Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-01-24
$1,5S0,S9S 90
The gain as follows !:
SSIC,9I5 80

SS10,9I5 81
The very small increase on the staples Of wool
ems, iron and manufactured hemp, compared will
the vast injury occasioned to our production am
the diminuition thereby of our power of consump
ton, cannot fail to attract attention; while on thu
other articles named the revenue and production
have both suffered materially. 1t is believed tina
the revenue could be greatly increased by increas
ing the duties on these and other articles.
| 2. propose return to the system of specific
duties Oh articles which they can be convenient
~ laid. The effects of the present ad valorem sys
| tenn are twofold, viz on the revenue and on oul
own productions. Experience has, think, demon
strated that, looking exclusively to the revenue,
specific duty is more easily assessed, more favora
bic to commerce. more equal, and less exposed tc
| frauds than any other system. OF course such q
duty is not laid without reference to the average
cost OF the commodity. This system obviates the
difficulties and controversies which attend an ap
praisement of the foreign market value of each in
voice, and ii imposes equal duty equal guam
titles of the same commodity. Under the ad valo.
rem system, goods of the same kind and quality
and between which there cannot be difference in
the same market at any given time, nevertheless
may often pay different amounts of duty. Thus the
| hazards Of trade are unnecessarily increased.
| To levy an ad yalorem duty on foreign vaua-
ton equab at the different ports, is believed to be
| impossible. That the standard Of value at any two
ports is precisely the same at any given time is
wholly improbable. The facilities afforded to frauds
upon revenue are very great, and it is apprehended
that such frauds have been and habtualy
! practsed. The statements annexed, tmarked o.
to which invite especial attention., exhibit in a
| strong light the dangers to which this system is
necessarily exposed.
| As the standafd of value at every port must at
last depend upon the average of the invoices that
are passed there, every successful attempt at En-
drrsdluation renders more easy all that follow it..
The consequences are, not only that the revenue
suFefs,that certain sum is in effect annually given
| by the public among dishonest importers as pre-
MUM for their dishonesty, but that fair American
importer may be gradually driven out Of the bus
ness, ana their places supplied by unknown and
interruptions foreign adventures. As long ago as
1901 Mr. Gallatin urged the extension of specific du-
ties en- the ground now repeated--of the preren-
ton of undervaluation In his report of that year
ne used the Following language: .Wthout any view
to an increase of revenue, but in order to guard as
far as possible, against the value of goods being
moderated in the invoices, it would be eligible to
lay specihc duties on all such articles now paying
duties ad yaorem as may be susceptible of that al
teration.' At that time specific duties were al
ready laid on spirits and wines, sugar. Glasses,
tea, Coffee salt, pepper. steel, nails and spikes,
hemp, coal, cordage, and several other articles.
The sth section Of the act Of 3oth July, 1916,
made it the duty of the collector, within whose dis
trict merchandise may be imported entered, to
cause the duiable value of such imports to be ap-
praised, estimated, and ascertained in accordance
with the provisions of existing laws.
by the I'd section of the act of 10th August 1916,
1t is provided that, Gin appraisng all goods at any
port Of the United States heretofore subjected TO
specific duties. bat upon which all yalorem duties
'are imposed by the act of the thireh July last, en-
'titlcd san act reducing the duty imports and for
'other purposes, reference shall be had to values
sand invoices of similar goods imported during the
'last fiscal year. under such general and uniform
regulations for the prevention of frauds or under
valuations as Shall be prescribed by the Secretary
sof the Treasury.''
II will be observed that these last recited provi-
sions do not authorize the cvying of duties on the
value of similar merchandise in any year,
but merely reference to such value and the in
Voices for the purpose of aiding in the ascertain
ment OF the value at the time fixed by existing laws.
That time was, by circular issued by my predeceS
sor, dated 9Th July, 1917, determined TO be the time
OF the shipment of the goods. My predecessor is
sued three circulars, calling the attention of the
oficcrs OF the customs to the provisions of the Cd
section of the act of the 10th August 1896 one da
ted the 18th and one the 25th of November, 1873,
and there can be no doubt exhausted all practicable
means for preventing undervaluatons and frauds, !
so Tar as they could be checked by Treasury in
structions and regulations. These efforts have
been continued by the Department; but the radical
faults OF the system are such that vigilance, sa-
gacty, or regulations, it is believed, have been or
can be found efectual for the purpose.
In England it is believed to have long been set
tied point that specific or rated duties (Which are |
ad vaiorem on an assumed value) are in every res
pectoeterfor revenue andtrade :hanany system
The effect of the existing system on production |
Is aisostriking,(see documents marked - xed.l
tends to aggravate the great fluctuations in price
Which are so injurious to trade well industry.
Nhen prices abroad high the duty hh also;
ana "en prices tall to low int, the duty low
in proportion II sliding scale OF the worst KIND If
the duty terms part of the price, renders tho
OF fucHation from each other by per cent
age on the range equal to the rate ofthe duty II the uc
tnaon abroad be from $50 SEQ the range ofcourse
$50 specific duty of Is would leave the range still
gu BNt at an advaoEum of 30 per cent, the highest
POM would be Stj and the lowest $50, making range
o, S.o On every account strongly return
to lie svsm o. specific duties all articles to which
they can be con, .nis"iE applied.
3. On those articles On witch an al VA loren duty is re-
tanned, recommend that it be Fied on the
the principal markets of own uny at the time
or arrival II would be easier to ascertain our ports
such market value, than it is ascertain what was thar G
foreign country at past time Every importer should
declare the value of his goods and by giving the option to
the Government to take them the value thus declared
or levy The duty the actual value, probable that
iompaEa'ely few cases OF undervaluation would
In cohheXion with this subject, and tending
to the prevention of fraud, and of uniformity
't valuation at the various ports OF extended coast
would recommend the appointment of appraisers large
whose duty 1t shall be to visit, from time to time the diff
erent custom houses, interchange views surernend the
mode of apprang, and suggest such pra cca reforms as
nay be deemed necessary to just and eqnal enforce
nent of the revenue laws. The provisions of the Const
ution, which require that all duties and mnos. shall ba
inform throughout the United States, cannot even with
home valuation, be fully and eectuaily enforced into
ract ice without some system of general supervision more
'erec In this respect than be established under the
existing provision law which merely gives to the Score
airy OF the Treasury authority direct the for
my co Election district TO attend in other collection
sirt lot the purpose OF apprasng goods and
imported therein,
The laying lower duty upon .snume aed ar,i.
les than is imposed upon those which are enumerated
eads to attic mpts at disguise and and I'M
necessary litigation, which would be avoided hy making
he duly on enumerated articles higher than on the
thers. ~ " "
Different rates ofduty manufactures of the same ma
enal are also inconvenen and the remark applies
the Inherent rates imposed upon the manufactures Of
FOOL and manufactures of worsied.
lhe effect oil laying the higher rate of duty on
ne raw material than is imposed the anuactured ar
cetoo evidently tends to inure industry in competi
on with that of other countries, require more than
assing observation.
The Minister TO Austria.-A private
etter received at New York from Wash
ngton, states that Col. Webb has receiv- ,
d orders from Government TO await fur ,
ner instructions in Paris or London, before ;
roceeding further on his miss ion ,oVienna. {
srRrScrIELD, ILL.,, Jan, Is.
Last night, about 8 o'clock, the City |
lotel, in this city, was nearly DESTROYED a
Y fire. The frame mart of The hn;ld;no r