The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-20

ment of the duties ehargeabe on them. The pay
ment of the impost is exaeied when tho goods are
Withdrawn, and go into the importers possession
and thus the great principle on which the system
Of cash payments proceeds is preserved invioste,
The observations have made arecon6ned 10 the
policy Of extending the period Of time during which
goods are allowed to remain in the public stores
without calling for the payment Of duties, and Of
allowing them to be Withdrawn for consumption, or
domestic use, on paying the charges and the duties
without interest. These points embrace the whole
Of the first proposed amendment. ...
proceed now TO the second amendment; which
is 10 allow goods at any lime during ghe period linn
tied for keeping them in store. TO be taken out for
transportation on the payment Of all charges
This amendment is a substitute for that part of
the existing revenue system, which exacts two and
a half per cent. on the amount OF the duties paid
by the owner Of merchandise when he imports il,
and refunded to him when Il is re-exported. The
government, IN other words. in refundng the duties
20 the Importer, retains two and half per cent, of
the amount for its own use. The amount retained
was originally one per cent, as may be seen by
reference 10 section 81 OF the act OF 3ls July 1889
and scctop 81 Of the act OF tho eth August 1880
An addition Of one quarter per cent was made by
the act Of March 10, l796 substitute for certain
stamp dudes on debentares, which were repealed
by the same act And by the act OF 30th May,
1900, an addition Of two and half per cent was
made for the same purpose so that the amount re-
tanned at one time three add three quarters per
cent Bot these provisions were all superseded by the
tariff act Of 1876 which reduced the deduction to
two and a half per cent. In 1923 all deduction was
abandoned; and from that time until 1912 the whole
amount OF the duties paid on the importation of for
egn merchandise was refunded on its expectation.
But now by the 18th section OF the act Of Goth
August, 1870, the amount Of the deduction is fixed
at two and half per cent excepting in the re-ex-
portaton Of foreign refined sugars in which the
amount retained Is ten per cent on the duties paid.
The amount thus deducted by the United States in
paying back the duties received on foreign merchan-
disc in case Of Its re-exportaton was originally
as is perceived, very small (but per cent? and
the two second acts to which have referred-addng
two per cent and three quarters to the amount as
substitute for stamp duties on debentures-show
that the object was to indemnify the government
for the inconvenience and expense to which it was
subjected.
But the object is directly or indirectly shown by
oil the early laws well the early reports in
respect to the revenue system.
Under existing laws there is no very per-
the reason that it does not take the form Of
direct payment to the government. But, I'M
der the proposed bill, and with the extension Of
the period allowed for keeping goods in store. the
exaction OF a payment equal to the same proportion
Of the amount Of duties chargeable on them in all
cases, without reference TO the time during which
the goods have been stored, would be ilhberal and
impoitc. The exaction was designed, not al
source Of revenue TO the government, much less
encouragement TO the re-exportation of imported
goods Its purpose was what have stated-to in
demnify the government for the Inconvenience and
expense Of administering the system of debentures.
Under any other view Of the subject il could only be
considered as unreasonable imposition on COM
merce, and especially that branch of commerce in
which the country is so deeply commemorative car
ryng trade.
The bill under consideration proposes to lay aside
this exacon entirely, returning to the liberal
provisions Of former laws; and substitute for it,,
to require only the payment of the actual charges
and expenses incurred while the goods arc stored.
BY this provision the interest of tho government will
be fully protected, and the charges paid by the i'm
porter will bear Just proportion to the time he has
enjoyed the benefit Of the legal provision, under
which his goods have been held in store. Under the
proposed system, the exaclon, If il continued
would become a mere premium paid to the govern
ment for the privilege Of exporting foreign mer-
chandise, for which there was no demand at home
If the exaction were, it now is, In the shape Of
a deduction by the government, from duties ac-
tualy paid, its true character would be less appa-
rent than when the exacton takes the form of
tual payment by the importer an estimated
amount of duties which the government has never
received The last case would always occur under
the proposed system it should be adopted, the
goods would lie in store withoutany payment of du-
tes and in case of xportation il would be neces-
which the merchandise would have paid il it had
been entered for domestic consumption, and to ex-
act from the owner the payment of given proper
ton of that amount as charge for the privilege of
re-exporting it. Such charge is deemed an iberal
imposition on commerce.; and the bill therefore pro-
poses to allow merchandise, during the time it is
permitted to remain in store, to be Withdrawn for
expectation, under the existing legal provisions in
respect TO drawbacks, upon payment of actual ex-
penses, including the customary charge for stor-
age.
The third amendment is one which only sim
gleremark is necessary. The 18th section of the
act of lS42, provdes for sale of such quantities
of the goods deposited in store shall be necessa-
~ to pay the duties, and directs the goods unsold
to be restored; and if unclaimed for nine months,
they are liable to be sold for storage under section
thirteen of the act after the expiration Of that
period. The proposed amendment, for obvious rea-
sons, centempates sale of all the goods at the
expiration of the period allowed for keeping them
in store, and adopts the requirements of section
thirteen in respect to the formates of the sale, and
the payment Of the surplus Of the proceeds into the
treasury Of the United States for the Of the own
er. The propriety Of making final disposition by
sale of all goods which have been stored for the
term of two or three years. in case this period shall
be fixed, is too manifest to need illustration.
Anotherprovision, which is entirely new, requires
passing notice, Perishable goods are required to
be sold forthwith, as under existing laws; but with
tnem are Clds5eu, PuTpOSe Vi dn
sale, gunpowder, fre-crackers and explosive sub
stances. The danger in large cities from the accu-
mutation Of such substances, especially when de-
posited in the same stores with property of great
value, is Of such nature to demand some efec-
tua preventive. They are not imported in large
quantities. and there will be individual hardship
In the few instances in which compulsory sale is
likely to take place. at all comparable with the risk
which would be incurred by the public in admitting
them to the benefit of the warehouse system.
| believe have now stated the general provisions
Of the proposed BILL and pointed out the amend
ments it makes in existing laws. They may be
briefly summed up thus;
|. Merchandise may be deposited, and remain in
store two three years, instead Of sixty or ninety
days, before selling it for the purpose of realizing the
duties. . ..s.... ... .... 3d..
9. Merchandise may be withdrawn from store, at
any time during the two three years, for domes-
tic use or consumption, on the payment Of charges
and duties, without exacting interest on the latter
| from the date Of the entry.
| 3. Merchandise may be entered for expectation
I,,,i, tba ftvn Or n