Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-31

The reduction in the receipts from the customs,
will be partially made up by anincreased Importation
of he articles which The duties have been rcdu \
ced; at least far The consumption Of them may
have been hitherto restrained by the amount OF the
duty Blu, the reduction in the rates OF duty Is so
great. that no increase in the consumption car be
looked for, extensive to maxi 40 any consdera !
bic portion of the deficiency; and although The IL
come and expenditure of the community may con-
tnuo bear tile relation TO each other as here
tofore the amou f:the duty saved TO the consumer,
instead of being applied wholly TO the purchase OF an
increased quantity those articles will be distributed
upon all the articles of consumption, domestic ana
fore gn, duiableand free.
In looking forward 10 the probable changes III the
fscal operatio the government, when the pub
lie deb, shall be eey extiDguished it is worthy
of observation, hat with the exception OF single
year. (I82S) there las been gradual reduction OF
imports since the year 1925. and continued reduc
ton in the exports OF foreign mrrchandze during the
same period. These facts suggest various considera
tons To BIZ taken into view III estimating the future
revenue of the government. They also shcV among
other matters worthy OF notice. thai the navigating
interest employed foreign commerce. AMI particu-
ary in the carrying trade, must have suffered ma
teria depression That portion of the CARRYING trade
which is untettered by navigation laws, will necessa
rily fall into the hands of those who navigate
cheapest and this falling of. gives eason to appre-
hcnd that the superiority heretofore claimed fer y
mercan skill and economy in this pursuit, is yielding
to fortunate rivalry; and suggests the expedi
ency of considering now far that interest may, with
out injury TO others be relieved from depression
| The annexed paper marked III exhibits de'aiIed
statement of the quantity and value Of imports, aud
exports, liable % specific duties, and the value of
those paying ad valorem duties, and Of those free of
duty, from the year 1921 to 1899 inclusive, and will
furnish the of ascertaning he increase de-
crease OF each branch of import and export trade,
and the probable ctfct OF any proposed change. as
well upon the upon the various int estS
with which they connected.
| Should ii be contemplated by Congress. to make
any further reduc ion of the revenues preparatory to
ha Loft p
debit II is respect fully suggested ;ha: III order 10
void impairng this necessary means for the ordinary
I expenditures ofthe government encro;icsng up
on he sinking fund it will be proper that such rtdac.
ton should AXE eec at period sufficiently rem, tie
for the payment OF the entire debt; the reduction
made at the last session vii barely leave sufficient
revenue for those objects, during the ensuing four
years But there are some articles on which the iu-
ty may be reduced withou injury the revenue and
with advantage to other interests Tie most rilno
cNor,pie of this vii! he found in the dn!y Land
on spices 1.-THE imports aud exports Of ese arti-
Giles, known to be extensively consumed but 10 pro-
duced, in the u States be compared il will be- seen
that duriug The years preceding 1928 the NOM
nal exports have exceeded in value the nominal i'm
Iports, by the sum of SiG8I55 Whether tn. con
sumption has been supplied by frauGnlent naporta-
lions whether drbentureS have been paid on frau
idu'eni eXportalons. the act is conclusive evidence
that nothing be lost by imposing lower duty on
those articles The comparison for the last two
years, EXHIBITS favorable result; BAT lie differ
encc is still much less than The actual coisunptin
and where such extensive frauds have been so sue
cessfuily practiscd, is scarcely be hoped that any
degree OF vigilance sufficient to prevent them can be
permanently maintained under the same Temptation
Ihc attention ut Congress IS r'5pacLfu!Iv invited To
the operation OF clause Of the 81 section Of the act
entitled ian ac, for the a;ctual collection of
the duties on imports" passed 22:h NAV 1880 The
rule ,hora in prescribed for appraisng goods
IN packages by adopting the value of tho best article
IN package as ali average for the whole, vent into
effect on The fst of October last The no-1ce was
~ short nan of
cases. and some embarrassing aas arisen in the an
praisemen of such articles, as had for the conve-
nience of trade, and without any intent 10 dafraud
the revenue been usually put up in MKT packing s
In anticipation Of this difficulty, directions were civ
en- 10 thecoleGrors to ascertain until he LIST of Jan
uary next the difference in each case be- vyceo the
amount Of duty imposed according to this mode and
that which would have accrued according To the Gus
temary mode. But, as the bonds have been taken
for the duties on the average vane, Legislative
provision will be necessary to aord the proper relief
IL may, ALSO be eXDedenl to except some articles
from the operation of tho clause above referred TO-
Laces in particular represented TO be almost
necessarily imported of different qualities IN the same
package; and some permanent inconvenience will be
incurred to the trade IN these articles, if the 1por-
ter is obliged to have them assorted. It is also des.
rabie, that the character of the package for each
description OF goods required to be appraised uDop
the average of the best article, should be defined by
lazy. Phe department has endeavored TO obviate
some of tho inconvenience arising from the oh nro
-.
BY allowing The parcels of such goods which were put
up separately. and designated packages in the in
voice though enclosed IN one general package to be
regarded as packages for appraisement within the
meaning of the law Bui the constant efforts to
abuse this regulation on the part of ofhose for
whose benefit 1t was adopted, and the intrinsic diff
Guilty of fixing. without specific legislation, any
positive ni' to the extent ofthe parcel to b. deemed
a package will probably render it necessary should
no alteration ofthe law sbe made to rescind the order
and to recognize no other package than the entire
quantity put up in one exterior box or envelope The
general operation OF The clause is found, however to
be beneficial; 1t facilitates despatch and uniform
ty IN the apprasoneni Of goods. as well as prevents
frauds ON the revenue; and with the aid Of the modl
icaiIons suggested, mercantile ingenuity will no
doubt Ind means by conforming The packages 10 The
objects of the law, to avoid its nconyeniences
Efforts have been made to give greater efficiency
to The revenue cutter service But has become
manifest that the compensation allowed BY law TO the
officers Is inadequate. Phe office of third f.icncn-
ant, may, without injury 10 the service be abnlished
and II an equivalent OF the compensation now allow