New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-31
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tering denial Of cur statementthat the goou'
now imported into our country are under
valued in the Custom-House returns, so as
TO render those returns in the aggregate un-
reliable as an exhibit of the actual amount
or cost of our Annual Importations. we
repeat what we before said, and oHer the
following facts in support Of our position:
A bookseller of our City lately ordered a
hill of books from London publisher. An
invoice reached him by mall which he ex-
hibited at the Custom-House, paid the duties
and had bis books passed. On opening the
boxes. he found inside another invoice,
charging him a much higher price for the
books. The first had been sent merely for
Custom House use, and to enable some clerk
to swear the books through with good con-
science. The bookseller, who had never
suggested anything of the kind and was not
up to that sort of game, wrote stern re-
buke to the London house that shipped the
books. The answer came in due season,
expressing regret that any offense had been
given where none certainly was intended
they had only done IN this case according 10
the practice Of the trade, and intended it as
a favor to their customer.
Again: 1t is not long since New-Yorker
who was in Paris boughta Cashmere Shawl
there for two thousand francs, and paid the
money. The seller handed him bill or in
voice duly made out pricing the shawl at
one thousand francs. The buyer turned in
establishment, and asked an explanation.
THAT is for tho Custom House, said the
seller, amazed at his simplicity. No hint
had been given that special Custom-House
invoice was desired-nothing of the sort
was dreamed Of by the buyer. The seller
simply did as he would wish to be done by,
and as he was accustomed to do for his
American customers.
We have twice stated that the Wines
now imported under Ad Valorem Duties are
invoiced lat the Custom-HOuse) not more
than half as high as such Wines were under
the Specific Duties imposed by the last Tar
if. Does the Journal deny this? Not it !
Why not? Here is fair chance to test
the matter in dispute; does the Journal
meet the issue? We have had no commu-
nication on the subject with any person con-
nected with the Custom House, and we dare
the Journal to unite with us in officially as
certaining and declaring the facts. The du-
ties on Wines have now been Ad Valorem
for three years and a half; for the preceding
three years and half they were Specific.
Now we affirm that these Wines have been
valued much lower quality for quality, kind
for kind, gallon for gallon during these lat.
ter three and half years than they were
during the three and a half preceding, and
we ask the Journal to unite with us in Off
cially verifying the fact. Let us make a
joint application to the Collector to have the
truth established, verified, certified, and
published conspicuously in both papers
We will pay the expense of the scrutiny, if
the Journal will unite with us in soliciting
it. Who can say that this will not be set
tier of the matter in difference between us?
The Journal goes into heroics over the
world-famed integrity and probity of New
York merchants, which it charges us with
assailing. No such thing The goods enter
ed here are to large extent sent out by
foreign owners, on such invoices as they see
fit to make, consigned to houses which receive
them and put them through. If the AID Va
loren system is continued the Importing
business will fall more and more into the
hands of foreigners or their agents and
instruments among us. twill fall more and
more out Of the hands of the upright and
honorable men whom the Journal describes
into that of such men as the Ad Valorem
rule calls for. Ii is the inevitable tendency
of this rule to tempt to differentiation by
rewarding it, and thus take
The business out of the hands of respon-
sible and honorable men to give it to
easy swearers, who have little TO lose
here. Intelligent men of business GaOp
this perfectly well-that Paris or Man
chester house with sharp agent in this
City can get goods by our Custom House
cheaper than our old, substantial American
merchants can. And, as to the terrors of
marking up, they are all
noenshine. Who can say how much a par
ocular case of Cashmere Shawls, or costly
aces, or rare and curious fabrics of any
ind, are WORTH Why should Appraisers
make enemies of those with whom they are
q daily contact by subectiug them to a