Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1850-12-19

that would otherwise be incorporated IN this report
copy thereof is annexed hereto marked --.
That numerous frauds, by means OF undervaluations
have been and continue to be Systematically perpetra
ted, and that tn are confined neither to class Of
articles one market, nor port OF the United States
this Department has accumu alton of the unde-
niable evidence
This proof, consisting Of general variety of details
will with great pleasure be submitted Congress,
any OF its committees thai may be charged with the
| subject
Through the vigilance of the appraisers numbers
| OF advances upon invoices have been made. At Bos-
ton and New York the number SO advanced from jan
uary lS49, to October ls $780, amounted to than
4ooo liable II ranging from per cent to upwards OF
40O per cent.
Statement U is importation OF fruit and is cited
as exhibiting not only the system OF fraudulent under
valuations but the inequality OF values in the different
ports OF the United States under the present SYSTEM
The fruit shipped by the same house about the
time one cargo arriving at Philadelphia, one at New
York, and Boston, the quality and invoice value
being the same. AT Philadelphia it passed at the in
voice value; at New York the appraisers advanced i,
rs per cent and Boston 90 per cent and no objec-
ton nor appeal from the decision OF the appraisers
made.
would respectfully and earnestly urge upon Congress
10 inquire fully into the practical operation OF pre-
sent system OF imposing duties upon the foreign cost
or values OF merchandise being fully satisfied that the
longer it is continued the weaker will become the re-
stralnts upon and the stronger the inducements to the
commission OF frauds, by misrepresen!ng the dutiabe
values
Ways and Means.
The estimated receipts from customs presented for
the remainder OF the current year. and for the year end
ing 3Oth June, 1852, based upon a continuance of
| the present large amount OF imports. Aside from
increased expenditures and exclusive OF estimated pur-
chases OF stock we have 10 provide tor 81 1852 80 Of
the public debt which natures within the two tis
| cal years.
| The ordinary expenditures of the Government and
the public debt originating chiefly in the recent war
with Mexico, together with variety OF demands aris-
ing out OF that war; present the amount of liabilities for
which it becomes the duty Of Congress to provide
Our trade with foreign nations, and the moneys aris-
ing from the sales OF public lands, have tiuted here
otore the from which the annual expenses of
the Government have been procured and they are at
this time the only means by which these necessary char
ges can be paid, the public faith upheld, and speedy
| liquidation OF the public debt insured.
BY the Iona and unbroken practice of the Government
duties on imports have been regarded The least OBJ
| Jectlonal mo1e OF raising revenue.
by the various acts of Congress appropriatng the
public lands to objects which withdraw them from
binary revenue purposes, it is quite certain that, for
several years TO come, the treasury must be mainly if
not entrey dependent its receipts upon duties levied
upon foreign merchandise.
The act OF the 18th January, 1847 approprates the
entire proceeds ct the sales OF the public lands to the
vided for by that law.
By reference to table D. will be found that the loan
Tor the redemption Of which this fund is appropriated
amounts to s27,l35, 1872 the interest upon which, at
per cent per annum to be paid mi-annuay and the
| principal on the LIST January, 1868.
The laws recently enacted giving lands to those who
served IN the war with Mexico and the last session.
|
grants to States tor internal improvements, will un-
doubtedy supply the market with the greater portion of
Inc lands that will be required for occupation for many
years to come This OF revenue, therefore small
indeed comparatively, but still, the ten years preced-
ing lo4S, available Tor annual average OF $685.
ol6 ~, Statement W should hereafter be relied
upon with any certainty any considerable amount
| In estimating the receipts OF the Treasury
Statement H. appended to this report shows the num-
Der OF warrants located by the acts to which reference
has been made, and the number yet to be located as
estimated from the payrolls and other evidences on
lille, with the quantity of lands in acres required TO sa
tlsiy them Inc quantity of lands Sold and taken from
leaS and lS49 is IA 727 7424o acres, averaging 1909
24I4o acres per annum, valued at SlS,9ll l34 IS,
averaging Sc. 3o37ll So per annum;
The warrants yet to be presented under these acts
VIII require 1929 ,5l3 acres valued $99 653 40
AT the above average of 909 4 AZ acres per annum
over sixteen years will be required absorb and salts
fy the warrants YET be issued as estimated under
| the several bounty land acts now in force.
There will then be diverted from the Treasury from
the sale OF lands the sum OF $ll3245 1856, antic
pated at the date when the revenue law of 1876 was
enacted. (See statement K
ms stale OF things imposes upon Congress the duty
OF determining whether the laws now existing with the
rates OF duties imposed by them foreign merchandise
VIII produce the amount necessary defray theannual
ordinary expenditures of the Government, and meet
pnnctnaily the interest the public debt. The ability
OF the country TO discharge every obligation upon it,
aided by wise and timely legislation, unquestionabe
If ample provision shall be made for the prompt dis
charge of annually accrung habites the public faith,
IL
public credit continued such basis insure an
advantageous and speedy extinguishment OF the public
debt.
| The system OF ad vaorem duties, however well
adapted TO many articles OF trade when applied to all
without discrimination restriction, safeguard has
been proved by the experience OF this Department. be
subject to many and strong objections. Its tendency
- to cherish spirit overtlading greatly injurious the
lndusy OF our own country in all its departments and
in its final results, fatal to the revenue. Considering
this system only in its operation upon revenue it is be-
Quad hat fho ~ Tho ,I,uhtn
commercial nations OF Europe has proved it to mpol
tic and unsafe. Under the operation OF the British tariff
revised in 1886, the whole. revenue. derived
from articles paving ad uolorem duties has been only
average OF about f39 600 1882 00) per annum;
gross receipt from customs OF t22O00000 $780,
600 OoO being less than fifth Of one per cent. Of
this immense income from imports, and the evident de-
sign OF Parliament was to make specific duties the
source ofrevenue from mposts, so far it possibly
could be effected. A like policy has also always been
pursued by the other commercial nations of Europe.
The primary object to be kept in view in levying du
ties upon imports is admitted to be revenue. 1t ID
equally we'll established the policy and duty of the
Government so 10 discriminate in the evying OF duties,
as, without falling below the necessary amount ofrev
enue to give the greatest encouragement possible all
the industrial pursuits OF our own people One feature
OF the law OF 1896 the opinion of this Department
opposed to both the controlling principles just stated.
have reference 10 equal, niger of duty on
the material, than upon the manufactured article
OF which it is composed. Such provisions certainly
take from the manufacturer and artisan, that encour
agement which the present law doubtless, to
tent intended to Afford and also check the impor-
taton OF the raw material to degree detrimental to
the revenue The constant fluctuations in prices and
consequently in the duties, under any unrestricted ad
voorem tariff, give to the of 1886 that most OBJ
lectionabe feature, instability These variations Civ
| ing high duty when least required, and low duties
when prices ruinous tend excess ofimporta-
tions and subject all the products of labor in
country to the frequent and enormous fluctuations in
the markets abroad, arising from the disturbed cond
ton of those nations with whom our foreign COM
merce ii chiefly carried on.
Under the present system, duties are highest when
the article imported highest and when the purchaser
and least afford pay the duty and low
est when the price OF the article wanted would allow
a heavy additional duty to be levied on it, Thus. if
an article costs $40, duty OF thirty per cent would
compel addition of 3d. if that article falls in value to
S. then is the duty reduced one half
That cannot be wholesome system of taxation
which follows the in his purchases increasing
his burden when prices high and taking off as