Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-12-30

may YfeHtIy eXCCCd the adVanCo
which the importer is able to sell for in which event,
part, or the whole oft. falls the importer But
II the goods are bought at prices below the usual
rent value, and brought into market where the de-
but nearly rs great q price for the goods as il the
duty were land on their true value at the place of
Importation. In the first case, the operation may
prove rninons to the importer; and, in the last hc
ceivcs, m his profits, port ion OF what ought
erue 20 tho government. BY these operations, mani
fest injury is often done either to the government
the consumer. or the importer the uncertainty and
hazard of commercial enterprise increased, and
whatever failures ensne. the government will gene
rally incur a considerable portion of the loss.
As long "a the current value, rather the in
voice prco OF goods i'll the foreign market, is made
the basis which duties are laid, peculiar advan-
tagaa will be given those who have the best OPP
A'ties OF purchasing. or of making up invoices
at rates below h. current value. The purchaser
who lays IN ma goods low, not only derives profit
directly from thus bu, from the differ
ence in the amount Of duty paid them a, the GUS
tom-house. For instance, a difference of 10 per
cont. in the cost of article. paying duty of 20
per cent, gives an advantage of Is per cent. to
importer, who can purchase his goods 10 per cent.
lower than another. This advantage ia greatly in
creased under the operation Of the classification OF
woo'en cloths These necessarily import
ed at prices near the minimum points, and those
who can manage, either by MAX ng better purchn-
ses. or by Disgusting the current value in the in
voice 10 introduce cloths under class of duty be-
low that to which they belong, derive much great
| ef auVdntonc tnan ABOVE stated The cIo.hS so
transferred on the scale of duties. may pay in one
case IS cents per yard, instead ofS q; and such
importers may monopoZe tho supply of an exicn
part OF the market for that article the entire
| exclusion of those who have less favorable oppnrtu-
mites of purchasing. will not resort to unfair
means in preparing their invoices. Tho necessary
ef'ct of the system therefore. to throw cxtrn
sly branch of the importing business into the hands
OF foreign merchants, who always Law in their
goods on bctte' terms than American houses, hay
ing connection abr rad and in the hands of those
who, whether freign American, are the least
scrnpulors of tho means of gain. Under o-6inory
circumstances, the advantage which the American
merchant has IN selling. is cqu!val'nt that which
the foreigner has in purchasing but he cannot al
SD compete with a different rate of duty. Such q
system. therefore, either corrupt the American
merchant. Or cNpr him from al t,nse branches of
business in which these operations can carried
with success. I, is believed that ffactusl remc-
dy for this serious and growing evil is to adopt the
current value of all goods subiac to ad valnren du-
~ IN the United States the true dutiabe values;
disregarding OF course, the cost IN the foreign mar
ket. and excluding all charges and additions Such
change though important in its consequences, will
not vary the principle which impost duties are
now presumed to be LAID, and is in conformity with
that which has long been practiscd in the CON-
mercial nation of Europe According to this plan
instead OF rcsortng to vague and arbitrary rules to
ascertain the value of goods in the United States.
tits object may be attained by direct means. Ordi-
nary experience, skill, Gnd attention, the part Of
the proper officers, will enable them To determine
with al! necessary accuracy the current value in
their vicinity, and the mass of information
which might readily be collected to correct error if
any should be made by them, could not fail 70 Sc
cure Just and equal aPpraisement. This being
crmplishcd The government will receive the whole
duty paid by the consumer, and nore the prlco
of goods will be more steady; merchants will be
exposed TO less hazard; and the opportunity Of fair
competition between the American and foreign mcr-
chant 50 far it be effected by the action ofthe
government, will be restored 10 that equality which a.
liberal policy cannot deny to foreigners. and WHICH
a wise government will always desire TO secure TO
its own citizens
An additional reason for the proposed change
may be found IN the difference between the relative
values of god and silver established by different
nations, and tn" liability 10 error in estimating by
law the value of foreign moneys Of accounts in thase
OF the United States This may be illustrate ed BY
rsernng to the money relations of the United Stntes
with Grea. Britain, and with Portugal. The En-
gsh pound sterling ~ fixed by law at S. a.. United
States money. while it is worth about S. 60
Hence. the importer of goods invoiced in sterling
money pays duty on l., per cent. less Than they
have actually cost The miIrea of Portugal is es-
sablshed by law al l24 CENTS its actual value in U.
States money is III 22e cen,s consruuept,v The
importer of goods from Portugal, pays duty on about
II IL per cent. more than their actual cost which
makes the difference between the valuation on which
duties are imposed at the custom house, on goods
imported from England and Portugal, about 10 per
cent. in favor Of the mpor'a.ions from the former
These discrepancies we'll as all those which arise
from the occasional introduction OF paper and other
currenccs IN foreign countries, whose proportional
value tn gold silver be accurately ascertain
ed, viii be avoided ~ adopting the value of The goods
in the United States market, the basis for c:iars
ing duties This effect Of the monetary system,
should of be taken into consdera tinn in fix
ing the amount of duty in conformity with the pro.
posed change IL cannot be doubted that n rate of
duty imposed in this fern somewhat lower than the
present, exclusive of the allowance for the difference
in the money, would not only produce more revenue
but give stable and substantial security 20 the
interests of manufactures and commerce.
The only objections to this ch1nge which appear
to have weight, ore, LIST. The difficulty of making so
minute an appraisement a. would BIO necessary, of
oil the articles Of importation, without considerable
increase of custom house officers And secondly of
making the appraisement uniform oil the ports.-
The FIRST may. believed be obvinted by arranging
the goods into classes according TO value. in such
manner as To render the apprasomcnt not more abo
rious than at present. These being SO adjusted as
not materially to vary the rate Of duty between con-
tguous classes, and yet sufficiently distinct enable
the appraisers to assign each article with reasonable
accuracy TO its proper class. aided by nm invoice OF
the goods at their value in the United States to he
furnished oath by the importer, would secure all
tic facilities desired for expedition and accuracy in
IN Uifh hut ,flo od1 81