The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-22

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domnify the government for the Inconvenience anC
J expense OF administering tho system Of debentlres
Under any Other view Of the subject IL could only bs
lconsidered as an unreasonable imposition an com
merce, and especially that branch Of commerce il
which The country is so deeply coneerned-the car
The bill under consideration proposes to lay aside
this exaction entirely, returning 70 the more Bbera
lprousons Of former laws; and, as substitute for t
10 require only the payment OF the actual charges
and expenses incurred while the goods are stored
BY this provision the interest Of the government, viii
be fully protested, and the charges paid by the i'm
porter will bear lust proportion tothe time he has
enjoyed the benefit Of the legal proyision, under
which his goods have bean held in store. Under the
proposed system, the sxacion, If IL sonta led
would become a mere premIum paid TO the govern,
Ineht for the privilege Of exporting foreign mer.
ehandlse, for which there no demand az home.
the cxaetion were, as it nos h, In tho shape Of
? dsduenon by tho government, from duties se-
tualy paid, It's true character would be loss appa-
fent than when the exacton takes the form OF an nc
tua payment by the importer on an ostima led
amount ofdutes which the government has never
feceiyod. The last ease would always occur under
the proPosed system hn should be adopted, the
goods would lei store without any payment Of da-
esi and, IN ease Of re-ex portaon would be
cary TO assume basis the amount OF the dutes
which the merchandise would have paid IL Il had
been entered for domestic consum pton, and to e.
y
uon OF thai amount AZ a charge for the privilege OF
ro-exponing A. Such a charge Is deemed illiberal
nmPoslon on commerce; and the bill therefore pro-
poses 10 allow merchandise, during the time il 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permitted to remain in store, To be Withdrawn for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 on which only sin
gle remark is necessary. The 18th section Of the
act Of 1892, provides for sale of such quantities
Of the goods deposited in store as shall be necessa
ry 10 pay the duties, and directs the goods unsold
10 be restored; and II unclaimed for nine months
they are liable TO be sold for storage under section
thirteen Of the same act after the expiration OF thar
period. The proposed amendment FOR obvious rea-
sons, contempates one sale Of all the goods at the
expiration ofthe period allowed for keeping them
IN store, and adopts the requirements Of section
thirteen IN respect TO the formaliies Of the sale and
the payment of the surplus Of the proceeds into the
treasury of the United States for the use Of the own
or. The proprety Of making final disposition by
sale OF all goods which have been stored for the
term OF two OF three years in this period shall
be liked, ID too manifest TO need illustration.
Another provision, which is entirelynew requires
passing notice. Perishablo goods are required to
be sold forthwith, under existing laws; but with
them are classed, for the purpose Of an immediate
sale, gunpovder hre-crsckets, and explosive sub
stances The danger IN large cities from the acc,I-
posted in the same stores with property of great
value, IS Of such nature as TO demand some effec-
tual preventive. They are not imported in large
Quantities, and there will be no Individual hardsh
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.
men,s IT makes in existing laws. They may be
briefly summed up thus- ~" "a' D.. .. 'l0.I'2t /
l. MERCHANDISE may be deposited, and remain in !
store two three years. instead Of sixty or ninety
days before selling il for Of realizing De
3 Merchandise may be withdrawn from store, a,
any time during the two or three years, for demes-
TIC use or consumption, on the payment Of charges
and duties, without exacting interest on the latter
from the date of the entry .-. r. \
g. Merchandise may be entered for expectation
at any time during the two or three years ON the
payment Of actual charges and expenses.
These are the leading provisions of the bill. III
has been ruling consideration in framing it to d.
vest it Of all completely 1t has been thought prop
er to put II in the most simple form possible and TO
rely mainly for carrying into effect the provis-
ions 1t contains on regulations to be framed by
the Treasury department. These may be accom-
modated to unforeseen circumstances, and exigen
cies may thus be met which might be without a
remedy for time, Il all the details Of the plan were
at the outset to be regulated by legal enactments.
The Secretary Of the Treasury is, therefore, author
lied to make such regulations, not Inconsistent with
the laws Of the United States, as may be necessary
TO give full effect 10 the provisions Of the act. As
the plan Is tried, and its defects or It's benefits be-
come fully disclosed, the details may be all placed
upon the permanent footing Of legal regulation. 1t
is believed that the course suggested win be deemed
reconcileable with tho most scrupulous considera-
tons Of prudence, when 10 remembered that there il
little in the plan which is absolutely new, or which
may not be accomplished by mere extension or
broader application OF existing provisions of law.
! shall now detan the Senate but moment, in
stating some Of the principal benefits anticipated
from the changes proposed in the existing revenue
system.
The first and greatest benefit to the commercial
interest is the reefit will afford from the present
system of exacting the payment Of duties in cash,
on the completion of the entry Of merchandise. In
one sense II may be contended when compared
with the present system that it is an extension Of
credit to the importer for the duties until he can
effect sale of his goods. Strictly speaking, it is
but absalning from an unreasonable exaction; and
it is Invested Of all risk to the public az the goods
will never he permitted to go into the possession of
the owner until the duties are paid, 1t will relieve
him from the great hardship, which is common I'M
der the present system Of being forced to sell por
ton Of his goods, and sometimes in an overstocked
Market for the purpose of raising the money pay
the duties. twill enable him to pay the duties
he has the opportunity Of dsposing Of his goods for
money, or sell his merchandise at loss to raise it,;
and 1t will enable men of moderate means to enter,
into competition with large capitalists, who, as
have already said, monopolize to great extent the
business Of importation, through their ability to
| command money to meet the payment Of duties
| In cash. The proposed change lis entirely con.
sstent with the principle and the object Of
cash payments; and by preventing forced sales OF
goods 10 raise money for the payment Of duties it
will often avoid an overstock of the domestic market
with foreign merchandise, to the prejudice of the
importer, by compelling him to sacrifice his prop
erty and Of the producer Of domestic goods Of like
character, by depressing prices. five consider also
that 1t will be likely TO enlarge the circle Of oonpe-
tltion j, the business Of importation-not to aug
ment the aggregate amount of imports for con-
sumption, bat TO divide it among greater number
of personsit will not be difficult TO perceive that
the mercantile interest must be greatly benefited by
the change.
| The second benefit, though perhaps not second
| in importance to be anticipated from the proposed
MEASURE Is the stsnuus it will be likely give to
the carving trnla Inv poakipp onr nnrts Of antrv