The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-02
APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT,
R and NTH IN. ndxin. MI rn.,,.,,I Of Lhe SsnnI.
PRODUCE OF THE TARIFF BILL OF THE
COMMITTEE.

The Secretary Of the Treasury has estimated tina
the bill Of the committee with the changes proposed
by him and adopted by them, would produce netr
revenue Of thirty millions Of dollars and if tea and
coffee are deducted, then twenty-eight millions oil
dollars, which is at least two millions more thar
any probable estimate Of the revenue from the pres
ent bill These estimates by the secretary ar,
chiefly based on those made by him in February
last They were made after most thorough exam
ination Of the subject by him for several months
with all the aid to be obtained here from the officers
and clerks in the Treasury Department, and also
from most able and experienced officers connected
with the customs in New York, Philadelphia, Bos,
ton, and Baltimore. Several of these gentlemen
were wings, and several Of them tariff men. The
secretary was in search Of impartial information
He was most desirous Of making estimates thai
would not exceed the actual results.
II is fact that the aggregate estimate made by
Mr.. Walker was as loo the i6pet estimate made
by any Of these gentlemen, and much below thai
made by large majority of them. When this fac
is taken into consideration and the further fact tha
the whole increase u Importation estimated by tn,
secretary, notwithstanding the great reduction o.
duties was only fifteen millions of dollars, not 6
doubt can be entertained that the bill of the commit,
tee as now amended, and emitting tea and coffee
will yield at least the amount estimated by Mr.
Walker, oftwenty-eight millions ofdoars. Very few
specific objections have been made to the bill. On.
made by Mr.. Brinkerhof was, that wine in Mr.
Walkers bill Of February, was taxed at much lesi
than brandy and spirits; and yet Mr.. Brinkerhof a
his deter
Mr. Hungerfords bill, which discriminates in the
same manner. Every business man knows, and al
experience proves, that brandy and spirits will bea
a much higher tax for revenue than wine and that @
high tax on wine will almost annihilate the reve
nue..
Mr.. Winthrop thought he had made great dis
covery, that there was estimated increase o.
800 600 of imports Of cordlals, when Mr.. Walker.
proposed duty was 40 per cent. and the present du
y, as he said, was only Al per cent. This is grea
mistake, and applies all specific duties The pres
ent duty on oordials is specific, and the average
duty on the imports is SGT down at al per cent, bu
on many cordials the duty is nearly double Al pei
cent, operating total or partial prohibition.
The cheap cordiais, thus wholly or partially ex
Guided by the present duty, would be imported to
great extent under the 40 per cent duty and the i'm
portation would on a most moderate estimate, b,
increased, stated by the secretary, at least $780,
900. Indeed there is every reason to believe that
the bill now unGsr consideration will yield hand
some excess over the estimate, of twenty-eight mil
lions.
There is one element which the Secretary Of the
Treasury had not taken into calculation, when ht
made his estimates. The settlement Of the Oregon
question; the relaxation of her corn-laws, and the
reduction of own duties to the revenue standard
will give new spring to the whole business of the
country, and will create a more liberal and exten.
sive commerce between Great Britain and the United
States The result of this increasing activity and
prosperity will be felt in the augmentation of ouI
commerce, the increased importation of foreign
goods, and the enlargement Of our revenue beyond
the calculations Of the Treasury Department
Away, then, with this idle panic about the amount
Of the which is to accrue under the bill Of
the committee. Some honest men are deceived by
il, whilst the cunning Protectionist employs it te
defeat any change in the tariff.