The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-03

afternoon, for Halifax and Boston.
After this, till next spring, we believe, there will
DO but one steamer a month. Our famous
packet ships WILL therefore, enter the lists for the
winter. Indeed, the Queen Of the West, with
two days later news, may yet arrive before the
Caledonia.
Next year, fifteen or sixteen ocean steamers
will be in service.
The Ad vaIorem TariH-Ths Valuation of
Observation-Disclosures Ignorance and Power
OF Appraisers-A Remedy Required.
distinguished political economist-Kauf.
man-in his work on the " Manufactures of
France" in speaking of those OF Lyons, observes
We manufacture to the amount of two
hundred and seventy-thre millions OF francs
OF silk goods alone, annually, one half of
which is Tor home consumption, and the other for
exploration With regard to our expectations.
the manufactures Of Lyons have no enemies so
violent as the protective tariffs of other markets /:
that Of the United States, the most important
as under that our productions endure the
most hostility and extortion, and it is very common
to see the officers Of the customs Of the Union,
tappraisers,) from their ignorance of the true
values OF goods, and their want of information
and experience with regard to them, use, without
any cause but the right of their laws the right to
value merchandise far above its real value while in
many cases, from the same cause, great amount
OF merchandise is passed at an under valuation II
s true, in the former case, the importer has relief
IN suit against the oppression of the appraiser;
but he is obliged to pay the expenses, which are
not refunded to him, if he gains the suit The
rlgor OF these laws engenders frauds, and in con.
sequence, to tell the TRUTH the invoices present.
ed are for the most part fictitious
When the fraud is produced, the powers
from whom they emanated indirectly, dis.
play too much severity against them, which
shows, upon examination, the immortality of the
most important regulations in matters of duties"
In 1872 the tariff of the Union was changed in
manner quite unforeseen, and mportations made
on the faith of anterior legislation were oppress.
ed with exorbitant duties, which caused the ruin
OF many honorable importers Mr. Kaufman. IN
an able and clear review of the manufacturing
Interests of France, as well as of the Continent,
calls the attention Of the French government to
the importance of recommending its agents and
merchants to impress upon the minds of foreign
authorities interested in the prosperity of their
countries, the importance of appointing 10 office,
as appraisers, persons well qualified by expert
ence as judges of goods, as much for the interest
OF their revenue, as protection for the honest
merchant against those who arm themselves with
all kinds of certificates, which in reality
such as consular certificates, only facilitate
frauds; as it is well known American Consuls,
like all others, are totally unacguainted with mer-
chandise. This Mr. Kaufman insists upon as the
interest of all governments, ofmorality and of civil
lizaton for the turpitude which is generated from
laxity Of principle with regard to custom-house
oathsis curse to the present state of society
The arbitrary method OF valuing merchandise
entered under the various tariff acts OF the past
twenty years, has ever been cause ofmuch COM
plant. The appraisers in our custom houses
have the power of regulating the rate of duty
upon different articles, almost independent of the
act emanating from Congress, merely by the me-
thod OF valuation. The Secretary of the Trea.
sury never has used proper discrimination in ap.
pointing appraisers, as the personal interest or
party position of applicants for, occupants of,
thesa offics, have had moro influence than quail,
foaton.
Under the operation OF the ad valorem act there
Is n very great field for carrying on extensive
frauds in the valuation of foreign manufactures,
particularly those from France; and there is.
therefore. greater necessity for the employment
OF persons, as appraisers, having full and per.
feet knowledge of the value of these goods, than
ever before existed. In nearly every suit which
the government has boon concerned in with our
importers, on account of the supposed false valu.
alton Of goods, the government has been cast,
which is sufficient evidence that the appraisers
have been almost universally wrong. These suits
are extremely vexatious, expensive, and annoying
TO the importers concerned, Notwithstanding the
results in their favor, and avoided in every way
even by submitting TO extortion and abuse on the
part of the appraisers and the government
should, in justice to this large and important class
oil merchants, remove every obstruction to Just
and fair method of arriving at proper valuation
of foreign merchandise.
independent of the illegal acts OF these go
vernmcnt officers, in their official capacity. from
which there is frequently no appeal, we have
heard of innumerabe instances of pettv malice
In appraising and passing invoices of mercban.
disc, which should, upon representation. cau.e
their Immediate removal, but which have bsen
passed over by the higher authorizes in silence
and those practising them suffered TO remain and
prey upon those coming within their power.
Many OF these things, we feel confident, never
have reached the notice of the Secretary of the
Treasury, or would have been remedied at once
AFFAIRS IN EuRoPE-The steamer now due will
probably bring us some further evidence OF the
feeling among the rival powers of Europe, rela-
i've 10 the marriage league between France and
spain. Though sufficient time has not yet elaps.
Cd, nor decided measures taken, 10 call forth a
hostile commitment verbally, or actually, from any