The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-18

room DOH oil
al inequality and OF local avorsm in the course which
they pursue The constitutional guarantee, that pre-
ference shall be given TO the ports State those
oi another, virtually abrogated CaTgoes of the same
goods shipped Al the same place. al the same tune and
by the houses entered al Boston and Philade
phia al New Orleans and New York, at widely differ
ent valuations, and thus subjected to widely different
rates of duty; and everywhere goods OF every sort are
motor iously admitted at appraisemens far below their
real value The treasury is thus deprived OF small
share OF its ghtiu revenue and the greatest encourage
men is held out to the unscrupulous and dishonest i'm
porter II is well known fact that under these and
other influences which will not dwell upon, three
iouhs, II nos fuur lths ol importing business has
been thrown into the hands OF foreigners aud their agen,
and the American merchant is almost shut out from what
would have seemed 10 be his legitimate aud rghlful
sphere OF employment
But, Mr. President, there are other and Injurious
influences upon our trade and navigation, well as
upon our revenue, resulting from the provisions OF our
existing laws IN regard 10 valuation and apprasement,
those provisions have been recently construed by the
legal tribunals Of the land Under late decision of the
circuit court IN my own Commonwealth, imported goods
are 10 be appraised al their value at the time OF their pu
chase instead OF at the time OF their expectation and
merchandise brought here from places ether than those
OF its growth or production is to be appraised al its
value at the time and the place OF its purchase East
India goods, for example, brought here from England,
to be appraised at their value the date of their
Within the limits Of the Eas, India Company's charter,
goods shipped to other places than England charged
with an export duty OF four per cent 1t, OF course, be
the interest Of buyers this country avoid this
l
them in English vessels And, by the construction to
which have referred, the duties be assessed
Of transportation any of the intervening charges.
Well sir, is fact that nearly quite half of
all the East India goods imported into the United States
already brought here by the way OF Liverpool and London
below u.s. its effect remeded by legislation here, the
whole Of those products will come through that channel
Great Britain will have the monopoly OF the East India
trade and her ships win have the carrying Of all East
India goods Tor American consumption for the long yoy
age OF fifteen thousand miles. while ships will a, most
have the short voyage OF three thousand miles The
ury moreover, will be deprived OF large portion of the
duies which would otherwise be assessed fair vaIu
aon OF those goods, and our own manufacturers will
lose small part OF the meagre and nadeQuat pro-
lection which was intended TO be secured TO them by the
present tariff
With view. Mr. President, Of correcting some Of the
evils which have thus imperecly suggested, have
proposed in this bill in the first place, the appointment of
three appraisers at large, TO superintend and equaze the
valuation aud appraisement OF imported merchandise
owe il 10 Mr. Walker the author Of the presen, tariff,
to say that this measure proposed originally BY him,
Immediately after the tariff OF 1916 went operation,
ana as necessary paIt OF that system. The recon I-
alton will be found in report OF his 10 the luse
resentatives, dated February s,lsi7 II neasare has
also been recommended by Mr. MeTedilu and by Mr..
Corwn their annual reports OF the last and the present
year. believe it would be OF essential service both TO
commerce and TO the treasury aud would do much to
vent those inequalities and frauds which great
OF vexsion and injustice to the merchant, and
great OF loss 10 the government wcl-consli-
tuted board OF appraisers large would save the treas
sury ten times-t might better say hundred tmes-the
amount OF any salary which you would be likely to as
sign them
have proposed as second feature OF this bill, pro-
vision thai duties shall hereafter be assessed the value
OF imported goods here, al the time oi their arrival and
entry In other words, have introduced principle OF
home valuation
do no, intend to discuss that principle al any length
on this occasion. There those around Inc tar more
capable Of doing justice al the proper time will only
say things about il here and In the first place,
il will do away with the whole mischief OF fraudulent in
voices and will strike al the root OF that entire system OF
imposition which notoously practlsed upon the
government by unscrupaous foreign importers and
agents Everybody this at glance Ia the second
place, desire remind The Senae and the country that
home valuation IL neither new nor an altogether un
tried provision stem II cannot be ior
gotten that this principle was part and most subsan-
ta part OF the compromise act OF 1888 That act pro-
vided, It's final consunRaon, tor uniform twenty
per cent ad valorem duty on home valuation. And
during the bel period which elapsed between the final
OF that act and the passage OF the ianh OF
s42, the home valuation was successfully introduced and
executed, .T e tsH
The tariff OF ls42 abolished the home valuation, but
gave equivalent in specific and discriminating duties
But the lan OF 1876 destroyed The equivalent, without
restoring the home valuation. have no hesilauon IN
the opinion that the twenty per cent al valo
rem home valuation was better Tor the treasury,
better for trade and better Tor the industry OF the country
than the insufficient and eQuvoca determinations al the
tanfi oi 1916 foreign valuation. | have been no
very ardent advocate, confess, OF compromises, either
1893 1880 but - lsted oil her Children,
And freely admit that should be almost willing
To return the oil 1888, II intended TO be
finally carried out by the distinguished senator from Ken
tucky, [Mt CLArl rather tnan adhere 10 our present
system il is executed We have gone further and
4 Jared worse, or certainly no better,
will only add, IN CONCLUSION, s That these measures,
or something ot like eject IN my Judgment mpera
lively demanded this moment by the best interests not
OF section or oil class, but OF the whole Union The
and navigation OF The country demand ihem,
for the OF its fair share The carrying trade
al. lahn nj hn lpfnu uI.d- thpfn
as a safeguard against unfair and dishonest foreign
competition The public morality demands them Tor the
OF those exhibitions oil false invoices and
false oaths which our custom houses now frequently
present And the government itself dem ands them, for
the security and suihciency OF It's nghuul revenues All
these interests will demand think, at distant day,
measures of still more decided and efficient character,
with now and earnestly hope that the Committee
Finance whom propose that the bill shall be referred,
will give them prompt and favorable consideration.
Mr. w concluded by asking leave TO introduce the
following bill,
bill for he appointment OF appraisers at large and for
other purposes @s .I#
b. ssacfed by and Ho~se Of Representation Of
thu Uaifsd America C0~grsss aasab<d, That
the Presden, of United States hereby authorized
appoint with the advice and consent oil the Senate thes
appraisers at large whose duty II shall be 10 visit the ptn
cipsl port. the United States from time TO time, under
pose experimenting the appaisemen Of imported goods
correcting improper valuations and OF prescribing rnies
for the uniform action OF the local appraisers
tKc A~d be II farther swacfsd, That said appraiser.
shall be appointed from different States OF the Unon shall
faithful disc OF their dnes, and shall
receive annual compeh satlon OF - dollars per snnnm
to be paid on, OF money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated i-
A.J A.. q