The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-04

hegs leave most respectfully to refer to 1t, report TO the
Senate lin answer TO similar inquiry communicated on
the 2ad of July last By reierenceto that report the
tables and prices current thereto appended the
principles would seem to he clearly established as gem
eral rule, subject to modification in respects by
extraordinary such greatly or dmin
ished production changes Of season. augmentation or
dmnu'ion OF demand and supply and also to increased
or cause Of production LIST That where the
abroad, the price s not affected by the duty 2d That
where the difference Of the cost Of manufacturing
or producing an article here, as compared with
the same cost abroad, is less than the duty, the
enhancement Of price, nevertheless, cannot exceed
duty may be much greater Sd. That where the duty ex-
ceeds or is equal the difference in the cost Of produc-
on the enhancement of price proved by actual prices
current exhibited in that report u.s. general rule, in
the ratio OF li9 to u.s. about two thirds of the duty If
this were assumed the standard most nearly approx
mating TO the actual results in tho present duty Of
fifteen per cent; tea and coffee would, in series of
years. UNAFFECTED by other disturbing enhance the
price here ten per cent and per cent on
6ned sugar. ten and five per cent in other cases
would enhance the price of the articles respectively
which these additional duties were imposed twothirds Of
the augmc nted rate. As however, in
OF these articles this would make the of
price greater than the actual difference in the cost pro-
OF the augmented price, that the enhancement Of
price shall never in any where the supply is abun
dant, exceed the difference in the cost Of production
By reference to the tables appended to the report Of
the % OF July last IL appears in regard to tho great
mass of our imports that the enhanced price, taken in
the aggregate is about equal to wohirds Of the duty
Whatever theories may have prevailed upon either side
on this subject this to be ascertaned fact prov
ed by actual prices current appended to tho report
general rule in the cases referred to- il appears that
about two'hirds of the duty falls burden upon the
consumer by enhancing prices to that extent The
question upon whom does the tax fall equivalent to the
remaining onethrd Of the duty whether in
part upon the forein producer or in uron the Anne
what proportions is most interesting inquiry But the
answer requiring much time to collect the necessary
oreign and nome price currents and not being called
for particularly by the Senate is not obtruded upon its
consideration at this time.
1t is certain however, that when Great Britain leves
or repeats h'avy duty our great exports real
ze to certain extent in many cases correspondent
gain orlcss and the same principle apped to the pro
posed duty on tea and coffee, might show that, whilst
two thirds Of the duty on a similar enhancement of
price might fall the consumer portion of the
naming ons'thrd might foil upon the foreign producer
attended also by the further advantage that in the
OF tea and coffee, the whole revenue will be paid with
out any additional tax into the treasury whereas
OF duties upon many protected articles the tax arising
from the enhanced price Of the domestic article, often
There is herewith submitted table marked c. of du
ties paid from the first of December ls45 to Oath Of
duties realized from Of December Is4 a3d Of ia.
nuary l647 in the five ports Of Boston, New York, Phi
iadephia Baltimore and Charleston showing increase
OF the duties paid the tariff of 1885, to exceed those
paid under the late tariff those five ports for the period
Of month and twenty three days upwards Of
hundred thousand dollars 1t is fully believed that the
tariff of e45 il indicating itself by tho results in aug
menting the revenues of the government and advancing
Annexed Is table marked D. of the imports, dute.
and equivalent ad vaorems for the fiscal year 1886 and
similar table, marked =. for the fiscal yaar 1916.
Also tables marked +, q, H. l. Of imports and duties
on tea and coee OF iron marked H Of coal marked l.;
and OF sugar, marked NJ.
table is also hereto annexed, marked N showing
that the duties were arranged iron by reference to
tables and B, that according to the imports Of s46
the value of iron and its Manufactures which theIe
would be change Ct duty, would be S. 6705l6 the
value which there would be an increase of duty
would be S2977 $685. and the value exclusive of non.
enumerated because not specified on the returns) on
va al uO he
500 Go
If tho duties on all the dutiabe articles are raised and
and white sugar. whilst it will probably increase the
revenue az suggested. it WILL asbeleved diminish our
imports 20 small extent compared with the imports
der the act Of 1896 if unaltered.
It will be perceived that in order to obtain increased
revenue manufactures of WOOL 1t became necessary
to divide them into two classes. imposing the higher duty
only on the very highpriced w0olsns. For the same
reason it became necessary TO divide manufactures of
cotton into three classes the duty being reduced the
lowest priced stationary the medium and raised Ave
par cent on the thigh priced cotton goods No change
mas been suggested as 10 the important articles OF sks
and linens worsted because this department 10 not in
posseson at this time Of sufficient data upon which TO
found the belief that augmentation Of the duty
these articles would increase the This inform
aon however may be furnished by the actual operation
OF the tariff Of 1916 or all the articles embraced in table
A. on which the duties are raised the increased duty on
Loaf and oher refined sugar will be the least
and most certain to produce considerable addition to
the revenue by augmepting largely the imports OF
brown and white sugar Us the raw material for the
fined
In submitting OF present only the articles mentioned in
tables and B. It is pro to remark that these tables
are OF course only estimates subject to correction by
the actual operation of the tariff Of 946 and that time
together with the results Of that act may indicate other
articles upon which duties be reduced Tor augment
ed IL indispensaby necessary to increase the
venue. The Senate having called for the present est
mates and being supported probable results by ell the
data at this time within tho possosson of this depart
nent becomes duty to submit these results because
they believed to be true; but this department has
not recommended any change Of the tariff of $780,
cept duty of twenty five per cent tea and coffee,
the lsast onerous tho most certain and available, TO DO
levied only az war duty, and TO pay the expenses Of
the war, and liquidate the debt created thereby
To the superior wisdom Of Congress Is wisely submit
ted by the Constitution the sole power Of imposing du.
ties and this department will render its cheerful
cooperation. whenever required, in carrying into effect
all such laws the subject may be enacted to supply
all the means adequate Tor the present occasion
Having answered the resolution referred to o.
fully practicable within the brief period allowed for
reply. the results with the tables and data upon which
they orc founded submitted to the indulgen consd-
Grafton of the senate.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant.
X. J. WALKER,
Secretary Of the Ire osury.
To Hon George NJ. DALLAs
VicePfesdent Of the United States ard
- President of the Senate
.A-A-. N