The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-20
worms OF THE TREASURY DEPART
MENT.

RI. New York correspondent Of the National In
n,sOeer having in his letter of the 10Th INST, al-
ia N what he presumed to be gross error IN
os,rnc,ions to collectors of the customs, is
Ihv the Secretary of the Treasury, in his let
,,L. following day, published in this mornings
,.rgeneer, corrects the mistake he had made IN
Nv stating that, on further inquiry, he hnds ut
wy t,n1 wbether the error is not chargeable upon
,hs cusom-house, whose duty 1t is to con-
true the law"
This is all very well, so far as it goes; but it is
Aor Of what ought to be known when such a
Isro. has been made, directly or by inuendo.
Iroon inouirng at the proper quarter we find, that
-. tariff act of 1912, so far from "silks in the
.,n beipg charged with duty of two dollars per
1"aa as confidently asserted by the letter-wri,er,
"A law specifically admits "raw silks, comprehend
40 ali silks in the gum, whether in hanks, reeled,
Otherwise, " at duty of fifty cents per pound.
pa, MS another provision of the act imposes du-
n Two dollars per pound upon "sewing-slk and
/ !, wst y the Secretary the Treasury, upon the
Inject being brought to his notice in various shapes
,om collectors Of the customs, importers, and man
r,,mrers, found it expedent, in order to the pro-
,.ioo of the revenue from evaslons, and TO estab-
lust and uniform practice at the several ports,
issue general instructions on the 10Th ult,, IN
b,b the distinction made by law is explicitly la
IN, il the following words:
al has been suggested to the department that ar
L. &c silk manufacture-such,f for example, as
,,ag siik--may be introduced under false appel
NAN after being artifcally gummed, with the
,v Of cvadng the higher rate Of duty. A proper
rsn,icn on the part Of the United States apprais-
!, and due examination of the article, will, how
yer enable them to prevent the accomplishment of
{uch design, should it be attempted"
Upon subsequent representations made 10y manu-
,,turers, of facts not before communicated, addi-
oual Instructions were issued on the 18th instant,
O,ended to extend the guard against illegal entries
sewing-slks, &c, as will appear from the follow
ngex'ract
an the instructions from this department, dated
! he Doth ult., in relation to silks in the gum, your
Intention was called to attempts that might be made
10 evsde the appropriate duty chargeabe on sewing
kISs, by importing them, after being artifcially
kummed, under false designations
"FTOm urtner COnStutTduoH VI ruhJcS', ~ 10
eemed proper to advise you that, whether artificial
gummed, or in their natural gum, sewing silks,
kscer,aned to be such, being specifically mentioned
In the law, as liable to duty Of two dollars per
pound are necessarily taken out of the general cas-
fcaOn of silks in the gum entitled to entry at
fhy cents per pound"
1t will be at once perceived, from the foregoing,
hat there cannot be the slightest ground for inclu-
Ding the Secretary Of the Treasury in making charg-
off error in the admission ofthe article of sewing
lk at an illegal rate Of duty. The letter-wrlter
peaks of one entry only as having been made under
msconsruction of law. Ifany one were so made,
was in direct ,contraventon Of the treasury in
ructions. But the department, we are advised, is
ct to learn, automatically that even one such mis-
IKE has been made. In the other ports heard from,
he Instructions have heen properly construed, and
,rried into effect, and there is sufficient reason
presume that at New York contrary course
has been taken.