The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-11
FROM he san Francisco Herald.



EDITOR HERALD: Two arllces IN cty Paper-one OF
them headed Al Valorem Duties, showing some ion
portant decisions in the Supreme CouTl ot The United
States and the other Duty reas-nduee us to lay the
following additional facts before the public, showing how
the collector and appraisers Of customs al San Francisco
define the respective laws -.
esrihed in voices the correctness OF which they sweat
are permitted land their goods by paying the duties and
giving penal bond Tor double the amount OF invoice
but appraisers, governed by the price OF small ol
bought in retail, some incorrect puce-curIent iase
continually the aforesaid invoices rate winch makes
the large importer subject TO penalty ana
doubles the duties. II To avoid this he begS 20 pe -
how Tar be may advance certain prices an I1lo m ~ =,
denied II he applies for appralsemehl 9iuei e
Tor a determination by merchant APPRAISER "A, s;
How lule The appraisers acquainted WIN foreign
prices or even with The qualify OF me goods
shown by the fact that the same aucles Poeu oy TWO
aH.rs, hoses on board the vessel and bought al
ths same pce have been repeatedly appraised al differ
an Iatas inns brandy lately imported IN French YES
sel has been raised invoice while The other passed
The same thing happens continually with Champagne,
which article with The exception OF few brands, IS sell
ing in France from Isl to 20 per dozen, while the APP
ursisers lately found out that the article brought TO
This market is worth good deal more in spite OF the pro-
verbal headache attached 10 its use.
Besides very heavy charges tor cases, shipping and
commission added to almost every invoice, though
the American consul ceries thai such charges did not
exist or were considerably less at the place OF ship
ment ...
1t is a known fact that some hardware factories in
France and Eng land have standard prices partly existing
Tor century, aud that discount OF from 10 81 per cent
gives the actual value OF these goods bat lately the a
prasers have refused 10 acknowledge these discounts IN
various instances and thus raised the invoice hundred
per cent
Goods imported direct from China charged with an
export duty OF per cent, on which the dates are 70
be paid and though the importers protest against sad
charges goods from Hong Kong being free port the
appraiser will not pass by said allowance, though the col
lector has finally come 10 the conviction OF It's egaiy
and though lately 20 per cent duties have been charged
teas imported By the Euphroyne, While part OF her
cargo had passed already free.
Some time ago the collector finding out that the Gillian
dollar was worth one per cent more than the Amer
ican did recognise for days the discount OF Ten
per cent on Gillian currency though certified 10 BY The
American consuis; and only alter proving the douboon
worth SIT so at Valparaiso said dtscoant was al
lowed again The same case has happened with British
currency invoices from Australia and Nova Scotia
The pound sterling of the former place has been cacu
lated for long time at So. and only lately reduced TO
81 81 and that of Nova Scotia al "a, even when the
American consul certified TO only value OF SO 81.
During the past two years. and since the Mexican I'm
migration, kind OF brandy called Mescal wine' has
been regularly imported in Is gallon casks and paying
the duties The of 100 per cent (beng distilled from
Bias and Mazaan certified that these goods could be
thus legally imported the present collector has seized
them and various shipments OF this article made
for Honolulu via San Francisco, have shared tbs same
fate. though the goods have been properly manifested
for transit, and though the captain and owners swore
and gave evidence that no barrel OF 80 gallons could be
municalion existed with the Sandwich Islands; further
that said Mesca had to take this route, being the nearest
ports where SAID Mescal could be put into legal pack
ages and Temporled to San Francisco.
vessel said 10 have brought excess OF passengers
to be sold the other day auction. The parties in
teresed called at the custom house for information if
there any claim against the vessel and, after
days consideration they received an answer that there
was no charge against her, and that she might clear
in consequence the captain enabled TO sell his YES
sell The buyer after having received the same nforma,
ton, paid the money and week alter, when he wished
to clear, he was told that his vessel was subject TO
heavy fine. Said vessel was more than six weeks in
port, and previous claim made, because the mem
orandum had been misaid in the collectors office. II
there was any crminalty he who committed the same
thus allowed 10 depart, and the innocent buyer be-
came the victim.
A thousand instances more Of this kind might be pre-
sented showing the profound knowledge OF the laws and
the great feeling of equity which govern the officers OF
the San Francisco customs; and Is really astonishing
that the hundred sufferers have not laid their complaints
before the treasury but IN city where the hard savings
are swept away time, either by fire, robbery, or
other accidents, they may consider this as another I'M
avoldabe sconrge.
specve custom house regulations were considered 10 be
almost the most liberal in the world; but the way they
are construed in this city makes them the most annoying
In other countries the consus bound to give proper
information 10 those who apply, but The American con-
sus appear know their duy and the collector Of
San Francisco does not put any value on Their statements
but requires from the captains and shippers more pro-
found knowledge OF American laws than IRON the gov
ernmens agent; and whenever his decisions are al va
with the former practice IN this port no notice or
warning given, but the honest importer IS subjected TO
the penalties fines and foreures The collector chooses
administer. The enormous expenses attached IN this
city TO suits against the collector make II matter of i'm.
possibility to the majority, and OF bad policy 10 every
look for redress in these quarters and thus are
obliged 10 lay these facts before the public, and 10 for.
ward petition TO Washington stating The situation we
are in. VARIOUS IMPORT
From the Alta California.
The Collector and The appraisers of San Francisco.
Messrs EDITORS: rs another sufferer among the many
who lose by the continual vexatons of the present Gus
om-bouse officers, beg 10 lay few more facts before
the public wishing that they may lead 10 greater feel
ing Of equity and justice in those quarters.
As long we have no free trade, we must submit 10
the OF duties but let these be raised on liberal
footing lei the public be acquainted with the new regu
latons. and time allowed TO make the new decls
ions known. Have not had plenty OF cases where the
collector sustained point for month or wo and then
changed his opinonl Who can know whether to-mor
will be considered lawful what to-day sdeemed so
Does this not lead every TO believe that there Is
strong desire 10 administer fines for the benefit ot-God
knows whom Some OF the facts mentioned IN the Her
AID of the 22d inst lead very much such belief An