Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-23

rg eonuexlou abroad. and ato tue hands OF those
who, Whether Foreign or American. the least
pulous of the means Of sain. Under ordinary cir cum
stances, the adv entsge which the American merchant
has i'm selling 10 squivas nj TO that which the foreign
er has in purchasing but he cannot also compee with
different rare o. duty. Such sys,em, therefore,
must either corrupt the American merchant expel
bnl from all those branches OF business, in which
these be carried on with IL il
believed, thA eHeeual remedy for this serious and
growing evil, adopt the value OF all good
(subiec TO al vaiorem du'y) in the Uoied States as
the true duabe value disregsriicg, Of cOurse, the
cost in The orsgn market, aud excluding all charges
and additions Such change, though important in H.
con eqn-nces, will MOI vary the principle on which
imposs duties presumed 70 be laid, and H. In
conformity with that which has long been practice IN
the most ,mmefriei nation OF Europe. Accord ng to
this plan in.ead Of lrng 10 vague aud arbitrary
rules to ascertain the value of goeds in he United
States. this jec, msy be attained by dtect
dinaty experience, SKILL and attention, the part
of ia. proper oiiicers, will enable them determine
with all necessary accuracy, The value in Ia ir
vicinity, aud the mass of Information which shi
readily be collected 10 correct error II any should be
he made by them could not fail 10 just aud
quail sppraiss This being accomplished, the Go.
vernment will receive the whole duty paid by the
sumeR, and more the price OF goods will be
steady merchants will b exposed 10 less hazard aud
the oppor uni Of iar competition betwe the a.
mericau and foreign merchant, Tar "a IL be ei
tectei by he ion OF the government, will be
stored TO that equality, which hbsrsl policy cannot
deny TO toregurrs, aud which a wi-e Government will
always desire to secure to its own c,zeus.
An additional reason i1r the proposed change, may
b. found in the difference between the relative values
OF gold ard silver, established by fersnt nations,
and the liability 10 error, in esmning by law, the va
Tue OF foreign moneys OF account in those OF the u s.
This may be illustrated by referring to the money
latons of the United States wi h Great Britain aud
with Portugal The English pound s'erling ia 6xed
by law at 81 Al United States' money, while il s
worth @tou 81 so. Hence, the in porter of goods in
voiced la sterling money, pays duty IL per
cent less than they have actually The mirea OF
Portugal is establ.bed by law at dollar twenty four
cent; lie actual value in United States money il
III 2Zs cents consequently, the importer Of gocds
feom Portugal, pays duty on about III l2 per cent
than Their &C ual cost which makes the difference be-
tween the valuation which duties are imposed the
custom house, goods imported from England s. Portu-
gall about 10 per CT in lavOr Of importatohs the
iOriner. These discrepancies, well all those
which arise from the occasional Introduction of paper
and other curIencies in foreign tries, whose pro-
potiOns value 10 gold silver cannot be accurately
asceriaued will he avoided, by adopting thu value Of
the goods in the Uni ed ae' market as the basis for
charging duiies This effect of the monetary sy.em
should OF course be sken into consideration, in fixing
the amount OF duly in Conformity with the proposed
chinge II canno; b. doubted, that rate Of du,y i'm
posed in This form, somewhat lower than the pres cn,
exclusive OF the allowance for Tie difference 10 the
money, would not only produce more revenue, but
give stable and substantial security 10 the inter
este OF manufactures and commerce.
The only Objection. 10 this charge which appears 10
have weight are I. The difficulty OF making mi
mute an prafemen az would be cessaTy, of all the
articles Of impoi tation, without con ierbe ihcrea
OF cusom-house officers And secondly, OF m king the
apprasemen uniform at ell the ports. The first nav
IL believed, be obvated by arranging the goods into
classes according 10 value in such msnuer render
the aPpraement not more aboTous than at present.
Ttee being so adjusted as not materially to vary the
rate OF duty between contiguous classes, and yet su
GENTLY distinct e ENABLE the appraisers TO assign each
aFtcs H reasonable accuracy to its proper class, si
ed ~ an invoice OF the goods at their vau in the u
uited Std'es, 10 be furnished oath by the import r.
would all The faolie, desired for expedan
and accuracy in the aPpraisemeni, with but little ald
ton to .he nnmber OF officers, or the expenses Of the
GU ton-bouse.
The second objection applies TO the present sy.tem with
more force than to that proposed. But this iii Guilty
may be removed by establishing res ular ntercommu-
nicaon and Transmission OF prices and samples
between the custIm houses, which could not tail TO
prevent abuses aud secure more uniiom appraise-
men' e. an when ne IL based on pricel in the
foreign market nasmuch win be easier to GER
tain the current prices the principal mArs of COM
ineree 10 the Unit-d States than IA hoss Of foreign
countries.
In recommending these important notifications 10
the imIost sys'On we'll as those suggested ia the
last annual report may be proper remark that il is
deemsd by the Department very undesirable to make
frequent oh-nges in measures Of public policy which
effect so extensively Individual as well public nte-
Tess, and that proceedings ofhs nhtur should be sub
jecied 10 careful scrutiny, and amoie tim given by
way OF notice to all who may be affected by them,
" ell foreigners az citizens OF the United aies, b. fore
hey are carried INFO effect. But, Notwithstanding
this indPosiuon TO change it proper 10 remark, that
much ct the legislation upon this subject, since H. act
OF % Of March 1899, has been adopted chiefly with e
view 10 promote particular objects o! special interest
pressing upon the government the is ac.
tion snt hence some ueCessary pCecau for guarding
the nue. and avoiding the injuries liable uet-
ed by the changes upon those engaged 10 cOmm.Tce
and other pursuits, seem 10 have been overlooked.
The approaching crisis in the IA al policy Of tie Uri
ted States will require revision OF important part
a! tie sys emi aud The opportunity viii be popi'ious Tor
ne' al review Of its deises. The proposed modi6-
cations fre therefore, presented TO the oonslders-
ton OF Congress, 10 afford time for mature deberation
and for collecting Ill the information hai ~ be
aary If T adoPto1 sloud be determined on to
cile individual interests with those Of the COVE nnent
All which is respectfully submitted.
S. ID INGHAM,
Secretary of tie Treasury.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
18Th December, 1880