Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-28

Flour Business in Francs.-It may be sub
ject Of some interest to portion Of our readers,
to understand the laws that are in operation in
France, touching the importation Of Wheat and
Flour, and the changes that are in course of dis
cussion in the French Chambers The follow
ing is the view that is given Of both in the private
correspondence of the New York Courier and
Enquirer, from Paris, under date of March 5lst.
These letters are attributed to Henry Lee, late
of Virginia.
Sc As to the famine, however with which we are,
threatened, the fact is, that we have had two
bad harvests in France in succession, viz: those
of 1880 and 1881, and within these few days it
has been ascertained, that the price of corn has
risen SO high at Marseilles, and throughout the
maritime departments on the Mediterranean
coast of the Kingdom, as to have removed the
prohibition against importation imposed BY the
law Of 1891.
"By that law, as you are probably aware, the
kingdom is divided into four great regions or dis
tricts, to each Of which is applicable separate
scale of protecting duties, and in each the Princi-
pie of prohibition begins to operate at u certain
point, in proportion to the estimated cost OF the
production in each respectively. Thus in the first
region or district, viz: that which has just been
thrown open to importation. the price at which
the prohibition is removed is twenty four francs
the hectolitre, or as near as possible in round
numbers, twelve dollars the. quarter. In the
other three districts, the corresponding prices are
twenty-five, twenty and eighteen francs the hec-
toitre, or in round numbers, about eleven, ten
and nine dollars the quarter.
From the evidence. adduced before the British
parliamentary committees, and particularly from
the celebrated report of Mr.. Jacob. which in the
course of the discussion in the French Chamber
of Deputies on this subject, has been received as
conclusive. as to all the important facts by which
the trade in corn is regulated, it appears that
four-tfths of the whole Of the foreign corn which
has ever been brought into France, has been i'm
ported in foreign bottoms, and that much short
err period is necessary in making voyage between
Marseiles and New York, than between Mar
settles and Odessa. Even it. the law were not to
he altered, it is generally understood among the
best informed people in commercial circles, that
the prohibition in force under the existing law
mast very soon be removed, in consequence OF
the present state of the averages, which IN all the
four districts into which the country Is divided.
are rapidly approaching the prices at which pro-
hibition ends. and free trade begins, on payment
Of regulated duty That duty consists in tax
of three francs, twenty five centmes. per hecto-
litrc. or something less than two dollars per quar-
ter, on the regulating prices being attained, in
each of the four districts respectively, OF twelve
eleven, ten aud nine dollars per quarter
During the sitting of yesterday. the most I'm
portant clauses of the new law were irrevoCably
voted. l say irrevocably because it Is not com
petent for the deputies to revise their decision,
and as to the other house there IS not the slight
est doubt, that in question OF this vital nature,
the Peers will sanction with their legislative au-
thority. a measure which comes to them original
inc with the government, and cordially approved
of by the great body Of the people
"The clauses hitherto voted are to the follow
ing.efect:-, o.
18TH the lst of July, 1888, the duties imported
corn shall be levied without distinction preference
as 10 the country of which it is the produce.
"'For corn and flour imported IN terms OF he law
of 1891 the du les be levied shall be those already
fixed BY that law.
For corn imported in those cases to which the
prohibition Of the law of 1921 was applicable, and
which is now defnitvely removed surtax OF one franc
and half per hectoltre Tor about three quarters OF
dollar per. qrarter] shall be levied on each franc per
hectolre THAT is each half dollar per ousrter] OF
fall in tt price Of indigenous corn as verified by the
average of the regulating msrkets'
"By this last clause, as defnitively adopted BY
the Chamber. you will see that the average price
of corn has been adopted as the regulating basis
BY which the rates ofimpor duty are to be settled
According to the bill or project de loi. proposed
by the government, the weekly asslze OF bread
in Paris. and the chief towns of the departments,
was to have been adopted as the basis instead OF
the corn averages. or, as they are called 10
France, the mercurials A still more important
deviation from the principle proposed by the
government, consists in the adoption of more
rapid ratio in the increase Of duty, than IN the
decrease OF price. The proportion recognized
in the new law between the one and the other, is
as three are to two.The government had proposed
that the two principles should advance side by
side with equal CELEBRITY. a franc of duty per hec-
tolite, for every franc of fall.
The committee. however Of the Chamber Of De-
puties. of which NJ, Charles Dupin, the celebrat-
ed political economist and statistical writer, Is
the chairman and reporter, had recommended
the adoption ola still more rapid rate of increase
l. r a