Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-25

ever, that, II the contemplated to make any further
reaucuon In the duties preparatory to the hnal ex,in-
guishinent oil the debt, the reduction be made not to
'eke ehect unul the debt Is paid oil, as the reductions
already effected, barely leave revenue sufficient to pro-
vide Tor the ordinary expenditures Of the Government
and the annual appropriation for the shaking fund.
nose and other matters ofdetaii, are properly brought
to view by an officer who seeks 10 be practically use
fu'. The mos, remarkable feature in the report, is a
recommendation TO change the mode OF imposing al
vaiorem duties upon imports, which the Secretary pro-
poses Tor consideration preparatory 10 the revision OF
the system which must take place on the payment Of the
public debt.
The change proposed. 1, TO charge the duties on the
value OF the goods ia the United States market instead
oil the current value In the foreign country where the
goois are produced, with the addition OF sundry cbarg-
O., anu ten or twenty per cent. on the foreign price.
Inc opJecuol TO the present mode and the advanta-
ges expected from the change, are briefly examined
IN the report; The objections suggested are:
goods in the foreign market.
z. The opportunity afforded 10 fraudulent dealers 10
deceive the custom house officers The advantages re-
su'nng from such frauds are distinctly shown, aud also
uose gwen 10 foreign merchants, who, by buying
dhty. P'' ""0' rs'e Oh
.. That the duty which Is intended to be paid by the
consumer, is often paid by the importer, while the inn
porter not unfrequently obtains in his advance a portion
oil what ought TO accrue TO the revenue.
q mat the tendency is to increase the hazard of
commercial enterprise by rendering prices unsteady; to
expel honest American merchants from the importing
business, and throw il either into the hands of those
VINO nave no scrupies OF conscience, or into the hands
OF foreigners.
The Secretary suggests another objection 10 the pre-
sent mode OF imposing duties, not less interesting than
novel to the great mass of readers, viz: that owing 10
an erroneous computation of the pound sterling al the
custom house, and the difference between the true rela-
1--WE value OF gold and silver, and that established by
law IN the United States. the importer Of goods from
England, pays duty on Z l-2 per cent. less than their
actual cost; while the importer from Portugal, in con-
sequence OF the erroneous computation of the milrea of
the custom house, pays duty OH about III l2 per cent.
more than the actual cost.
Al these objections, in the opinion of the Secretary.
VIII be overcome; the revenue better secured. and the
various interests OF the country better Protected, by APP
The goods at their proper value in the United
states, and charging the duties thereon.
! be important change suggested by the Secretary in
the mode OF ascertaining and levying the import duties,
gives 10 TINS report a character Of peculiar interest. IL
cannot be doubted that the plan will be highly accepta-
Die to all fair importers, and, as far as the revenue is
we know of no measure whose opera ion /,
likely to be so beneficial.
we cannot lay aside the report without rendering our
tribute 10 Its merits. IL is emphatically an able psper.
alike Tor practical knowledge and cnlare.
ed views; and we regard it as fortunate for the country.
mat lis financial concerns, whose wise or indiscreet ma.
nagcment has an important influence on so MANY of the
great interests OF the country, are con6ded 10 one
whose plans are so skilulIy and prudently designed.
while they tend TO benefit the revenue, thew dis.
no other interest.
Annexed TO the repoitis a statement equally curious
md valuable oil the imports and exports of ali foreign
for each year, from 1921 to 1929, inclusive. The
OF which our present limits forbid.