The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-17

have induced large excess CT importation. Blu
the markets of Europe are recovering their tone tho
effects of the famine are passing away, our coun
try is filed, il IS believed, TO excess with foreign
goods, and 1t would be contrary TO all reasonabl,
expectation TO look for continuance OF these larg,
importatons.
The provisions of the act OF July 1916, baye beer
found insufficient for the prevention OF frauds and
undervaluations. The extent TO which they hav,
| been carried, and The degree i'll which they have
been rendered systematic and complete, have been
| highly detrimental TO the revenue, The Depart
nen has long given the subject Of these frauds il
| 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 10 demand the immediate intcrposi.
| ton of Congress.
| A special communication this subject waa
made 10 the Senate the 26th September last, in
answer to a resolution of that body, aud that
| embraced much that would otherwise be incorpor-
ated In this report copy thereof Is annexed here
| to- marked
| That numerous frauds, by mean, Of undervalu
atoms, have been and continue to be systematcal-
y perpetrated, and that they are 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 undcniable evidence.
| This proof, consisting of great variety OF de-
tails, will with great pleasure be submitted to Con.
gress or any otits 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 30
advanced, from january, 1919, to October LIST,
1850, amounted to more than 900, (tableT rang
ing from per cent. to upwards Of 400 per cent.
Statement u ID an importation OF iruit, and Ia
cited as exhibiting not only the system OF fraudulent
undervaluauons but the inequality OF values in the
different ports Of the United States under the present
system The fruit was shipped by the same house
| about the same time, cargo arriving at Phila-
delphia, one at New York, and at Boston, the
quality and invoice value being the same. At Phila
dclphia it passed at the invoice value at New York
the appraisers advanced 1t 10 per cent, and at Bos
ton 50 per cent, and no objection nor appeal from
| the decision OF the appraisers was made.
l would respectfully and earnestly urge upon
Congress to inquire fully into the practical opera
ton OF our present 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 restraints upon and the
stronger the inducements TO the commission of
frauds, by incorporating the dutiabe values.
| Ways and Means
The estimated receipts from customs, az presented
for the remainder of the current year. and for The
year ending goth June, 1852, are based upon
! tinuance OF the present large amount OF imports.
Aside from our increased expenditures, and exclu-
sive Of estimated purchases of stock, We have to
provide for ST, 220,952 SO of the public debt which
natures within the next two fiscal years.
| The ordinary expenditures of the Government,
| and the public debt originating chiefly in the
cent war with Mexico, together with variety of
demands arising out of that war, present the
amount Of liabilities for which it becomes the duty
| of Congress- 10 provide
Our trade with foreign nations, and the moneys
| arising from the sales OF public lands, have CON
stituted heretofore the resources from which the
| annual expenses of the Government have been pro-
| cured; and they at this time the only means by
which these necessary charges can be paid, the
public faith upheld and speedy liquidation OF the
! public debt insured.
| BY the long and unbroken practice Of the Gov
| eminent, duties imports have been regarded as
the least Objectionable mode of raising revenue.
BY the various acts of Congress appropriating the
public lands to objects which withdraw them from
ordinary revenue purposes, quite certain that for
several years to come, the treasury must be mainly,
if entirely, dependent for It's RECIPES upon du
| ties levied upon foreign merchandise.
The act OF the 2Sth January, 1877, appropriates
the entire proceeds of the sales of the public lands
the payment of the principal and interest of the
loan provided for by that law.
BY reference to table ID, il will be found that the
| loan for the redemption of which this fund is APP
popriated amounts to S27,lS5 l22, the interest up
on which, at per cent per annum, 10 to be paid
semi annually, and the principal on the LIST Janu-
| airy, 1868.
| The laws recently eted giving lands to those
who served in the with Mexico, and, Mt the
last session. to such had served in former wars,
in addition 10 grants 10 States for internal improve
ments, will undoubtedly supply the market with
the greater portion Of the lands that will be required
for occupation for many years 10 come. This source
OF revenue, therefore, small indeed comparatively,
but STILL in the ten years preceding lsiS available
for an annual average OF S2,993,bl 49, Estate
mcnt W should not hereafter be relied upon with
any certainty or to any considerable amount in es.
| tiInating the receipts OF the Treasury.
! Statement X, appended TO this report shows,
the number of warrants located by the acts 10 which
| reference has been made, and the number yet 10
he located, as estimated from the pay rolls and
other evidences on file, with the quantity of lands
in acres, required 10 satisfy them. The quantity OF
lands sold, and taken from market, by virtue Of
those warrants for the years ls47, lSfs, and 1919
il 4727 40 acres averaging ,909 2f7 46 acres
per annun, valued at > Is ll ,l4 10, averaging
! S6,3O3,1ll 81 per annum
| The warrants yet to be presented under these
actS will require 70 922 jl5 acres, valued at Sgs
653 l4O. Attic above average of 909, 247 40 acres
per annum, over sixteen years will be required u
absorb aud satisfy the warrants yet be issued
estimated, under the several bounty land acts now
in force
There will then be diverted from the Treasury,
from the sale Of lands the Of PAS, $780, not
anticipated the date when the revenue law Of s46
was enacted. (See statement K)
This state of thngs imposes upon Congress the
duty Of determining whether the laws now exist
ing with the rates Of duties imposed by them on for
cign merchandise, will produce the amount mecca
cary 10 deiroy the annual ordinary cxpendl-
lures Of the Government, and meet punctuaiiy tho
intercst on the public debt. The ability Of the
country 10 discharge every obligation upon il, il
aided by wise and timely legislation, u unqucs
uonable, ifample provision shall be made for the
prompt discharge Of annually accruing liabilities
the public faith, 1t has been hitherto, will be
maintained, and the public credit continued on
such basis 20 insure an advanta gcous and
speedy extinguisbment Of the public debt.
The system Of ad vaorom duties, however wei
adapted 90 many articles Of trade, when applied
10 all, without discrimination, restriction, safc.
guard, has been proved by the experience OF thi.
Department, to be subject TO many and strong
objections lie tendency il 10 cherish spirit o
oycrtrading greatly Injurious 20 the industry o
our own country in all is departments, and,
IN lie final rcsuts, fatal TO the revenue. Consider
ing THE system only in it's operation upon reve-
nue. IL h. believed that the experience Of the nOs
Enlightened commercial nations Of Europe hes
proved il TO be impOlitic and unsafe. Under th,
operation Of the BRUSH tariff, revised in 1876, The
whole revenue derived from articles paying ad
lOT1m duties has been only ~ average OF about
G3s,0D0 sls2,OOO) per annum; in gross receipt
from customs Of G22, 0O0, 900 lO5 900, O00) being
lcss than one mn If one per cent. OF this immcns,
! income from imposs, and the evident dcsign 81
! Parliament was 20 make specific duties the source
Of revenue from inposs, 20 FAR AZ i possibly could
be effected. like policy has alec always been pur
! sued by the other commercial nations Of Europe
The primary object 10 be kept Ia view in levyinl
duties upon imports IL admitted 10 be revenue
Il IL equally well established AZ The policy and duty
Of the Government 10 discrii nate in the levyng
Of dutics, ne, without falling below the necessary
amount Of revenue, to give the greatest encourage
| 20 al tnIuafrt1l