The daily union., 1846-06-27
CON RES SION AL.
WAREHOUSING IMPORTS,

WAHEftOUSlNG lMfONlo,
Mr. SIMPSON, from the Committee Commerce,
made the tOliOioing report:
The Committee on Commerce, to whom were refer
red the several memorials and petitions from diff
ferent parts of the Union, praying the establish
ment OF a warohousing system, report
\ From the earnest recommendations Of our presi-
DENTS treasury officers and chambers Of commerce,
az we'll as other memoriasts the committee are in
Iduoed 10 look this system Of great importance
to the commerce of the Union; and in subdlyding
the various matters referred TO the committee this
subject was referred 10 subcommittee, consisting
Of Mr.. LAWRENCE, ofNew York, MIR. GRMSELL, OF
Massachusetts,, and myself, to investigated and re-
port bill.
feel it due to them to state, that to their practi-
cal knowledge ofthe subject Of conmeroe, and their
cheerful corporation, together with information
sought from other sources, ] am indebted, not only
for an insight the of the subject, but for
the details Of the bill | clnim, therefore, for this
report and bill nothing beyond the arrangement OF
the facts and the deductions from them.
\. Previous to the LIST Of july lS42, the laws of the
United States permitted imports to be sold on a
credit for the duty--extendmg at different times
from three months to one or more years, except
certain classes of imports which were required To
pay the duty in cash. At that time the tariff had
come down TO an average Of 90 per centum or less,
and then the payment ofdutes in cash was required
on all imports.
to an average Of 40 per centum, as by Some assert
ed, and imposed on many articles before free which
made il necessary to pay double the amount before
paid on the articles taxed, and an equal duty on
many articles before free.
4 This tax, by the laws now in force the importer
has to pay in cash when landing his imports, on the
whole cargo once. And it any Of the cargo IL in
tended for exporlatIon the duty paid thereon must
remain deposited in colecters' hands until bond is
given that the proof will be brought back that the
imports have been landed in foreign port, and then
the duty paid IL refunded him a drawback
| From July, 1912, these burdens and restrictions
have been considered severe and injurious, well
to trade the importer, and hence the general call
for a remedy.
The requirement Of the duties in cash is, when
accompanied with other suitable regulations, good
requirement and, at the time it was adopted, prob
ably necessary to secure the safe collection Of
the revenue, for which alone 1t adopted. But
the system on which 1t engrafted was not adapt
ed to 1t, and 1t has worked badly. And although 1t
has given the collection Of the reasonable
security it has sacrhed other interests.
The following some OF its prominent evils
lst. 1t requires importer to pay, on landing his
imports, all the duty the entire importation, al
though part may be intended for export 'tion.
4 From which loss results TO the importer Of the
interest the capital advanced TO pay the duty on
his goods exported from which, Also the prices Of
Imports are increased 10 consumers TO the amount
double by importer and merchant, and caused by
obllging the importer to pay the duty. This per
centum on the last years duties was over s3OOO,-
600.
ID. II lessens the carrying trade, prevents compe-
tition, and throws imports into the hands Of capi-
ltaists and mostly foreigners This is an injury TO
ship-owners hip-buiders, lessons the demand for
seamen; hence destroys the nursery for the navy.
And il also increases the tax on the producer and
consumer by increasing freight. Half cent re-
duction in the freight of last years cotton crop
would have saved the planters 81 3l2 636; other
productions in the same proportion.
By this bill the revenue will be collected with
equal security, greater facility, and the losses re-
sulting to the consumer from the cash duties be
saved.
By the warehousing system is meant perms-
sion by law to importers to deposite imports IN
suitable houses under the key of the collector of
the port, for any term not exceeding three years,
without the payment Of any duty also, permission
to withdraw any part or the whole at any time dur
ing the three years, for expectation transfer TO
any other port in the United States, without pay
ment of Guy duty. At any port, any part or the
whole, on paying the duty, may be Withdrawn for
consumption.
As this subject never has been legisated on by
Congress- and the present object is to unfetter
commerce as much as is compatible with security TO
the revenue, the committee have endeavored to make
the bill as perfect as possible with view to the
ton from all quarters, and finally submitted it, to be
perfected in details the comptroller Of the treas
ury.
The bill provides as follows:
Sec. /. That importer may deposte his imports
in the custom other house free of duty for three
years, under the key of collector and give bond,
also, in the value of the imports.
Sec. 9. That he shall have first complied with the
| legal requirements.
Sec. g. That importer may withdraw a part
or the whole for consumption, on paying duty and
charges.
Sec. 4. That importer may withdraw part or
the whole for expectation, on paying storage and
giving bond that these exports shall be landed
abroad.
Sec. s. That importer may withdraw n part or
the whole for transfer to another port of entry.
After entry in the custom-house there, he may, in
like manner az at the first port, Withdraw for export
or consumption, to transfer again to any other port
of entry.
Sec G. When and how the importers bond shall
be discharged.
Sec 7. That importer, when his imports arrive at
the second port after complying with all the re-
qusites of the warehousing law except cartng
his imports to the warehouse may, from the wharf,
enter them for consumption, expectation, trans
fer to another port.
Sec 8 Permits collector to use custom-housc for
warehouse or importer may furnish one.
| Sec 9. That imports warehoused, that are en-
bezzled, shall be forfeited, and the embezzler fined
u 81 600.
Sec TO- That owner Of vessel with imports on
board, not entered by the ofthe goods in five
days, the captain of the vessel may warehouse
them.
Sec. H. Collector is required to sell at auction all
imports under former acts and duties paid in
ninety days, and make return thereof to the treas
ury.
Sec. l2. Collector is directed to sell and return
in same manner all imports warehoused under this
act left unpaid for at the end of three years from
entry.
Sec I3 Collector is directed to sell imports ware
housed in rotting or decayng condition, and make
same return
Sec IA directs that this act shall go into effect in
sixty days after approval, and directs the Secretary
of the Treasury to make necessary regulations to
; carry it into effect.
Sec Is RepeOling clause.
If this bill be adopted it will reinstate the sound
though long neglected maxim of Adam Smith, "that
every tax ought to be levied the time and in the
manner most convenient for the contributor to pay
it," because it provides that the tax shall only be
paid when the imports are entered for consumption,