Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-21

The
change proposed. In accordance with these views,
IT Is respectfully suggested, that whatever diminu
tioD OF duties shall be determined upon it be made
TO take effect prospecfiyely and gradually.
IL viii, in such case, be proper, early period
TO select the articles upon which to commence the
reduction. IA auxiliary TO this undertaking, the an
nexed tIotes NJ and N have been prepared. Table
NJ exhibits the amount Of duties accruing on such
articles OF Importation generally Of foreign
production. Table n exhibits the tariff. Of duties
imposed by foreign Governments, on such articles
as are produced in. exported from, the United
tates ms far rs has been scertainedat the Treaeury
Department.
The precise effect of reduc,on of duties on the
revenue, can only be bv experiences but
as the imports viii be some what increased by The
operaton,t Is not app ehended that n gradual re-
duction, commencing ut arly day, would sensi-
bly, proloug the total eXiinguishmcrIt o. tie public
debt. 80
The various duties devolved on the Treasury depart.
meht, relation to Custom Houses and Land Offices
have led TO the exercise at powers sufficiently de.
fined by law. These liable be enlarged by ex.
ccssive gradaions under epecsi cxgencies, without
Legislative sanclon until the powers of the drpartrae mt
to perform Indispensable duties derived from usage
rather than the statutes or this nature are those ex
ercised IN the payments tor contnge expenses of the
Cutter service repaira OF custom houses wharves and
warehouses, belonging 30 the United States; expenses
20 Inspectors employ IN special scrvice in addition
to their per diem compensation; in theiallowances Of
persons instructed to investigate transactions of custom
houses and land offices; To assistant counsel and for
costs suits and prosecutions; and vaous services
of less magnitude. The payments for these objects are
usually made by collectors and receivers Of public
neys ur by drafts on thSIa from the Treasury depnr.
ment being co.s-rNd as incidental to taa Branches
Of revenue. is desirable that all such payments should
be specifically sanctioned by law as those made out
OF moneys in the Treasury.
The Secretary of the Treasury deems il prAper TO
make known to Congress, that the duties imposed up
wooen goods, under the of the 18th SIsy 1928
have, in pursuance of instruction from the Treasury
department., dated the 18th of October 1928, been
charged upon the value of such goods without the adj
dton Of 20 per centum the of those imported
rom the Cape of Good Hope, any place beyond the
same or from beyond Cape Horn 10 per centum
on those from any other place or country.
The law, it is believed, may admit of different con.
structon; the orders for the import since
the instruction above referred to- were given with 4
knowledge of lis operation add the 20 OF the 10
per cent 10 the cost of such goods would probably
transfer the whole of them into class higher Than
fairly contemplated by tire importer aud increase the
duty very prejudciaiy his interest. Under these
circumstances and there may be some doubt as to
the intention of the law. it has been deemed proper
to disturb the existing construction, but to init
| the matter to the confederation Of Congress.
Another subject, somewhat similar in character, has
been, for special reasons, differently disposed of.
deduction of five per cent. the invoices of broad
cloths oI measurement, has become established u
sage of trade This usage particularly noticed
the 9Th sepem6e But @e tn Ss" '
emily construed by the custom house officers die,
ent ports: at some, the deduction having been mad
from the measurement, and others from the cost;
which different rates of duties imposed. IL wa
deemed not only legal but constitutional obligation
so far the powers vested in the department wouIc
admit, to render the duty uniform throughout the u
States. In preparing the necessary regulations fol
this purpose, IL considered that the FIVE per cent
deduction was originally intended, it purports be
on "measurement," aud not on price. This basis was
also recommended by another and more important
sderaton. viz: the uniformity of its effect. The al
lowance being made tor measurement, the meTchan
pays duty on the number of yards purpoEting be i'm
ported; but 1t made price nugatory, except the
cloths thereby transferred from higher to lowe
class, in which case it diminishes the duty by the
mount OF the difference between the duties charged
such classes. An instruction was accordingly issuet
on the 9Th Of August, 1929, directing the allowance
the five per cent. to be made the urement on
ly But this unavoIdably deprived a number of impor
tiers, whose orders had been previously given of thu
expected benefit of the deduction, in determining the
classes OF dutabe prices TO which their cloths belong
ed; such cloths are, consequently, subjected TO a RI.
of duty higher than contemplated when the order
were given The regulation has, therefore, injurious
iy Affected the interest of these importers and hei
case IS submitted TO lie f1Torabe considerable. s Con
gress, who alone car give the proper relief.
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully Hvite
the attention OF Congress to modification of TIT
existing revenue laws, we'll for the convenience
those employed in commerce and navigation, for tin
better security of the revenue.
The law in relation To licenses for coastnR and fish
ing vessels, operates unequaly and injuriOusy upo
some branches of that business 10 requires upon ever
change Of structure of the vessel or Of ownership b.
the transfer Of the right of partner the akinR or
OF new license, and the payment of u new duty
Inc OouiVy bioWcu on vessels employed IN the COT
fisheries is understood to be unlawfuy obtained b.
some Of those engaged in the mackere fisheries. Il
believed that bounty on the 6sh cured or exported
Ni,hOu, reference to the origin Of the salt, woul
better prumOte whatever encouragement may be con
Sdered proper To be gives to the fisheries; this cou
be graduated to any scale, and being more simple il
its form, would be less liable TO abuse.
II is found that the present mode OF compensatin,
custom house officers operates unequall,, and not i
proportion to the service rendered. AS striking in
stances ct this inequality, inspectors in many place.
receive than double the compensation Of the col
leetors who employ them; and at some ports custom
houses are built or purchased by the government
while at others they provided at the expense q
collectors.
The fees of Office liable 10 be varously com
putCd, and are constant source Of embarrassment II
thu transaction of business. These, It is believed
may be generally abolished, and the mode of compcn
sation by salary, bcneically substituted; retaining
however, those on munIfcsts clcaranccs, entries an,
permits, and that class Of service which makes
the interest OF the officers to require a strict obser
vance those acts the part OF masters of vessels
and shippers, which may be deemed essential to III,
security OF tho revenue.
Thu commissions u,,v o1lo,rrl 90 c,i1oct.-.