Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-19
OFFICIAL.
.,pcuY Ar TO CoNsULs AND COMMERCIAL
AGENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

f,,pc1uAR TO CoNsULs AND COMMERCIAL
AGENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
TRxAsuRr DEPARTMENT, APRIL z, 1881.
With view of guarding the Customs revenue OF tne Uni
ted States from attempted Frauds this Department oesfous
of procuring authentic information various points connect
cd with the cost charges and the circumstances aenos
the purchase and shipment Of foreign merchandise IN tue
countries Of lis production ports of shipment or the M
formation of the Collectors and Appraisers at the different
ports Of entry and to assist them in esyng the dues win
uniformity and correctness You therefore, respectfully
REQ ues,ed To furnish the Department with rePes In detail
the following queries accompanied with such remarks and
explanations as you may think will be necessary or useful
and YOU will please consider them applying not only TO The
trade the place Of your actual residence out also 10 pe
pe;gbborne country or towns with which may have regu
lar and cons,sn, business connexon through which their
merchandise may be shipped to the United States.
First What are the usual terms on which merchandise is
boupbt and sold whether for cash credit and what,
If any are the usual discounts allowed either from custom
in Of cash being paid from any other cause
and If such discounts uniform, or they vary IN the same
description Of goods and if they different on different de-
scp,ons of merchandise S,a,e also if such discounts
are considered bonus grauity from the seller TO the
buyer and usually retained by the latter for bis own benefit
even where he purchases and the under or
ders for account of others.
Second. On what articles shipped to foreign countries are
bounes allowed what the rates Of such bounes, and
state how they are Observation-Disclosures the weight mea-
cpe and for wha: reason and under what circumstances
such bountes allowed, and they similar in amount
when the articles exported by national vessels and by for
eign vessels and if there is any difference, please state it,
Third What is the customary charge OF commissions Tor
purchasing and shipping goods and il is different on diff
eent descriptions Of merchandise please give the needu
details
Fourth What is the usual brokerage on the sale pur-
of is he hive
sometimes by and sometimes by the other, accordingly
the broker may be employed buy SELL do both buyer
and seller always pay brokerage
Fifth. What the usual and customary expenses at
tending the purchase and Shipment both, Of msr-
chandse, at the port Of your official residence specifying
them in DETAIL and including not only commissions and bro
kersge already alluded to- but also export duty dock ad
city dues, gherage porterage labor cost Of
covering or embaling coopeage gaugng, weighing wharf
age and local mposs taxes OF any kind &C. and whe-
her any and which Of the above any other items
ally included in the selling price of the article or If they usu-
ally form items Of separate charge to paid by the purchaser
or shipper
Srth If goods produced manufactured in the nterio
and purchased there for account Of foreigners oby residents
for shipment foreign countries usually exported through
your port or thus produced manufaced or purchased
neghboring nation, which may have seapors Of its
own, and usually occasionally shipped through your
port what are the customary expenses attending their trans
poaon from such interior places Of produce manufacture
to your port including all transit export import frontier
duty and every other charge to the time Of their arrival
your port from the Interior besides the ordinary expenses
attending their shipment at your port
If there be any other points connected with the subject
which embraced in the preceding inquiries and which
you may think would be useful acceptable you respect
fully requestedo include them in your eply and to
pany the latter with all the requisite desi together with any
printed other documents, which you may think will be de-
srablefor the Department to possess.
You also particularly and specially requested to keep
the Department regularly and fully advised Of the and
progress of trade from your place to the United States ad
vsing all times Of any actual attempted frauds upon the
Of the United States which may under your
observation Of which you may obtain any knowledge and
the mode in which such frauds be carried into ef
feet exercising due watchfuness far in your power
todo so all shipments Of foreign merchandise from your port
to the United States
Numerous applications constantly being made to the
Department for permission merchandise where the
invoices accompanied by the needfu Consular cer
the where such certificates by law required
The Department has heretofore acted with great eency and
indulgence in such cases. but experience has shown the
cessty for rigid in future which will be
pursued after reasonable delay and in all where such
Consular certificates should accompany the invoices, any Pc
nay which may be incurred for want Of them will be regu
ary enforced and you will please take the needul steps for
making this discrimination Of the Department generally known
at your port
There many staple articles Of foreign productions hav
ing regular and very large consumption in the United States
the prices of which abroad not subject any sudden
large fluctuations but which, when tney do in price, do
so gradually and limited extent II will be very desira
be for the Department have regular advces, particularly
in such description Of goods and such other information
prices Of merchandise generally may be useful in making
last estimate Of the of foreign goods for the purpose
levying the duties
Your special attention s also requested to actual cases
fraud which may your knowledge, Of which you
requested promptly advise this Department. the Collector
of the port to which any shipment connected with suct
fraudulent attempt may have been made All such commu
nications viii of course be strictly confidential.
For further information the subject beg to refer you
to the accompanying circular issued the 9th umo BY the
Department the Collectors Of the Customs, and to which
your attention is particularly directed.
An early and full reply to the present communication will
be very desirable
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
WIN. L. HODGE,
Acting Secretary Of the Treasury.
CURIOSITIES OF LEGISLATION.
LOUISVILLE (Kr.) JoURsAL OF APRIL 2.
We understand that there has been good deal Of amuse
and speculation Frankfort for week two past
of hv