Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-23
THE NOTE OF PREPARATION.


The following Circular and list of questions from
the Secretary Of the Treasury appeared in the Off
cial paper on the 10th instant and we insert them
for the information OF our readers. They are,
without any comment of ours, sufficiently indicative
of the intention of the Executive. That intention
is, OF course, a modification and reduction OF the
Tariff. Some objection has been made TO the in
qusitorial character OF these inquiries but they
are not TO be answered on compusion, we are not
disposed to arraign the proceeding on that ground.
We incline to think, however, that the nforma-
ton which they will elicit will be any thing but
full and correct Those who can give correct
information will be apt TO question the right to
qulre It, and those who do respond will probably
give nothing which can form safe guide for any
Legislative action subject so delicate and so inn
portant as Encouragement and reduction of the
Iarlf1. Were all the questions fully and satisfac-
torily answered. or the major part Of them they
would doubtless embody mass of valuable statsti-
cal information, although we should hope not to see
it employed in the evil purpose of breaking down
the Protective System.
(CIRCULAR.)
TRgAsuRY DEeARTMEsT, JULr 10, Is45 /!
SIR send you several copies of questions heretofore pro-
pounded by the Treasury Department with view to obtain
information in regard to the tariff
You will please obtain these questions from re-
liable sources, have the here by the first Of
October next
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
r. J. WALKER,
Secretary Of the Treasury
questions.
l. State and county in which the mandatory situated
q Kind or description Of the mandatory and whether
water, seam other power,
3. When established and whether ont-s;ock
A. Capital invested in ground and buildings and water
power, and in machinery
Average in materials aud in cash for the pur-
chase of materials and payment of wages
Annual rate Of profit the capital invested the
establishment Of the manuctoy Distinguishing between the
rate OF profit upon that portion of the capital which Dor
rowed after providing for the interest upon and the of
profit upon that portion which is not borrowed,
n Cause Of the increase Cor decrease the may
of profit.
g. Rates of profit on capital otherwise employed in the
same State and county
Amount of articles annually manufactured since the es
tabishment of the mandatory description, quality, and
ue of each kind
TO- Quantity and value Of different kinds Of raw materials
used Distinguishing between foreign products and domestic
H. Cost the United States Of similar articles Of manu-
facture imported from abroad, and from what countries
H. Number Of men, women, and children employed, and
average wages of each class ,
10. How many hours day employed, and what portion Of
the year "a
H. Rate Of wages Of similar classes otherwise employed in
the State and county, in other States and in foreign
countries
is. Number Of horses or other animals employed
l6. Whether the manufactures find market the
factory if not, how far they sent to a market
IT. Whethefoegn articles of the like kinds enerinto
petition with them at such place of sale and to what extent
l6. Where the manufactures consumed
49, Whether any of the manufactures exported TO TO-
| reign countries and, if so, where
for cash and if credit at what credit if bartercd for
| what
81 Whether the the manufactured article TO the
manufacturer has increased decreased and how much
each year, from the establishment of the mandatory and
whether the increase has been in the materials the labor
| and at what rate
% The prices which manufactures have been sold
| by the manufacturer since the establishment ;
49, What rate of duty necessary to enable the manuac
ure to enter into competition in the home market with SINH
| lar articles imported
"a Is there any change necessary in evyng collecting
| the duty such articles to prevent fraud
25 Whathas been the rate profits annually for the last
three and if il be joint stock company what dividends
have been received and what portion of the income Of the
company has been converted fixed capital retained
fund for contingent other Objects and therefore not dv
ded out annually
26 What portion of the of your manufactures con-
sss of the price Of the material what portion Of the
OF labor and what portion of the profits Of capital
27 What of the agricultural productions of the
country consumed in your establishment and what amount
%. What quantity amount of manufactures, such
you make produced in the United States, and what
amount in your own State
80 II the duty upon the foreign manufacture of the kind
of goods which you make reduced twelve and half
per cent with a corresponding reduction all the imports,
would it you abandon your business would you
continue to manufacture at reduced prices
30. II il would you abandon your business,
what way would you employ your capital
81 Is there any pursuit in which you could engage from
which you could derive greater profits after reduction
Of the import duties to twelve and half per cent.
80 Are the manufactures Of salt and iron, remote from
the points of Importation, Of foreign competition within
certain circle around them and what is the extent of that
circle
49, Amount Of capital and what proportion the borrowed
capital bears to that which is real
a. What amount of reduction In the duties would enable
the actual real capital employed yield interest of six
per cent and how gradual the reduction should be
35 IL minmums should he abolished and the duty assess
ed upon the actual value of the imported article in the Amer
port what rate Of nd voem duty would be equivalent to
the present with the minimum
49, What would be the operation of this change upon the
frauds AT present supposed to be practised
81 Proportion which the production by the American ma
nuacturer bears TO the consumption
SO Extent Of individual and household manufactures IN
the United States and how much has increased since the
tariff Of 1912
80 Average profit money capital in the United States
40 Average rate Of wages
MEXICO.
Senior ARRANGoIz, the late Mexican Consul at
New Orleans, sailed from that place for Vera Cruz
on Saturday, the 9th instant We learn from the
Tropic that the instructions from his Government
left the neriod of the of the Consul wholly