The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-12
DUTIES ON FOREIGN WOOL.
New YoRx, November 10, lS45.


Every time Congress has taken up the tariff, for
some years past, there has been an alteration in
the duties wool, the object of which has been to
introduce, at low duties, the coarser qualities that
are not produced by US, and to prohibit the adms.
sion Of the inner, or impose such duties a. 10 en-
courage its growth among our farmers.
The existing duties BY the last tariff require al.
teration, as but few are benefited by its operation;
and the only profit that is made by importing WOOL
is by getting through the custom house woods that
should pay the higher duty, at the low rate Of per
cent on It's costor, in plain words, the profits de-
pend Upon the erie that The cusonhouse csm be de-
Traudtd. II is rare that there is wool, however
coarse but that, when washed and cleaned ready for
the manufacturer, is worth here about twenty cents
the pound some very few parcels--in all, very
small quantity-may be worth about fifteen cents
the pound; but the bulk Of coarse imported woods
worth full, and even than twenty cents the
pound. This wool costs, at the place OF shipment
in Africa, Asia, South America, in i,s dirty state,
from three TO five Cents the pound, and has mix
ture Of dirt and burrs in it, than equal 70 the
weight Of the wool when clean; sometimes this wool
is washed before it is shipped which is the case al
Rio Grandc and the river La Plata, in which state
it sells there at from 1--WE to ten cents per pound and
when the burr Is picked out, and the wool in clean
state, il sells generally at from twelve to fifteen
cents the pound. These different grades of wool
are all shipped, and, under the present construction
Of tho tariff, are admitted through the custom-ho,se
at the duty of per cent? being tho duty on all
wool costing under seven cents the pound and fire.
quenty very fine merno wool, with dirt and burrs,
10 admitted also at the same rate large quantity
near 100000 pounds weight was admitted through
the Boston custom-house at this low duty, not
many months since, which, when washed and the
burr cleaned out, would average in value full thirty
cents the pound, and some Of it would challenge
comparison with any wool we produce.
The trainers Of the tariff intended to levy a pro-
tccting duty on fine wool. Our country produces
coarse wool as well as fine, and, under the present
system, neither is protected.
The duties charged on fret cost, and the ship
per who makes out the invoice and swears to iis
containing the true cost, is not generally the owner
or the purchaser. Frequently the owner, or the
purchaser, who may be the agent of the importer,
will 60 into the market, and purchase wool which
he has baled and ready for shipping. This wool
has cost him ten TO fifteen cents the pound He
makes out bill or memorandum account of it, and
goes to mercantile house, A, B, e. Co., and says:
"Hcre is parcel Of wool that wish you to ship,
despatch il through the custom-house, and make
the invoices" which they are very glad to do, and
charge ~ per cent. for their trouble. They there
upon make out the invoice, shipped by A, B, & Co.
Of Smyrna, for account of whom il may concern,
and consigned to G, d, e. Co., of New York; take
this to the United States consulate, and get cerf-
icae that the wool is nvoiced at its true cost after
having sworn to that effect, and they know of no
other cost
The vessel sails, and the invoice arrives al New
York. is entered and sent to the public store for ex-
animation, where the appraisers are morally certain
that there is deception and fraud in the cost accord.
ing TO the invoice but ii cannot be proved. Plenty
Of woods in the same way have been passed from
South Americs, and this must pass also. Other in
voices presented of coarse wools part of it wash
cd and cean costing twelve and half cents the pound;
part washed, the burr remaining costing six and a
half cents the pound; and the balance made up Of
dirty bury wool, costing three cents the pound.
This is all averaged and put down as costing six
and three-quarters cents the pound and being Of
quality, is admitted a, Ave per cent. duty. The inn
porter sells the washed and cleaned wool at twenty.
hve cents the pound, and the balance at cost; and
the invoice leaves large profit. Another way OF
invoicing wool is to include all the cost over six
and three-quarters cents the pound among the
"charges baling,' &C., and they generally amount
TO twenty or twenty-five per cent on the cost of the
article. Invoices can be seen at the custom-house
every day, where the items Of charges 30 enor-
nous as TO excite wonder and suspicion. Sheep
skins also admit Of fraud; and i is impossible to
bring the different ways TO light There are in
voices Of wool and skins honestly entered, but gen.
orally on importations Of wool, the profits depend
upon the extent that the custom-house can be de-
ffauded"
Tn, remedy, and the only one, is to have the du-
ties on wool ad valorem on home valuation; and
then there can be no fraud. Wool worth under Ave
cents the pound to be free; from five to ten, s. from
ten to Aneen, 10; from fheen to twenty, 20; over
twenty, TO- This is justice 10 all-the first princi-
pie Of our government.
The writer has been conversant with the wool
business for fifteen years; and for nearly % many
years has resided IN foreign country, where large
quantities are shipped To the United States; and
these remarks ara the result Of his own ohserva-
tions--not the hearsay reports Of any one.
Your obedicnt servant, HUNTER.