Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-12-30
REPORT ON THE FINANCES.
CONCLUDED.


Should 1t he contemplated by Congress- to mako
any furthor reduction OF thu revenues preparatory to
the parisd ofthe, final cxsingushmcnt of the public
debts; 10 respectfully suggested that in order to
expenditures ofthc government. or encruaching up
tho sinking fund.- il will be proper that such reduc-
ton should tnko effect at period sufficiently remote
fe the payment OF the catrc debt; the reduction
made at thelast session will barely leave sufficient
revenue for those objects. during the ensuing four
years But there are some stticles which the du-
~ may be reduced witha inIsry to the revenue and
with advnhtags n other in,escsts The most striking
cxsmne octhis nsture viii be found in tho duty laid
on spices. 1.-THE imports and exports ofthess arti-
ccs known IA be extensively consumed, but cot pro-
duccd in tho q States DO compared, il will be
that durug tho seven years preceding 1929, the
inal exports have exceeded in value tho nominal i'm
porte, by the sum Of S163tS5 Whether the con-
sumption has been supplied by fraudulent imports
tions. whether debentures have been paid on frau
ducnt expectations. the act is conclusive evidence,
that nothing can be lost by imposing lower duy on
ihosc articles. The comparison for the last two
years, exhibits more favorable RESULT bat the differ.
ence is still much less than the actual consumption
and where such extensive frauds have been 50 sue
ccssfuy practsed is scarcely to be hoped that any
degree of vigilance sufficient prevent thrm Gun be
permanently maintained under tho same tempta ton.
The attention of Congress respectfully invited to
the operation of clause of the Sd section of the act
entitled an act for the efcctual collection of
the duties imports" passed 23tb May, 1880. The
rule there in prescribed for appraising goods
packages by adopting the value Of tho best article
in package average for the whole, went into
effect on the fst of October last The notice wsa
too short to allow Of orders being given in all
cases; and some embarrassment arisen in the ap-
praisement Of such articles, had, for the conyc-
nience of trade, and without any intent to defruud
the revenue been usually put up in MKT packag7s.
In anticipation of tins difficulty, directions were Civ
To the collectors to ascertain until The of Jan
uary next The difference in each case be ycen the
amount Of duty imposed according to this mode and
ar mol rAiprf tb1
toinary mode. Du:, the bonds have been taken
for the duties on the average value. somo Legislative
provision will be necessary afford the proper relief
IL may, also, be expcdcni To except some articles
from tho operation of the clause above referred TO-
j.accs In particular are represented to be almost
necessarily imported of different qualities in the
package; and some permanent inconvenience will be
incurred 10 the trade in these articles, il The npor-
ter is obliged have them assorted. It is also e.i,
rable, that the character of the package for each
description Of goods required to be appraised upon
the average of the best article should be defined by
law. The department has endeavored To obviste
sonic of The Inconvenience arising from the change
and Al the same time TO secure the objects of h. ac,
BY allowing the parcels of such goods which were put
up separately. and designated packages in the in
voice, though enclosed general packa to be
regarded as packages for apprascn,cnt within the
meaning Of the law. Bn, the constant efforts 10
abuse this equation the part come ofthose for
whose bcael It was adopted, and the intrinsic diff.
Guilty OF fixing, without specific legislation anv
positive limit 10 the extent ofthe parcel be dcs,.ed
packaga will probably render il necessary shout
alteration Of the law be made resclnd the order
and Ia recognize no other package than the entire
quantity put up exterior box or enyelooe The
general operation Of The clause is found however 10
be beneficial! 1t ac atcs despatch and Uniform
ty II the appraisenen Of goods well as prevents
frauds on the revenue; and, with the aid of the nod
fications suggested, mercantile inueDuny will m
doubt. find means by conforming the packages to the
objects OF the law, to avoid its inconvenienccs
Efforts have BEEN made to give greater efficiency
to he revenue cutter service. But it has become
manifest that the compensation allowed by law the
officers, is inadequate. The Office of third Leu,cn-
nn', may, without injury to the service, be aboIshed
and if equivalent Of tho compensation now allow
ed 10 that officer, were divided between the other
officers, and addition made to the compensation
of the warrant officers, to whom important trnsis ire
cnntidcG, the service would be essentially improved
with bit little increase Of expense.
The regulations adopted for carrying into more
complete elect, The laws in relation tho revenue
arising from customs, will be hereafter communicated
in obedience TO the directions of the 10th section of
the tact alteration Of the several imposing du-
ties OH Imports" passed 9th May 1928 There il
to believe, that ma.eriul benefit has already
been derived from hoIi and that the measures adop
ted will improve in their effect, with the increased
experience of the officers.
The reduction of the da'y on salt made at the last
scssiOu, which will take place the 1st of January
1881, and first January, 1882. respectively, would
seem render 1t pfope. TO make corresponding re-
dac;on in the drawback allowed on the expectation
OF Picked lsD, WHICH 10 liked by the act OF Goth Of
July 1918, at 90 cents per barrel, that being at the
time the dny charged brishcl Of salt Unless
the Law allowing the drawback shall be previously
modified. tie exporter will begin receive, after the
sTst of January next greater amount of drawback
than the daty previously paid on the SALT
II is great Importance well to tho revenue as
to all the interests involved in the importation of for
cgn merchandise, that The action of tho custom
houses should secure, nearly possible unifrm
payment of duty upon the proper value of imports
contemplated by law: but there are nsupcrabsdffi
cutcs opposed to the accomplishment OF this object
under tho present system of impost duties to which
the Secretary Of the Treasury would respectfully in
vie the serious attention Of Congress
The valuation which the ad valore,n duties are
now lad dsccrtalncd from the true or current value
Of the goods in the market of thu FOREIGN country in
which they manufactured or Produced with the |
addition Of certain charges. and ten or twenty per
cent rs the case may be, when imported from this
or the o,hor side Of the Cape Of Good Hope The !
aggregate of these items which the duties are
laId is presumed to be the value Of the goods when
offered for sails IN the United States markets bu, sucb
- rarely the fact. IL is not possible for The officers
at any custom house, 20 ASCERTAIN Tic cur
rent yalac IN the foreign market with such precision
will render it item of uniform ratio 10 that of the
current ynIun in the ITnfnd = nj