Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-08

4 : = '794ii eq .a8. ibs.4Gsa sts .seH sdi hi
d Mr.GWINa lam afraid that .As discussion Of tbis bi
viii interfere with the bill for the settlement Of private Ian
claims 10 California. The latter subject has already bee
sufficiently discussed 70 allow to come 70 conclusion
Mr.. HUNTER. received this morning another Ietts
from the Secretary Of the Treasury informing that
would be impossible get along without some such bill as this
would interfere with the bill of the Senator from, Cal
torna, but would say that it necessary that we shout
provide the ways and means for carrying the Government
Mr. EWING, This bill think will taxa but very fev
moments and then take up the California land Bill
The motion to take up the bill agreed to- and the Ben
ate proceeded to consider in Committee of the Whole
The question upon the amendment reported by tb
Committee Of Finance TO strike out all after the enactn
clause, and insert the following
AN ACT to amend the acts regulating the advertisement
imported merchandise, and for other purposes '7
Belt enacted Sc That all where there il or ,hal
be imposed ad yaorem rate of duty any goods
merchandise imported the United Sstes shsI H.
the duty Of the collector within whose district the anal
be imported entered the actual marker y.ue
Wholesale price thereof the period exportaon to the
United States in the principal markets of the country from
which the shall have been imported into the United
States to be appraised estimated and aceraned and to
such value or price shall be added all costs and charges
cept insurance. and including every charge ior
missions at the usual rates. the value at the port
where the same may be entered upon which duties shall be
assessed 3UN Ht& 3aHtCss HEG :BHItN.tns g.i Il
Sec 2 And be further enacted That the certificate Of
any of the appraisers OF the United States Of the duabe
value imported merchandise required 10 be appraised
shall be deemed and taken to be the Of sc
chandse required by existing laws be made by such an
prasers And where merchandise shall entered at ports
70 whom s q the
duties of the duabe value of any to be
appraised shall be deemed and taken be the
Of such merchandise required by existing laws made by
Sec. s. And be il further enacted, That lire shall be
appointed BY the President Of the United Sat by and with
the advice and Of the Senate four spp1ser ner
chandse TO be allowed annual salary each
five hundred dollars together with their acuatrveng ex-
e bs regulated by the Secretary Of the yho
ted States under the direction of the said Seckay may
be deemed useful by him for the security of the vehue, and
'ha! M such ports afford such aid and assistanf in the ap
prssemsnt herea be
ry by the Secretary of the Treasury protect
p the eclecton Of the revenue from customs and
whenever practcable in OF appeal from the decision Of
United States appraisers under the provisions Of the
teenth section Of the tariff of hrieth August egheea
and experienced merchant be associated with Of the
praisers appointed under the provisions of this who
geher shall appaise the goods in question and they shall
disagree the collector shall decide between them and the a
prasement thus determined shall be na and deemed and
kea to be the value Of said goods and the duties
levied thereon accordingly any act Congress to the contrary
Sec l. And be il further enacted That this act shall take
effect on and after the first day OF April next and all acts and
parts inconsistent with the provisions of this be and
the same are hereby repealed. ei'sG ea5 8iH Hag
Mr. HUNTER Mr.. President, before the vote is taken
wish say few words in explanation Of the amendment
The question before the Senate is the amendment Of The
Committee Finance the bill Of the Senator from Massa
chusetts, Mr.. WIsTHRoP This amendment fact sub
stitpe, but preserves the leading feature Of that bill It.
provides for the appointment Of appraisers large with fnc
ton somewhat different from those proposed in the original
BILL but contains other matters rendered necessary by late
decision Of the Supreme Court The first section Of the
amendment provides that in asceanng the foreign value Of
goods the appraisers shall take the value Of the goods at the
place from which they were last imported and according to
heir price that time This first section is drawn in the
words of the corresponding section Of the act Of s42
;ept that substitutes the time and place importation for
he time of purchase The section in fact gives tne force
If law to the circular issued by Secretary Walker in relation
vaua ions under the act Of ls46, circular which has
adhered by the various Secretaries Treasury who
succeeded him. Such ind ed has been the constant
Practice under the act Of ls46 since has been passed.
his period But during the of the last year this crcu
was brought under Judicial revision. Judge Woodbury.,
tting n in Boston, Freely Thompson and For
man,, overued that circular and his opinion has been
ently sustained by the Supreme Court The result will be
hat hereafter, unless egisae in relation the subject
he foreign value goods will be computed the time Of the
purchase the place Of purchase and
ime Of importation, and at the time and place Of mpor
alton, as has been heretofore done and is proposed
This would give rise to great inequality, and open door,
perhaps very wide door, to fraud All experienced in
gard to this matter testify alike All the Secretaries Of the
Treasury, Mr.. Walker, Mr. Meredith. Mr.. Corwin were of
he opinion regard to the mode in which the foreign
'alue should be computed. And when to look
he effect Of substituting the value the time and place Of
purchase, for that time and place which this bill proposes and
Mr. Walkers circular required find that il throws open
very wide door to fraud. and is calculated drive the i'm
PORTING business the hands of foreign merchants thus
discriminating in favor Of foreign and nst our own
,orters.
If you adopt The principle laid down by the Supreme Court,
he same ship might bring from the place and
elver it at the port But one part of This cargo hav
been purchased when the vessel sailed and the other be-
ore, say thirty days. done with the iron in the of
Thompson and Forman, the article purchased at different
mes but delivered the same moment would be subject
eent rates Of duty This would not only produce great
inequality between and man. but would often afford an
opportunity and temptation for fraud, and make il very diff
ut for the ascertain what the precise value
these goods the time designated by law for their esma-
ion, Let US take, by way Of Iusaton the case Of port
vine in the warehouses Of London. Wine may have been
kept there improving, and after having kept OF three
years. the importer according this decision, would have 10
o,y duty for according its value the time Of purchase
when it new and thus although he sold the old article
would have great advantage another importer who
bought the article out Of the warehouse and paid for the
value At the time of importation. @ .s. .s5
Again. if we were to adopt such principle of valuation
th the manufacturer would very many instances have
he advantage in carry ing the import trade with own
country, and would probably possess himself Of the largest
bare for such mode of valuation would discriminate 10 his
avor The manufacturer who has great quantity Of goods
on hand, and can wait, when the market glusd. until
hey in value according this decson could send them
here and pay duty for them according to their value at
he time Of procurement by fictitious sale transfer them
ngnee Of straw, date when prices were
owe He would thus have an advantage over the Amsri
can importer which would to great extent throw the BUSH
Of importation into his hands, Sir, to show that
singular in this opinion, beg leave to read an extract
from Mr. Walkers circular in relation to this matter In
laying down his exposition Of the law which be thought
qured goods 70 be valued 10 the the first sec