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

the value OF ddtiabe merchandise feeXported from
1921 to 1913 from which it will be that the total
amount OF eich exports during that period was $685.,
1860, or an annual average OF $40, l2S, l6l
From the 1st December 1916, to the 30th June 1919,
the aggregate exports OF duable merchandise from
warehouses amounted to S7,2l3,Sl0, annual
rage OF 81 792439 In these exports from warehouses
there is included the merchandise that was imported
from foreign countries and transported to Canada Also
the wheat wheat flour, &c, that have been transported
from Canada and the sailed fish, &c, from other Br-
fish North American provinces intended Tor shipment
from our ports to foreign countries:
During the three years preceding the Of the
warehousng act, viz: in 1874, lS45, and 1916, the
total exports of dutable merchandise
amounted to. l4,o3oyolb
During the three following years, viz; lS47,
1913, and 1849, these exports amounted
10. 'Sl ,o7o, io@
The increase OF exports, which appears from this
statement to the extent of more than two millions OF
dollars is made up Of the wheat, Hour fish, &c, from
the British North American provinces, and merchan-
disc transported under the transportation act OF Sd
March, 1915, before referred to.
From the returns made to this Department, and the
quarterly statements published il is believed to be appa
rent that the operation Of the warehousing act has not
been bepelcay felt in the general business othe coun-
try.
The only descriptions of merchandise that will bear
unnecessary and clrcultous transportation the more
valuable articles OF manufactures and these have not
any considerable extent, sought deposte in
| houses with a view to Incorporation. Experience
every where demonstrates that the commodities which
may with advantage be deposited in public warehouses
are mainly such as needed for the consumption OF
the country for food manufacture. With the present
frequent and rapid communications by steam with all
parts of the commercial world it cannot reasonably be
expected that merchandise to any extent will be sent to
| our warehouses to await an export demand.
As Illustration OF these remarks reference is made
to the published quarterly statements OF the value of the
merchandise in all the public warehouses, (see table
hereto annexed marked X from which it will be
that the largest amount at the end of any quarter
was. ,....................... 81 S30,Ol0 90
| And the average amount at the end ofeach
quarter was. 5,742, loo w
Also, that the largest amount OF duties pay
able on this merchandise at the end OF
any quarter was. 25Ol ,o94 80
And the average amount at the end oteach
quarter ,SOU, 100 %
From these several statements it appears that the
practical operation OF the warehousug act Is return to
the system OF credit upon duties, under name and
form
The 9Th section of the act OF Sd March last provides
that all imports subject to duty, and wherein the duties
not paid when assessed, shall be deposited in the
public warehouse, from whence they may be taken out
Tor immediate expectation under the provisions OF that
act, at any time within two years and, on payment OF
the duties may be Withdrawn for consumption within
the United States at any time within one year; but no
goods subject to duty shall be hereafter entered Tor draw
back, or exported for drawback after they with
drawn from the custody OF the officers OF the CUSTOMS
The effect of this section if rigdy construed, would be
to deprive the importer OF the privilege of the
ton OF merchandise under bond from district to
other and OF re-warehousng the same, under the pro-
visions of the second section ofthe warehousng act and
thereby deprive large portion OF citizens OF any
participation in its benefits.
Underline belief that this not the intention Of Con-
gress, no such instructions have been issued.
sUR-TREASURY.
The question Of the expedency OF continuing the sys
tenn established by the entitled An act provide for
the better organization OF the Treasury and for the col
lection keeping, transfer and disbursement OF the
public revenue, approved 9th OF August, 1886 is
spectluy submitted to the wisdom Of Congress. Ex-
perence has demonstrated OF the requirements oil
the act to be productive OF great Inconvenience IT. IN
deed, there be not some which, under the influence OF
strong necessity, often violated. Dsbursng officers,
to whom drafts TOR large issued, are, by exist
ing arrangements obliged to receive the full amount of
said drafts at payment from the proper assistant
treasurer, while theirexpendures must be made in small
sums from time to time. The custody Of the money
thus forced upon hem without any provision for its
venience, or safety 1t the money is to be disbursed
at points distant from the place where received the
burden OF transferring it in like imposed on
them. Ii they adopthe usual and customary mode of
keeping and transferring money, they violate the law
1t they undertake themselves custody and carriage
they incur great risk and responsibility.
The actual carriage of coin from place to place. 1
same town, is burdensome especially in those
potts where silver is the CON chiefly in use
The number OF clerks authorized by \
poyed Is believed to be much too linz
10 alleviate some otnEe incq
system respectfully suggest, II lts5 to
LIST. That any person having draft
treasurer be permitted to deposit his draft %lsl
tant treasurer and draw from the amount from
Tine in such sums as he may desire, upon his OWN
ders payable TO any person persons provided that
the whole Of the draft shall be actually drawn
within short PERIOD say two weeks after the deposte
OF the draft.
I'd. That any disbursing officer having draft on
assistant should be permitted deposte such
draft, and draw for the amount in like manner pro-
vded that each order should be presented for payment
within weeks after its Gate, These provisions
would it is believed etiectualy prevent the checks
orders being used as currency.
The proposed system would render necessary an in
OF the force employed in the offices OF the
raj assistant treasurers and ought to be accompanied
by ,ncease OF their compensation,
The Inconvenience arising from the accumulation of
coin points where required for the public
vice very great; butt to be inseparable from
the system itself To pay public creditor with draft
a office, which he sell but at discount,
collect in person without journey, would be unseem-
ly; and the government has itself OF making
transfers in such cases. other than the dispatch special
messengers, at some expense and much risk OF loss.
The insecurity OF the actual custody of the public
moneycontded as it is at the several points to the vi
GLANCE and fidelity of assistant treasurer, and he
nadequatey compensated-is subject which should
attract the serious attention OF Congress.
THE remainder OF the report relates to miscellaneous
subjects, and its most important recommendations are
Al