Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-04-15

metals generally, are liable 10 be charged
in three different ways:
First, All manufactures Of meals, not
otherwise specified, are, under general
clause, subject 10 80 per cent. on cost and
charges This is paying duty on the
foreign drayage, package, docknge, and
freight 70 this cOunlry--a tax on the freight
of our ships, in this instance.
Secondly, Specific duties are imposed
upon a number of particular articles.
Thirdly, There is provision directing
the coll ctors Of customs to charge all ar
ticIes, made wholly or principally of iron
or steel, with the duty chargeable upon the
material of which they are composed,
(iron "a cents per pound,) and Is per
cent. on the cost and charges, if that will
amount to more than the duties imposed
under the other clauses.
The last provision, on account of its in
quisitorial nature, as well as the eXtrava.
gance of the duties charged under il, is
highly Objectionable. TO find out whether
the articles will pay most duty by weight,
or by charge Of 80 per cent. ad valOrem,
the appraisers must unpack nearly every
cask Of assorted hardware; thus scattering
different importers goods upon the floor
of the public stores, and the same goods
are charged with different duties, accord
ing TO The vigilance or knowledge Of the
different appraisers. 1t is impossible for
the Government 10 provide the requisite
skill to execute this part of the tariff i'm
partially, and it would be impossible to
provide store room, appraisers and assist
ants enough TO unpack, examine critically,
and pack up nearly every cask of assorted
hardware imported into the country, as the
execution Of the law requires, were 1t not
TINT very few casks can be imported in the
face Of so much difficulty, uncertainty, and
onerous taxation. All calculations OF cost,
by the importer, are baffied; as it would
require second sight to predict the amount
of duty with which an invoice will be char.
ged.
A few of the eXtravagant results, in the
way o! enhancing prices of articles charged
under the second and third clauses, are as
| follow:
Smoothing irons are charged with du-
~ of one hun lrcl and thirty per cent. ad
yalorem. If the retail price, allowing a
fair profit To all The dealers under free
import, would lie tour cents per pound, un.
der this tariff, it would be more than eight
cents.
Chain cables are charge with duty Of
ninety per cent nd v,Iorem. If the re-
tail prize, allowing lai, profits under free
import, wond C s. SO per cwt., under
this raiill, it would be SO "a.
Cham traces are charged by the New
York custom house four cents per pun
duty, or ab one hunalcd and twenty
per cent. ad valorrm. If the retail price,
allowing far pr tit unlcr tree import,
wont e ihi"y-se, en- an ! n half cents per
par; under THIS tl;f, il would be seven.
y Nv cents
W vol srews are ch,rged with duty Of
eighty PEI cat ad va!niem; mixing the
retail price not mu h less than d mtle, if
imported under the present thrift over a
free importation. B II this article is pro.
h!ltc !, and the domestic article will he
sold instead; causing the consumer to pay
no tax, INDEED, to the United Stiles, but a
tax 10 the Eastern manufacturer of one.
third the price, for the privilege of using
his inferior article. The domestic article
is handsome to the eye--bei:g made hy
machinery; but, on account of the high
price Of labor, his to be made out OF wire,
instead OF forged blanks, and so will cause
many carpenter TO groan over heads
twisted off. Besides the worm is not so
good for a carpenters use as the foreign
article. These Inconvenience, are to be
borne, for the privilege of contributing to
the ilI.gotten gains Of the manufacturers
at the East.
Under the third clause of the tariff, men.
toned above, bed screws are charged with
duty of one hundred and twenty to one
hundred and forty per cent; iron hoes
perhaps sixty per cent; wrought iroa hir-
ges, iron bolts of all sorts, shoyes and
tongs, coal scoops, hammers, common sorts
of locks, common mu!lin bits for farmers
horses. rat traps, garden rakes, smiths vi
ces, tea-ke,tles, saucepans, and variety
of other articles, with duties varying from
forty to one hundred and twenty per cent.
ad valorem. Nearly all these articles, las
is the case with chain traces, mentioned
above are not made in the United States
at all, or to very small extent, and, there.
fore, these enormous duties OF fifty, one
hundred, and even one hundred and forty
per cent. appear to be mere wanton in
Fiction on the patience of the consum ers
the less wealthy part Of the
such as farmers, mechanics,
&c.
These instances Of the grevions opera.
ton of the tariff on the Industrious portion
IL. nar,,,,a..aii.r mill c,,As.a e.