Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-21

gress shall discontinue many Of the objects Of expenditure
which originated territorial acquisitions, and this,
in the opinion OF the Department. would be equally lmpsiuc
and unjust. @sl
FROM the foregoing considerations the Department would
submit the following notifications of laws
|. A change in the present I'D vaorem SYSTEM which
should impose specific duties upon all articles to which such
duties may be safely applied with home valuations upon all
such as are necessarily subject to ad vaoTem rates.
H. If the principle specific duties shall not be adopted
that the home valuation, instead Of foreign should then DC
applied to all imports subject 10 sd valorem duties.
III II neither Of the foregoing changes shall be thought
proper then deemed highly necessary that the present
of duties should be increased great variety of art
Giles which will be found could bear such increase with the
most salutary effects upon both trade and revenue.
Either Of the two first notifications suggested above would
undoubtedly many OF the inequalities OF the present
SYSTEM place all importers whether purchasers or manuiac-
tuers equal grounds respect TO valuations for duty
guard the against the .gant frauds which
easily perpeated against existing laws and ensure stability
and permanent increase of the They therefore
earnestly commended 10 the favorable consideration OF Con-
gress.
In any system believed that experience has tied the
policy be pursued in several particulars ch enter
into system Of laws. Among these that all
material should be admitted moderate of duty,
when assessed at all that all enumerated articles should
be assessed higher rates of duty than the avesge of
featured articles; and that all articles composed Of the
material should pay in general the same rates Of duty
houses and equality in the valuations under any system
earnestly the of corps of appraisers
large, whose duty it shall be to visit the principal ports Of
try in the United States from time Time with power to
improper valuations and prescribe rules for the local
appraisers.
Public Warehouses;
By the joint resolution Of the l4th February last the
Secretary Of the Treasury authorized dispose of the
bonded warehouses leased by Government before
the first Of January next on the best practicable terms for the
The leases here referred to of warehouses in New
York and Boston, the annual rents Of which amount
sos, 4l5 in New York; S4sl99 SO in Boston.
Although the power conferred is not limited has been
deemed best report Congress that these warehouses
been offered the which the United States bound
pay, without being able dispose Of them at those
50 far offers have been made, they do not amount
one-ha Of the stipulated in the leases. This would
leave large loss that is submitted Congress direct
what shall be pursued, and in the of peremp
disposition Of the warehouses being ordered that ap
preparation be made for any loss that may result
On the 18th February, l849 Mr. Secretary Walker issued
and very full instructions concerning the waehousng
merchandise under the act of 9th August, S46 The 7th
section of these instructions directed that at those ports
where stores owned have been leased by the United
States and the leases of which have expired and been
cancelled in compliance with the instructions of this Depart
men said being classified in these instructions class
the collectors ,oiH on entry for ,carehousng, first Jill
sand stores h such goods as are proper to be stored therein
due regard being had to the description and character of the
| goods and place Of deposite."
The officers Of the have during past year
forced these directions to the manifest Inconvenience and
against the earnest remonsnces of merchants and the pro-
pretors private bonded warehouses II is evident that
compel importer to depose his merchandise in such
houses the United States may either lease, oo-
erer remote from his place Of business the dscharging
vess must IN many cases lead to great expense
work virtual denial of the warehousing privilege II the
United States have entered into leases of warehouses
ravagant rents, at points that do not accommodate the
importer would proper that the loss should be borne
hv and snfr
chandise These public warehouses entitled any
preference beyond what their greater safety better manage
ment may deserve and secure.
The facilities of the warehousing system extern
svey enjoyed and may be greatly increased with advantage
the importer and safety to the Government To effect these
ends would respectfully recommend that the time for which
goods may be kept store, after the original importation and
entry be extended to three years. and with the privilege of
export any foreign country without the payment Of duties
While the drawback system 10 operation merchandise
allowed the benefit Of drawback exported within three
| years from the date Of importation.
As the warehousng system has superseded that of draw
backs this extension Of time will be in accordance with the
former practice Of the Government and may be granted with
| out endangering the security Of the revenue.
would also recommend that provision be made by law
relieve importers from the payment of duties upon merchan
disc destroyed by fire in bonded warehouses. . al.
In order to remove every unnecessary restriction upon
commerce. and render the transaction Of business at the
cusO-houses simple and economical would respectfully
commend that all house fees abolished, well
those that chargeable upon the registering enrolling and
licensing of vessels those relating the entry, warehous
ing, and transportation of merchandise BY the act of ID
March, 1881, provided hain lieu of the fees, emol
uments salary, and commissions allowed by law any
collector surveyor of any district Northern, North
EASTERN and Northwestern lakes and rivers each collector
surveyor aforesaid shall receive annually in full compensa
ton for these services equal the entire compen
sation received by such officer during the past year,
Under this provision, all fees abolished
in the collection districts embraced by this and II is now
recommended that similar provisions be extended to all the
collection districts
In view of the derived from imports the amount
OF these fees comparatively SMALL being less than $780, 900
per annum while their collection in small Of
great annoyance to those who pay them would also direct
the attention Congress the custom house oahs
and bonds consular certificates and other requirements with
which system is burdened, rendering compli-
Gated and vexatious.
If would promote foreign commerce. and secure for
vessels their full share Of the reghng our own products
and those Of other nations should be careful
impeachment and extend evey facility which affects this
intercourse.
The changes in laws which have been named will be
of essential benefit to all who interested the privileges
granted by warehousing system and if in addition,
should dispense with the oaths bonds and certificates that
apperain to entries Of merchandise the foreign
value, and adopt the value in the United States should
relieve the business of importing merchandise of its greatest
embarrassment and officers Of nvestiga into
the prices paid for goods the value thereof foreign
tries, and likewise avoid the frequent collisions between the
appraisers and which the requirements of