The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-30

the standard OF quantity oil the same arfielss without
weighing, gaugng, OF measuring, because The duties
might vary particular periods from specific 10 al yalo-
The act OF 1916 requires the duties TO De assessed
upon the aetI quantity and value OF all goods, wares,
and merchandise and not upon the invoice value ana e
actual value be truly designated without nrst
ascertaning the actual measure quantity Instead oil
dispensing with weghers, gaugers and measures under
the law, their duties Increased with the augnen-
on OF the imports, whose quantity is first 10 be ascer
tanned in order to fix the value, and when the quantity is
aseertaned the subsequent duty OF the appraisers IN es
mating the value is sui further augmented by the substi-
tuton In may cases, of ad vaorem for specific duties
Hereto annexed tables OF all the tariffs ever enact
ed, showing the various duties imposed under each IRON
the organization OF the government TO the present penod
and demonstrating further, that although the duties on
the articles repeatedly changed irom specific
to ad valorem, and from all vaorem to specific. yet that
weighing, gauging, and measuring stll continued
under every Secretary of the Treasury without excep
ton from 1889 down 10 the present period and this de-
parment entertans doubt that these officers were
now discontinued whilst few thousand dollars OF ex-
pendure would be arrested, many millions OF dollars
would be lost every 10 the treasury and the dishon
est and fraudulent would become the only Importers OF
foreign merchandise Consequences so demoraizing m
their tendency and destructive OF the revenue could
not but be deeply dpored by Congress- and by one OF
the members sincerely than by the honorable mover
In comforting last fall with the very enlightened hon
est, and experienced head OF the cusom-house at New
York. and several OF the very able appraisers and asss-
tant appraisers OF that port and OF Boston, the weighing
gaugng, and measuring heretofore practsed was
garded essential to fair valuation, and there Is be-
heved 10 be entire concurrence in these views among
all the collectors in the Union In letter on this sub
iect dated November 1885, from the eminent and up
night urst and statesman who presdes over the custom
house at Boston, the following important remarks and
suggestions are made
correctness OF the invoice In all will be necessary
TO continue the practice ofmeasn5ing sreryng as q Is en-
collection OF duties than the fees OF the officers VIII amount
to-"
"Again, the system Of measuring, &C., s great oonye
nience the mercantile community and believe few
merchants would be willing TO dispense with H. Most OF
are bought and sold by the customhouse marks and they
furnish standard Of quality in all Subsequent transfers
The great utility of this Is obvious TO every one"
Two examples OF the manner in which mpositions up
ON the revenue would constantly occur II weighers
gauges and measurers were dispensed with are given
The is OF several caTgoes OF COAL warehoused al
Newark, New Jersey, for payment OF duties under the
tariff OF 1916, where the quantity given in the inUoiee
$50 chadrons see copy OF letter OF collector marked
b and the quantity ascertained by measurement ,O6l
chadrons The other is OF cargo OF salt, which
occurred during the present month at Baltimore, where
the quantity ascertaned by measurement exceeded the IN
voice upwards OF 100 bushelsee copy OF letter marked
CT The difference in these cases, owing TO the dnn-
shed quantity contained in the invoice, would in
ing the duties, have occasioned very heavy loss OF
enue; and II it were announced that all weighers
gaugers and measueTs dispensed with, and the
voice taken true standard invoices in nearly every
case would soon become false and fraudulent; for the
honest trader, with fair invoice in which the actual
quantity was truly given could not sustain the compe-
ton for single year against the dishonest importer with
fraudulent invoice That such never could have been
the intention of Congress II is hoped will be clearly per-
cciyed by every member of that enlightened body and
that none of the guards checks established by
law and the regulations OF the department in pursuance
thereof against fraud and dishonesty will be impaired OF
discontinued by Congress.
The foregoing statement II is hoped will furnish sat-
sfactory reply to the inquiry for what purpose and un
der what authority these officers have been retained"
These officers were created by law, and authority
given TO this department for their dsconnuance On the
contrary, they required 10 be continued, as II will
be perceived under the direct and positive sanction OF the
law for the purpose OF guarding against frauds, and or
ascerainng the quantity and values OF Imports with
view to the true assessment OF the duties and also to fur
nish the statistical information demanded by law.
This department submits for the indugent consdera-
ton OF Congress- copy Of the instructions OF the 25th OF
November last (marked d. for carrying into effect the
tariff of 1916.
copy of the instructions (marked E.) also given on
the 2sth OF November, 1916, for carrying into effect the
eighteenth section (which is still in furce) OF the tariff o
1884, is also annexed. p
These various instructions the result of aborous
inquiry and investigation they believed to be in per-
feet conformity to the law; they were especially intended
to guard against fraudulent invoices and ndervauaons
and to secure the market the honest merchant and
der Thus far in their practical administration these re
suits have been secured and the revenue collected during
the present month, under the tariff carried into
practical operation under these instructions, very far
ceeds the amount received for the same month under the
tariff OF 1912. II, however, invoices as to quantity
weight, measure, &C., to be assumed as correct and
the weghers gaugers, and measurers discontinued the
revenue from duties would be quite nconsderable, and
the custom house become theatre OF fraud and false
hood unparalleled in the history OF the world Certain
computations square yard measure have become un
necessary under the act of 1885, but increased duties and
employment substituted therefor in augmented imports
and additional appraisements.
This subject, involved IN the resolution of the House
being OF the highest Importance the question has been
carefully investigated, and the result is now submitted
The duties OF this department (the business OF which
has nearly doubled within the last few years. at al
times arluous and responsible. They still more
during the session of Congress, and require unremittne
labor The other resolutions, nevertheless, adopted BY
the House, at the present session, calling upon this de-
partment for information upon various subjects, will be
required other indispensable duties win permit and
speedily the necessary facts can be obtained from the
several collection districts of the Unon and collaed
to be communicated to Congress.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant
r. j. WALKER,
Secretary OF the Treasury.
Hon. JOHN w. DAVIS,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Kr,, n I'M IN .H,srsf0