears that the exiting duties Fate, I'M
ported from foreign parts, II - per cent
imported in lhips ve1eis Of the United States; and
computing the 10 per additional, amount 10
Ia per upon all fate imported in veels not of
the United States When to thefe are added freight
eomnion inlurance, and the other heavy charges on
fUeh bulky article, It would leern that .ulicent s-
h7gg duty already mpoGed encourage tli, fpe-
c'es Of doneltic manufacture. The committee are
inclined think il would be inpo!itic to ncrcale the
import to a pyoJi5ife,y amount.
The committee cannot forbear to exprels ienti-
mept OF Yeaiure this dtcovcry of All inexhauaibe
quantity Of AN iDcombultib.e material for covering
buildnga-The increaGng fcarcity of TIMBER and the
prevailing eutom OF Conducting fire proof houles i'd
ded to the more excellent it may be fad unegualed
quality and abundance Of the nate Of New York, may
be expeStcd in Mort time to accomplish the wilhe,
Of the petitioners and give the home made fate com
P!e,e a-endarey in the market. While therefore they
reoice at the detection Of this reource, ard of
sproPortonay nereafed independence they forbear
10 recon,med any aug nsntato d, n.pot. upon it, in
tfoiu6tion from abroad.
On the whole, it is the opinion Of III, committee
that any additional duty upon imported aa;e, would
at this time be irexPedient.