The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-29
From The Journal Of Commerce.
DUTIES UNDER THE COMPROMISE ACT.

In your Washington correspondents letter, of the
2ist June, the following passage occurs Should the
resident veto the temporary Tariff bill, the duties
WIN oe levied according to the terms of the Compro-
nllSe act ana the Revenue Law Of the last session,
ana me distribution OF the proceeds of the sale of
Pupnc lahas VIII take place on the LIST of JULY G.
should there be any money in the Treasury to dstr
butte, which Is not probable
mat part relating to the distribution of the pro-
ceeds OF the sale OF public lands on the Isl of July
next under The act Tor distributing the proceeds Of
the sales OF the public lands among the States when
ever the duties on imports do not exceed ~ per cent
Is an error, apprehend. The duties on all imports,
now pay ng more than 20 per cent. ad yalorem will
on lhe IS. July next, pay duty Of 20 per cent, the
ratue Of those imports al the port IN ne United Staies
iohere they may be entered The following is the part
oil section Sd of the Compromise Act relating TO this
subject And from and after the day last aforesaid
he lst july lS42) the duties required be paid by
law on goods, wares and merchandise shall be assess
ed upon the value thereof at the port where the same
shall be entered under such regulations may be
prescribed by law" Now the value of the goods at
the port where the shall be entered, includes
the
Foreign cost
The boxes or wrapperng, SC.
The inland carriage.
mhe export duty and shipping expenses.
The freight.
The insurance.
The duty in the United States.
Inc commissions and expenses of selling.
Inc prohts OF the importer, (when he gets any)
All these items must be added, including the first
cost, which, in no case will amount to less than 60
per cent; SO that the duty of 20 per cent will be
upon lou, instead of 20 per cent upon 100, making
81 per cent. upon the foreign cost, instead Of 20
the per centage Of duty at which the proceeds Of
the sales of public lands would be divided among
the States
The present duty is 30 per cent on the foreign cost
fhg m ti,a Iat ItIlN nayf hy fha
section OF the Compromise it will be at least 81
per cent. To think of dividing the proceeds OF the
sales OF public lands among the States because the
duties come down. or rather 60 up to ~ per cent on
the value OF imports at the port OF entry or 81 per
cent on the foreign cost, is nonsense. Inc duties
under the Compromise act will be more than at pre-
sent, on the chief amount of mportations It's very
doubtful whether majority of the members OF Con-
gress were aware, at the time they passed the Com
promise act that it topped short Of reduction of
duty to ~ per cent on the foreign cost The duties
imposed by the Compromise act will bring larger
amount of revenue than any other tariff Congress
would have passed, and especially if Congress pass
such an appralsement law as will give security
against seizures by the custom-house collectors for
their own especial benefit. Congress passed an act
year ago, diminishing the amount of emolumcnt of
the different persons In and about the customhouse,
who were Interested in the seizure of imported mer
chandse, but although there be little doubt that
Congress ~ that act intended to deprive the Colec-
tors OF the Customs of the onesxh of all the seizures
they could effect yet the act is SO worded as to gre
the Collectors the interest they had before
and such is the understanding Of the act by the Col
lector OF this port This act should be amended and
made explicit, as to cut off entirely those induce
ments to legal punder provision, clear and dis
tnct, to the same effect should be introduced into
new appraisement law which would give confidence
to the dealers in foreign merchandise, both at home
and. abroad which confidence it has been principal
object of party here to destroy.