The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-18


ocean opens to the enterprise OF cur countrymen.
FRAUDS UpoN TrIR REVENUE.
In obedience to the act Of 10Th May, 1900, where
by il is made the duty 0fthe Secretary of the Trea-
at the commencement Of every session, a report on
the subject of finance, containing estimates of the
public revenue and public expenditures, and plans
for improving or increasing the revenues from time
to time," feel IL my duty, in view Of necessa-
rily increased expenditures and maturing habili-
ties, to submit the wisdom 0f Congress such sug-
gestions the present state of country and the
revenues seem TO demand.
We cannot overlook the fact, in our estimates OF
future revenue, that the last three or four years
have been exceptional ones; that We are indebted
for our large revenues IN part, to the famine, the
revolutions, and the broken-d0wn markets of Eu-
rope. The ease with which the low duties under
the act OF 1886 may be reduced still lower by
cessful frauds and undo rvaluations, combined with
the causes just stated, have induced large excess
Of importation. But the markets of Europe are
recovering their tone, the effects of the famine are
passing away, our couRtry il filled, it is believed,
TO EXCISE with foreign goods, and IL would be con-
trary to all reasonable expectation to look for
continuance OF these large importations
The provisions OF the act Of 1916, have been
found Insufficient fer the prevention of frauds and
undervauatons. The extent TO which they have
been carried, and the degree 10 which they have
been rendered systematic and complete, have been
highly detrimental TO the revenue. The DEPART
ment has long given the subject OF these frauds its
most earnest attention, and exhausted all its au-
thority for their prevention and detection, but they
are still OF such magnitude, and so demorazing in
their effects, rs to demand the immediate interpo-
siuon OF Congress.
A special communication on this subject was
made to the Senate on the 18th September last, in
answer TO resolution of that body, and as that
embraced much that would otherwise be incor-
porated I'D this report, 4 copy thereof is annexed
hereto, marked.
That numerous frauds, by means of undervalu-
atoms, have been and continue to he systematcal-
ly perpetrated, and that they confined neither
To one class OF articles, one market, nor one port
OF the United States, this department has an accu
mutation of the most undeniable evidence.
This proof, consisting of great variety Of de-
tails, will with great pleasure be submitted to Con.
grtss, or any OF its committees that may be
charged with the subject.
Through the vigilance OF the appraisers, vast
numbers of advances upon invoices have been
made. AT Boston and New York the number 90
advanced, from January, lolS, to October LIST,
1850, amounted to more than 1000, Gable IT.
ranging rom hive per cent 10 upwards OF four
hundred per cent.
Statement u is an importation of fruit, and Is
cited ss ex hibitng not only the system OF fraudu-
lent undervaluations, but the inequality OF values
in the different ports of the Uuited States under
the present system. The fruit was shipped by the
same house about the same time. one cargo arriv-
ing at Philadelphia, one at New York, aud one az
Boston, the quality and invoice value being the
ssme. At Philadelphia it passed al the invoice
value; at New York the appraisers advanced II
seventy. hive per cent, and at Bosom oinetytwo
per cent ono no obJccton nor appeal rom the de-
cision OF the appraisers was made.
l would respectfully and earnestly urge upon
Congress TO inquire fully into the practical opera
ton OF our present ~ stem OF imposing duties upon
the foreign cost or values of merchandise, being
fully satisfied that the longer il 10 continued the
weaker will become the restraints upon and the
stronger the inducements TO the commission Of
frauds, by misrepresenting the dutiabie values.
WAYS AND MEANS
The esim6ts ID receipts from customs, as presented
n the TSm of Tor the
year ending 30th June, 1852, are based upon con-
tinusnce OF the present large amount or imports.
Aside from Our increased expenditures, and exciu-
provide for q, 20 962 - OF the puohc debt which
maW,ss wshn the ,sr . 81, he ,.~,o
and the public debt originating chirily in the re.
cent war with MEXICO, together with variety Of
demands arising out of that war, present the
amount Of Liabilities for which IL becomes the duty
OF Congress 10 provide.
Our trade with foreign nations, and the moneys
arising from the sales Of public lands, have con-
sttuted heretofore the resources from which the
curtd and they are AT this time the only means by
" hicb these necessary charges can Dc paid, the
public faith upheld, aud speedy liquidation of the
public debt insured.
BY the long and nnbroken practice Of the govern
ment, duties on imports have been regarded as the
lesst blectonable mode Of raising revenue.
BY the various acts of Congress appropfiatinR the
pu tic lands TO objects which withdraw them from
pulpoctcs ~ oitttt ttfifab haess
for several years to come, the Treasury must he
mainly, ID not enlrey, depenoent tor lts receipts
upon ouuos levied upon foreign merchandise
The act Of the 18th Janusry, 1871, sppropriates
the entire proceeds vi the sales Of the puDlc lands
TO the payment Of the principal and interest Of the
losp provided for by that law
BY reference 10 table ID, II will be found that the
logn for the redemption ~ winch this fund - sp
pIoprsie amounts 10 s27 1876 l22, the interest upon
winch, st q per centpef aDnum ~ 10 be pad semi
annually, and the principal on the let January,
1865.
The laws recently enacted, giving lands to those
" no served In the war with Mexico, and, at the
last session, to such as had served ~ iorn,er wars
ia Audubon to gratis 20 Stztes for internal improve
ments, will, undoubtedly, supply the market WIN
the greater portion at the LANDS th AZ will be required
for oecupsuon for many years 70 cone. This
source at revenue, therefore, small, indeed, Gem
pafsuvely, but still, In the ten years pfec,ding
1S4s, available for en- annual aversge OF S2c3,-
5l6 10, (stsiemsnt w should not, hereafter, 20
refeo on with any oerainly, OF TO any cUnslders-
bic count, IN estn atins the receipts OF the lTea
suy
Siatemtn X, appended to ,his report. shows the
LumbsT OF wsrrhnls located BY the acts 10 ~hich
reference has be, made, and the number vet -
located, as estimated from the pay-rolls aud othsf
evidences on hie, with the quantity ct lsads, IN
acre ., required to satisfy them Inc quantity OF
lands soia. and taken from market, by virtue Of
thsse warrants, for the yesrs 1871, ISIS aud lsis
H. H.727.1f2 10 acres, svefsgiug ig93H 10 acres
PER spnum, valued 81 els, 81 ,l33 10, averaging
10 GS,I vi % pef hnunn.
The ~anpn's Net to he presented undt inrse acis
will r. Quire rs 922 b13 acres. vsued NJ Syo toJ IiO
At the above average OF 4,9O9,2II 10 acres prr
aDnup, ever sixteen YEAR, will be required to atr
serb aud safety the warrunts yet % ~ issued al
estimated, under the several bounty land acts now
in force
There viii then he diverted from The Treasury,
from the ssie OF leHde, the rum ct tli3 2s,Syp, not
Anticipated at the date when the fsseDue law ~
lsl6 was enacted. (See statement n.
" 1 biz state Of things imposes upon Congress the
duty 81 determining WHETHER the Las 1o~ exist
ing, wi h the retee Of duties Iunp<sed by tnem on
foreign merchandi-e, will PRODUCE the amount
Necessary To defrsy the annual ordinary ekPeuo'-
turss Of the government, and meet punciuaili me
interest On the public debt The ability OF me
country 10 discharge every obligation upon u, "
aided by wise ana timely leeislstions - u1qurs-
nonable. Ifaup.e provision shall oc msde ior the
prompt discharge 81 annually accrcing lsouiu-s'
the public faith, ~ n has heen nthsrto, VII De
maintain ed. sDd the public credit continue ON snch
a besis es To insure an advantageous and rpreoy