Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-20
rwENTY-sEv ENTm coNGREss--ad session.


To this drcar and prosperous land
Forever from orpressi"n's hand
TWENTY-SEvENTH CONGREsS--2d Session.
REVISED TARIFF
Report of the Secretary 1T the Treasury, transmitting
bill to provide from imports, and TO change
and modify existing laws imposing duties OH imports,
and for other purposes.
Treasury DEPARTMENT, May Q, 1912.
Sir In obedience TO resolution OF the House OF
Representatives of the 29lh March last requiring the
Secretary Of tie Treasury TO communicate TO the House
.the plans views and information, and matters, called
for the following letter addressed to him the 26h
february last, BY the Chairman OF the Committee Of
Ways and Means:
Committee Room Of Eays and Means,
February 20, lSl2.
Sir: am instructed by the Committee of Ways and
Means 10 request you communicate to them any plan
which you may have for raising the necessary amount
of for deraying the expenses OF Government
by an increase of duties mpotlons, or by auction
duties on goods imported otherwise; aso any plan
or view which YOU may have the subject Of home
valuation, cash duties, warehonsing system or any
other matters incidentally connected with these sub
jects and especially any information which can be al
forded by Department 10 the particular article
imported which will best bear increase OF duty, and
the amount of such increase.
As the committee ready 10 take this subject
under considerations they would be happy to receive
your views at as early day possible
Respectfully, yours,
WILLARD FILLMORE, chm.
Hon. WALTER FORWARD.
have the honor TO state that upon the subject Of
taxing s'sales at auction of goods imported other
wise, with view "to increasing the revenue, tho
Department is under the necessity, for the want Of
full and distinct information respecting IT. to de-
fer the expression of any opinion in reference to the
expediency ofthc tax question,
The opinion of the Department 10 the mpracti-
cability the "home valuation, provided III the COM
promise act expressed in report the finances,
do .ba Of l,S and mn
changed.
Various substitutes proposed with view of securing
the beEefits promised the manufacturing interests
and labori classes by such valuation, have been
sdered but after mature reflection, 1t has been thought
hest continue the existing mode of assessing ad
loren duties, far those duties retained, guard
ing 1t, as far as practicable from abuse, by additional
precautions against fraudulent invoices.
The plan of the Department "tor raising the neces
sary amount of for deirayng the expenses Of
Government by an increase of duties importatons
will appear in the accompanying bill
The object primarily regarded IN framing this bill
was the supply of an amount Of revenue supposed TO
be commensurate with the probable wants of the Co.
vernment in future years. Tine limit of expenditures
must, OF course, he determined by Congress and all
estimates By the Department of their amount are ne
cessary, in some degree, conectura In reference
TO this matter, IT possesses means Of forming
rect judgment OTHER than those which equally in the
power of every member Of Congress. The Depart
ment 90 further than assume that whatever eX-
and MAINTAIN enlarge system Of national defence,
will be certainly incurred ard, being we'll convinced
that the United States cannot be placed in that
dton of entire security which appears 10 be called for
by popular opinion we'll as demanded by our highest
interests without liberal and perhaps increased appro
prations from yeer 20 year, tie suppostion of d
lnlnished expenses has not been entertained. That
spirit Of economy which fofbds prodgality and waste
expected to n,erpose to Illustrate liberal system
OF measures for the national defence.
A url 81 hmm nj in
framing this bill has been TO afford relief and
couragemen; 20 the aborng classes and the mechanical
trades OF the country, whose interests how Ian
gushing undsr severe, and, in many instances
depression lIic IL is conceded that the primary
object of duties imports is the raising of revenue, il
~ believed that proper discrimination among the ar
tcles made Gutiab'c well as IN the amount of du-
ties may be rlghully demanded by the interests re-
terred 10, and is favorable to the interests of all
In order TO carry out the views Of the Department
this subject II became necessary To institute Inqu
res parts Of the t. S, and to await the re-
quired details and statements The delay, therefore,
which has taken place IN replying to the letter of the
Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, as
well TO the resolution Of the House, necessary,
only in aording the opportunity 10 those who
connected with the several interests above mentioned,
TO present their views matters vitality important,
hut also in allowing TO this Department
BILE time for due examinations and for equitable and
judcious arrangement of subject complicated and
delicate in lis character tina, Of framing system of
dues
The following estimate of the expenditures of tho
years lSi2, l-!3 and lcil exhibits the of in
come necessary TO 10 raised during The period
For tie gear 1872
Civil, foreign intercourse, and miscea-
neous, military and naval estima.
ted by the Departments S2iA24,35s %
Permanent appropriations 1000 20
Debt due by corporate cities, principal
and interest 1000 90
Parts of the old public debt 5000 90
Three and five per cent. funds due to
the States, including the sums due TO
late law $4,000 90
Interest payable in 1912, on
the loan Of ISL and lel2 $4,000
Redemption of Treasury notes
including interest 100000
- 100000 co