Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-28

hereto annexed the loss OF annual revenue being as fol-
On co,tons. $916s94 90
On ben1,e, Goods Observation-Disclosures. 6I794 so
On sugar. .'.''....''' loll4l ~
OnssIf Observation-Disclosures. 34S433 90
On coal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 10000 90
Sl,5so,S9S 90
The gain as follows:
On iron. .................. Ak, 240 90
On herr,n unn,anntactured ,......... 40083 90
$8lO,9l5 so
The very small increase on the staples OF wooiens,
ron and unmanufactured hemp compared with the vast
injury occasoned to our production and me omnuuoh
thereby OF our power OF consumption cannot 1al to at
tract attention while on the other articles named the
revenue and production have both suffered materially
Its believed that the could be greatly increased
by increasing the duties on these and other articles
=. propose return to the system OF specihc d9les
articles on which they can be conveniently laid The
effects OF the present ad vaorem system are twofod VIZ
on the revenue and on our own productions. Expo
rience has, think, demonstrated that, looking excu
svey to the revenue, specific duty is more easily as,
sessed, more favorable to commerce, more equal and
less exposed to frauds than any other system vi course
such duty is not laid without reference to the average
cost OF the commodity. This system obviates the diff
cuties and controversies which attend appraise-
ment the foreign market value OF each invoice and it
imposes an equal duty equal quantities OF the same
commodity. Under the ad vaorem system goods the
same kind and quality and between which there cannot
be difference In value in the same market al any given
tme nevertheless may often pay different amounts OF
duty Thus the hazards of trade are unnecessarily in
creased.
To levy an ad valorem duty on a foreign valuation
equally different ports, is believed to be impossible
That the standard OF value at any two ports precisely
the same at any given time is wholly improbable The
facilities afforded TO frauds upon the revenue are very
great and is apprehended that such frauds have been
and are habtuay and extensively practlsed The state
mens annexed, (marked o. to which | invite especial
attention, exhibit In strong light the dangers to which
this system is necessarily exposed.
AS tine standard OF value at every port must at last
depend upon the average Of the invoices that passed
there every successful attempt at differentiation
ders more easy all that follow it. The consequences
not only that the suffers that certain sum
is in effect annually given by the public among dishonest
importers as premium Tor their dishonesty but that
fair American importers may be gradually driven out Of
the business, and thei places supplied by unknown and
interruptions foreign adventures AS long ago as 1901
Mr.. Gallatin urged the extension OF specific duties
the ground repeated-of the prevention of under
valuation In his report OF that year he used the fol-
lowing language without any view to an increase of
revenue, but in order to guard as tar possible, against
the value of goods being moderated in the invoices, it
would be eligible to lay specific duties on such articles
now paying duties ad valorem as may be susceptible OF
that alteration AT that time specific duties al
ready la id on spirits and wines, sugar, molasses, tea,
coffee, salt pepper, steel nails and spikes, hemp, COAL
cordage, and several other articles.
The 9Th section OF the act OF Both july 1876 made it
the duty OF the colector within whose district mechan
disc may be imported entered to the dutable
value OF such imports TO be appraised estimated and
dscetaned in accordance with the provisions OF exist
ing laws.
BY the I'd section of the act of 10th August 1916, it
sprovded that, lin appraising all goods at any port Of
the United States heretofore subjected to specific duties
but upon which ad vaorem duties are imposed by the
act OF the Both July last entitled an act reducing the
duty imports and for other purposes reference shall
be ad to values and invoices Of similar goods imported
during the last fiscal year, under such general and uni
form regulations tor the prevention OF frauds under
valuations shall be prescribed by the Secretary OF the
Treasury"
Ii will be observed that these last reced provisions
do authorize the levyng OF duties the value of
similar Merchandise in any preceding year, but merely
reference TO such value and the Invoices for the purpose
OF aiding in the ascertalnment OF the value at the
fixed by existing laws. That time was, by circular is
sued by my predecessor dated 9th July l8t7 determn
Cd to be the time OF the shipment OF the goods My
predecessor issued three circulars calling the attention
OF the officers OF the customs the provisions of the I'd
OF the act Of The 10th August 1876 dated
the 18th and one the 18th OF November, 1896 and the
last the 10Th December, lS4S, and there be doubt
exhausted all practicable for preventing under
valuations and frauds far they could be checked
by Treasury instructions and regulations These efforts
have been continued by the Department but the radical
faults of the system such that vigilance sagacy
regulations, believed, have been can be found
eftecLual tor the purpose.
In England it believed to have long been settled
point that specific or rated duties (which are adj valorem
assumed vaue) in every respect better for re-
venue and trade than any other system.
The effect Of the existing system production also
striking, (see documents marked 49, annexed) 1t tends
to aggravate the great fluctuations in price which
60 Injurious to trade as we'll as industry.
When prices abroad are very high the duty is high
also and when prices fall TO avery low point, the duty
is low in proportion. 1t s sliding scale OF the
kind. II the duty forms part of the price, it renders
the extremes of tuctuaton more remote from each other
by per cenage on the range equal TO the rate OF the
duty. If the tuctuaon abroad be from $50 to %, the
range is Of course $50 A specific duty OF $5 would
leave the range slll $50 But at al vaorem OF ~
per cent? the highest point would be SOS and the lowest
26, making range OF $50 On every account strong
ly recommend return the system of specific duties
all articles to which they be conveniently applied
3. On those articles Oh which an ad vaorem duty is
retained, recommend that II be levied on the market
value in the principal markets OF our own country at
the time OF arrival 1t would be easier to ascertain at
ports such market value than is to ascertain what
was that OF foreign country at past time Every
importer should declare the value OF his goods and by
giving the option to the government 10 take them at the
value thus declared, OF levy the duty the actual value
is probable that comparatively few of under
luaon would occur In connection with this subject,
and as measure tending to the prevention of fraud,
nous ports OF our extended coast, would recommend
the appointment OF appraisers at large, whose duty it
shall be to visit from time to time the different custom
houses, interchange views, superlntend the mode OF
apprasas and suggest such practical reforms may be
deemed necessary Just and equal enforcement OF the
laws The provisions OF the Constitution which
require that all duties and lmposs shall be uniform
throughout the United States, cannot even with home
valuation be fully and efectually enforced in practice
without some system OF general supervision per-
feet in this respect than be established under the
istng provision of law which merely gives the Secre
tay OF the Treasury authority to direct the appraisers
for any collection district TO attend IN any other coec
ton district tor the purpose OF appralsng any goods,
wares and merchandise imported therein.
A. The laying lower duty upon non enumerated ar
tices than is imposed upon those which are enumerated
leads attempts disguise and to controversies and
unnecessary litigation, which would be avoided by ma.
king the duty non-enumerated articles higher than
on the Others
Different rates of duty on manufactures OF the same
also inconvenent, and the same remark ap
plies TO the different rates imposed upon the manuac
lures OF wool and manufactures OF worsted.
The effect OF laying the same or higher rate OF duty
on the raw material than is Imposed on the manuac
tured article, evidently tends to nlure our industry in
competition with that OF other countries TO require more
than passing observation.
WAREHOUSES.
statement is herewith presented, marked P show
ing the expenses incurred during the last fiscal year in
the execution OF the act OF the 9th August 1916, "to
establish walehousing system" from which it will be
seen they amount 10 I946 &c beyond all the receipts