The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-25

existence OF frauds the revenue In order TO place foreign
commerce under the most rigid restrictions TO exclude the
foreign fabric for the benefit OF domestic goods Of the same
description may therefore, be fairly presumed that
fraud any number Of foreign importers would have
been, the door widely thrown open by the commits
however sddueed and Is presumed therefore that
none such existed"
None, sir, twas adduced, and therefore il is to be
presumed none existed" Now, | ask the clerk to
read another extract from the same document, page
372 the report Of three very experienced appraisers,
long employed in the business in the city Of New
York. The clerk read as follows;
The undersigned late principal appraisers OF the
for the port and district Of New York beg leave to sub
nit the following IMPORT and respectfully solicit that II
De considered as part OF their testimony yiLs
Prom long aud careful observations and examinations Of
handise al the eustom-house they fully satisfied
that there have been frauds OF any consequence pacsed
the revenue by the differentiation Of cloths and cass
"seauss there has BEEN in all English fabrics Of that
kind great uniformity in value the Invoice prices when
me Tchants.
"BseGass most of the woolens pSrsaarly the middlng
cnnE 70 Invoice value; but have in cases been sub
setsd 70 Increased duties through prejudice caprice
the legal appraisers in the NsW York castom.houss
"Bscdss there has been motive to under.value the
value which the duties to be- comPuledj and
sequeny, the merchant the other side OF the water
could not consider his invoice as guide to the duties to he
BseaHss neither in our official capacity otherwise
under yalaatOn either ~ importers or BY persons sogsg
ed in the manufacture Of domestic goods aud had there
been any such underyaluatons the vigilance OF rivalry
aud prOmPtngs Of interest would have made the facts
known
"B.eaMss in the sales Of cloths and cassimerss when
they have been made aner seizure by consent Of parties
and without PREF udce they have rarely brought the To-
favorable circumstance and in large majority Of the
ss'' they have not brought 10 exceed twohrds OF the
Tha there were frauds by smuggling committed during
the last term Of swsHwous incumheney there cannot be
doubt but these were broaEh! aoou! by son,on Of I'm
under valuation otherwise the Undersigned having
seen the goods, are unable TO say.
we have confined these remarks to cloths and cass
solely because allegations Of frauds any other
descriptions Of merchandise manufactures have ever
been made BY the American manufacturer to our know
edge. But II IL due Ia the public to state land we do It
with great difference and respeci9 that among the numer
OF eyasions and frauds that came under our ob
seryations when acting appraisers Of the customs
whether by false under valuation otherS se, much
the greatest proportion both IN numbers and amount were
OF goods other than those in which wool component
part"
Now, sir, until this charge Of fraud is satisfac-
tory proven think, from the result of this inves
tigatIOn, 1t may be safely inferred It Is wholly and
utterly without foundation.
Having thus disposed Of the objection of fraud in
ad yaorems, feel that have put down the prlncl-
pal argument in favor Of specifics, for do not know
that ever heard any one express preference III
favor Of specifics which was not founded on the al
legation OF frauds in ad valorcms. The stereoyped
objection Of the protect onsls is, that al valorems
cannot be relied for revenue, necessity eOmpelJ
10 adopt specifics.
Now, sir, not satisfied with establishing the fair
ness and equity of the former system, propose to
prove that for revenue, or for any other purpose,
l the latter is not entitled to confidence
! What is the origin Of specihc duteS' Gentlemen
speak fthem If they had grown up out of the
frauds Of the opposite system, and on account OF
frauds, had been adopted as substitute for such
system. This appears to be the common opinion;
A.. hair / ADJ iaeu 10
when say, that in no one instance has there been
a change from ad yalorem to specific duties on ac-
count Of frauds under the former. | hold in my
hand list of the principal articles paying specific
duties showing the time at which they were I'M
posed. Upon examination 1t will be found that the
act of 1890 was the parent of large portion Of these
specific duties, and they have been increased by
every tariff since that time In 1916 large num-
Der was added under pretence Of avoiding fraud,
but doubtless to conceal the enormous duties i'm
posed at that time-mposed, il you please, strictly
for revenue, but to conceal the expenses Of war
which in certain quarters was far from being popu-
lar. The remaining specifics have sprung into ex-
istence since that time-many by the act OF 1878;
but not one because the ad valorem duty had been
evaded, but because high rate Of protection was
desired on particular articles to put down foreign
competition. challenge the advocates Of specific
duties to show single article on which that form
of duty was imposed to put down frauds on the rev
enue They will find in every case since the act of
1916 these duties have been imposed on the petition
of parties asking for such enormous rates Of duty
~, % Grant than, IL UNA necessary the amount
tnat 10 grant "'o,", We" ~ 49,
should be concealed unuer the uisS0lses OF the sPe-
cifc system. The following Is the list, to which
will invite the attention of the Senate:
WI" " " -, ,.
All the articles on tne specc hsl aou 70 a' nS
None OF these appear TO nave Deeh imPoseu WIN VIC" o
preventing irauos. ,- ,-oo 4. A.. ..o.u.. 49,.
Nails have been specinc from l'so 10 he presen ume
Spikes have also Cut nas are only msue III the Ch'eo
States
steel has also.
sd hTea or four years before that time when petition
for protection was made the ground of the duty.
Tacks brads and spTgs made SPECIFIC in islSano cut
tacks used or naae III h"B a"' "'" 'n u '"'
hoop round sp and rolled IRON made specific
lsIG and Is2i on account Of domestic competition
Bar, rolled hammered and pig iron were changedao spe
cihc-the hst two IN $50 ana he S' IN '"' pun
made 80 high in 1916
that the duty Undue ed competition home till the manufac
uers asked and obtained increased protection in 1874 and
still more in s1a ;,,r...sa for rro,sction from
rsa"srters Of cent to one and half IN 1874 one and
half and in 1870 from various rates one to FIVE pei