The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-27

ing merchants for statements from the actual trans.
actions under the law. general circular WAS
sent to the principal importing houses in several Of
the large. commercial cities, and the information
communicated has been various and important
In relation to the actual ad valorem rates of duty
equivalent to the SPECIFIC duties, and the duties af-
fected by the minimums under the present law.
made from the bills OF purchases and accounts Of
charges the committee observe that the merchant
rates usually exceed very considerably those given
IN the treasury statement 10 which they have re-
fered. This, 1t is presumed, proceeds from the
fact that the merchant statements are usually made
from a single invoice bill, probably selected be-.
show aadistincty any other the severity Of the
duty while the treasury statement shows gene
raj average rate upon the mportations for three
quarters Of year, OF all the qualities Of the same
general class Of goods. 10
For the same reason, is supposed the state
ments received from different houses as to the ac
tual ad vaorem rate OF duty upon an article OF the
same general denomination, frequently differ seye.
raj per cent. The statements Of the merchants by
no means extend to all the numerous articles named
in the table, but are rather confined to the more
important classes Of articles. The differences be-
tween these and the treasury statement do not ap-
pear to the committee to be such 10 invadate
the authority of either, but rather to confirm both
as 70 general accuracy, and in any event to afford
the treasury table are not above the actual and
practicable rates under the law The differences
between the merchant statements themselves, rem
ger 1t Impossible 10 present a single rate in the
NTH column OF the committees table, with lstice
to the merchants who have so generously come for-
ward to give information, or to the information
given. The committee have, therefore, where
there varying statements, placed in the column
the highest and lowest rates found in any Of the
communications touching the same articles so that
it will give the range of mercantile calculation and
the committee annex (marked d. is the trea ury
statement, already described furnished from the
Office OF the Register of the Treasury and authen.
ticated by that officer. reference to the remarks
eyn1a natOr Of he frat s,f tail
percede the necessity OF any further description Of
this statement A few observations, however, in
reference to some entries In the table, exhibiting
results which, at first sight, would seem to impair
its force and weaken its authenticity, are consider
ed to be necessary. Upon reference to the arti-
Gle Of piglead in the present law it will be seen
| that the duty is specifics cents per pound The
value of this article in our principal cities is beev-
ed to range from 3 to cents, showing the duty TO
be equivalent to an ad valorem rate Of about 100
per cent-probably rather over than under that rate
sury statement will show that in these three quar-
tiers of year, 200 pounds of pig-lead were import.
ed; custom house value, asreturned, 49, This lead
| paid the duty Of cents per pound, which upon go
pounds, was IS 40, equal to an ad valorem rate Of
29O per cent This IS an actual transaction, but
| not natural ones The importation was doubtless
casual, and not in the course of any regular trade,
| as the amount Of the Importation shows that there
| is no trade. The value placed TO this lead may be
its cost for that accidental purchase, but it is not at
all the mercantile or market value OF the property;
anu hence tue cATuVdEdHt IeSult, upon compare
| son between the value and the duty So the entry
as 20 the article Of barley shows the Importation OF
| l,7Ol bushels, valued at only Sl06-hetween and
| 7cens per bushel The duty upon barley is speci-
fic-2O cents per bushel; which, upon the i,7Ol
bushels is, $50 co. equal to an ad valorem rate OF
800 per cent. Here, again. he transaction ac-.
tual, but most unnatural. The value was unimpor-
tant TO the collector, because the duty was speci-
c; but it is apparent that The value bears scarcely
relation to the market value of merchandise bar
ley, while the importation shows that there is no
| regular trade in the article. This was probably
damaged grain, and purchased for nominal price,
because the purchaser supposed that it would war
rant the payment Of the freight and the duty
Again, upon the other side, the importation G rye
was bushels, valued at SIS; this being above the
ordinary market value Of the grain. The duty is
specific, Is cents per bushel-only 81 IS upon the
bushels imported; equal to ad valorem rate of
Is per cent, while the real rate OF the duty
be from 20 to 25 per cent upon the ordinary mar
ket value of the grain The committee poiIt on.
these instances as examples. There may be few
Others of similar character, both upon til one
side and the other Of true presentation of the
value of the existing duties; but they believe that
all such instances will be found to arise where
there is regular trade in the article, and rha.
they should not, therefore, be held to weaken the
force or accuracy Of this statement, when the trade
is regular, and the articles OF those Of ordinary
import.