Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-19

mt, SO lar any official or satisfactory standard
1t the Treasury is concerned. The returns Of the
Collectors OF the Customs in relation to goods |
which pay duty al vslofem, have, hitherto, fixed
nothing but their value; and it is known, that
goods subject TO duty under th. form compr ehend
much the larses, class of foreign mpora,rous
Measures have been put IN tram Tor ascer aiming,
hencefor'h, as far praccabs, the entire quantity
of goods subjsc, TO this description of dutv, a.
well a. the value But even when time shall have
matured these measures aud exhibited their results
they will furnish standard OF comparison a. TO
he quantity of importa,ions prior tu their adop-
ion. The information will, however, become
useful alter The lapse OF few years, in its bearing
upon the course and Developments of our home
Industry and foreign trade; showing how each,
under wise principles adapted,o each, may advance
co-equaly; how the channels and the objects of the
latter may shift under the advance of the former.
without any loss, but with gain, in effective
tionsl results results operating upon the mos!
extensive interests, aud enriched TO the creates,
mass OF numbers; or how, under the growth OF the
one, the other is at all destined 10 become disad-
vantageousy and lastingly abridged. The bene6
cia parts OF these consequences are looked TO with
confidence and hope from the tariff, as well from
our experience, thus far, from tina, Of other
nations OF the world dis guished by high degrees
OF opulence and civilization, and where both have
res ed upon dsrable rather than ,rsnstory foun a
applying the home industry to the multiplied ope-
raiions OF manufacturing art less than 10 the
tlllage OF the soil, and in making the accumulated
productions OF both, the basis of great ioreign
| trade. But facts that may shed distinct light upon
the whole subject should be sediousy collected to
serve. if need be, the ground orls to us, of
more perfect system of legislation in relation to
course of policy SO closely interviewer with The
interests and character OF the social state and wi
the national prosperity and power. The foreign
trade of the United States, to it, inherent causes
tor progressive extension, superadds another and
distinctive one IN the constant desireof he Coy
eminent, manifested in their permanent laws,
and emphaiicaly in their recent treaties to carr
II on freed from all restrictions upon navigation
as well as upon the most enlarged principles, and
the most entire reciprocity in all other respects II
these principles, of which the United States have
largely set the example, were rractised upon more
universally by nations, and 10 the extent uniformly
| proposed by thi. Government to their acceptance
the fact might be more important in its influence
upon general trade, and upon that Of each nation
In particular, than abstract declarations, illustrative
or conimendstory oil them.
The value OF cotton goods. subject TO ad valo-
rem duty, imported into the United States in 1885,
was, as far at present ascerianel, 905 316
dollars. The value of the same description OF
goods, imported In 1925, IL, 500 SIG dollars
The value OF WOODEN goods, subject TO al valorem
duty, imported in 1926, was 7,i45, i93 dollars
The value of the same description of good, i'm
ported in 1925, II ,392 26i dollars But. as
already intmated, this difference in value cannot
be relied upon sale test OF the difference in
quantity. There are seasons when It would be
peculiarly misleading, and the present is believed
To be one of them. The duties on each descrip-
ton OF these manufactures, were calculated on the
prices which each respectively bore the places of
expectation during the respective years; and the
great fall in prices in 1926, will undoubtedly serve
TO account, in part. for the difference i'm the ay-
gregate value of the two importaiions. Further
eucidaien will be afforded 10 the point when il j.
| added, that although the value OF cotton manufac
lures imported in 1926 stands below those impor;e
IN 1925, in the proportion stated, it exceeds the
value OF the same kind of manufactures import ed
| during either OF the two years preceding, viz:
1924 aud 1928 The same j. not true of the wooden
manufactures. The value of the latter, paying duty
adj valorem, imported in 1926 is found from the re-
turns as yet before the Treasury, to be below the
value of the kind OF importation for 1924
and 1928; though the difference is far less conside-
rabie than between their value in 1926 and 1925 !:
nor Is it known at this Department what may have
been the comparative value Of wooden goods at the
places OF expectation during the four consecutive
years indicated The valuation of mer chandise
constituting the total aggregate of our foreign
trade Is always made at the port place of ship
nent, and the rule APP lies consequently both
ways; that is, 10 all articles of e9por; as we'll az
import; thereby freeing it from objections to which
IL might otherwise be open. The mode of valuine
Is, in effect, follows: the party making the shin.
men; annexes the value 10 the NANTES; or list of
articles: supersdding his oath that it is the true va
ue according TO heir actual cost, or according 10
the value which they truly bear, at the port and
time of shipment. This oath is taken under the
supervision of the Collectors as regards exports.
and under that of our Consuls, or other CONNER
ciSl or substituted Agency abroad, as regards i'm
ports. Some other formaliiies are observed under
our laws, particularly In relation to imports: bu,
they are all in aid of the chief piovs.on here
stated.
The articles of American Manufacture exported
from the United States in 1896 WILL it is believed.
be found TO exceed six millions OF dollars in value
The particular kinds of Manufacture which have
made up this profitable and growing branch of the
export trade, will be presented in detail and their
total value ssceTtajned with more precision III the
genera Statistical Tsbles, row in course OF pre-
paration, under the act Of the l0;h Of February
1920: winch viii be Transmitted &c Congress at as
early day as their voiuminous nature will allow.
OF the amount of American Manufactures, pro
ducei for consumption within the United States
during the year, II is impossible 10 speak with ex
actness; but, from Indications that cannot dereiye
it is evident that il is large; so large, that The a.
mount exported, would sink to a level below all
comparison with il The surest guide 20 on,
belief under this head, is, that in those branches
which have at length been enabled, through pro
vldeni legislation, to stand up against tina over
whelming competition OF pre.esablisbed excel
leDce and capital from abroad, which must other
wise have kept down forever their FIRST attempts
the article can now be had cheaper in price a. !
well as better in quality, than the same article
from abroad, it seen in our markets, prior