Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-22

10 Inspectors empo, ed in special services in addition
their per diem compensation in the allowances of
instructed to investigate transactions
houses and land Offices to assistant counsel, and for
in suits and prosecutions aa for services
of less Magnitude. The payments for these objects
usually made by collectors and of public
neys, OF by drafts hcm from the Treasury depart.
meat; being considered incidental to these branches
of revenue desirable that all such payments should
be as specifically sanctioned by law those made
of moneys in the Treasury.
The Secretary of the Treasury deems it proper to
make known to Congress, that the duties imposed
wooIlcn goods, under the act of the 18th May 1925
have in pursuance of instruction from the Treasury
department., dated the 18th of October, 1898, been
charged upon the value of such goods, without the ad
ton Of 90 per centum the cost of those imported
the Cape of Good Hope, or any place beyond the
same; from beyond Cape Horn 10 per centum
on those from any other place or country.
The lay, it is believed, admit of n different
sruction but. the orders for the
the instruction above referred to, given with
knowledge of its operations 60 add the 30 the 10
per cent 10 the cos; of such goods would probably
transfer the whole of them into class higher than
fairly contemplated by the importer and increase the
duty very prcudcal!y 10 his interest. Under these
circumstances, and there may be doubt
the intention of the law it has been deemed proper
not to disturb the existing construction. but to submit
the matter to the consideration of Congress.
Another subject, somewhat similar character, has
bccn for special reasons, differently disposed of.
deduction of five per cent the invoices of broad
cloths, TO, measurement has become established IL
sage of trade This usage particularly noticed in
an instruction issued by the Treasury department, on
the 9th September, 1929 but which had been differ
emily construed by the custom house officers differ
ert PORTS at some, the deduction having been made
from the measurement and others from the cost; by
which different rates of duties imposed. 1t
deemed not only legal, but constitutional obligation,
SO far as the powers vested in the department would
admit to render the duty uniform throughout the U.
States. In preparing the necessary regulations for
this purpose, it considered that the five per
deduction was originally intended, it Purports to be,
on ''measurement,' aud not price. This basis was
also recommended hy another and more important
sheraton viz the uniformity of its effect The al
lowance being made Tor measurement, the merchant
pays duty the number OF yards purportng be i'm
ported; but if made price it is nugatory except the
cloths are thereby transferred from higher lower
class, in which il dimniShes the duty by the a
mount Of the difference between the duties charged
such classes. An instruction accordingly issued
on the 9Th of August 1929, directing the allowance of
tue 1--WE per cent. to be made the
ly But this unavodably deprived number Of mpor-
ters whose orders had been previously Even OF the
expected benefit of the deduction in determining the
classes OF dutable prices to which their cloths belong
ed such cloths consequently, subjected a rate
of duty higher than contemplated when the orders
were given The regulation has, therefore, injurious
y affected the interest of these importers, and their
is submitted to the favorable consideration of Con.
gress. who alone give the proper relief
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully invites
the attention of Congress modification of the
existing revenue laws we'll for the convenience of
those employed in commerce and navigation as for the
better security of the revenue.
The law in relation to licenses for coasting and fish
ing vessels, operates unequaly and iniuriously upon
some branches of that business requires upon every
change of structure of the vessel of ownership, by
the transfer OF the right of partner, the taking
! OF new license, and the payment of duty.
he bounty allowed on vessels employ ed in the cod
fisheries is understood 20 be unlawfully obtained by
some OF those engaged in the macserel fisheries II
beieved that bounty on the fish cured or exported
without reference to the origin of the salt, would
better promote whatever encouragement nav be cnn
sidered proper to be given fisheries; this could
be graduated to any scale, and being more simple in
its form, would be less liable to abuse
,cC th tha.
custom house officers operates unequally and in
proportion to the service rendered. AS striking in
stances OF this inequality, inspectors in many places
receive more than double the compensation of the col
lectors who employ them; and, at ports, custom
houses built, purchased by the government
while at others they are provided at the expense o.
| collectors.
The fees of office liable to be variously com.
puted and Constant source of embarrassment in
The transaction of business. These, it is believed
may be generally abolished, and the mode of compe-
sation By salary, benefcally substituted; retaining
however, those on manfests clcarances entries and
permits and that class of service which makes il
the interest OF the officers to require a strict obser-
of those acts the part of masters of vessels
and shippers, which may be deemed essential to the
security of the revenue.
!, The commissions allowed to collectors, on
bonds put IN suit, might be advantageously divided
between them aud the district attorneys. The for
Iner would thereby be interested in taking pro-
per security and the latter have sautary stimulus
To the discharge of their duties
Some additional provision of law is deemed ucces-
saryt to compel the surrender OF public books and pa
pers of district attorneys narshals custom house and
land officers, in pursuance Of orders from the proper
department.
The labors of the appraisers ofimported goods have
been greatly by the act in alteration ofthe
several acts imposing duties imports" passed 9th
May, 1923. To give the proper efficiency to that
branch oil service is necessary to have warehouses
and Offices, conveniently adapted for the exanation
measuring and epacking Of goods; and that the per
sons employed by appraisers should be more nlmedi-
ateiy under their control III the port of New York.
where nearly half the importationg into the TJn;tad
states are made, the whole labor of appra sinr de-
wolves on two officers, who exclusively RESPONSE
6le for that duty and yet, all the assistance which
can DC provided for them is supplied indirectly and
under implied power. TO avoid the embarrassN
ment which must arise from Sickness or other neces
sary absence Of one or both of these officers an adj.
ditional appraiser at that port seems Indispensable
1t IS also deemed advisable that the commissioned