The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-01
From TIE Journal Of Commerce.


MEssRs: EprroRs: The communication in yodt paper
OF yesterday over the signature OF Canada" would
seem TO require but l.ts notice further than the
gentleman right in reference TO his facts He Jumps
gether the English and American systematic govern
ment and the free system-the tax and the drawbacks
and fights them all jointly singy, suits his
nience. The present warehousng system, carried
by the government, all know from sad experience,
is not only defective but vexatious Thsa law was passed
August 9th, 1916 1t authorized public government
stores. Under this law, and while Secretary OF the
Treasury, Mr. Walker leased the stores Broadway
known as the Bonded Warehouse The price given for
these not Canada" asserts three four
hundred per cent, above their value, but fair entall
what they deemed to be worth by number of
first merchants, whose valuation and apprasement Mr.
aker procured before leasing the stores and there has
probably been no time since when they would not have
leased for much more, for other purposes At this
moment they would probably lease al rs per cent
for commercial purposes than the government pay for
them. So much for "a lot OF spectators, who are
ernmen, storage wrong, and the annual expense upon
the treasury is enormous
Mr.. Walker early became convinced OF this, and de-
vised better He sent agents to Europe to examine
the system there, ard OFT OF this grew the free portions
OF our system
Mr. Walker could not change the wafehouse law. He
could only modify 1t by placing the most favorable Con-
structon upon it which il seemed to admit The words
OF the law, or other Stores, gave him, he believed
the right 10 allow private stores to be established and he
ISSUED Instructions to this effect. with view," he
says "to enlarge the benefits OF the system which
listed Under these instructions private stores
tablished BY individuals. who Immediately engaged in the
warehousing business and alec by merchants, for their
own benefit and convenience.
These stores are found in various parts Of the
city, convenient TO the merchant and 10 shipping, in
which merchant pdys no storage or other fees to the
government, but simply makes ms arrangement with the
owner of the store and it is this Stree system" approx
mating to the English, which Mr., Walker is still anx
ious should be further extended and improved and thus
do away entirely with the government system
There is no Distinction Canada" asserts, between
these stores and the cellars for liquors They stand pre-
n tU fha ming ha mo chapt ma bavp
his privste cellar bonded, or his sore dozen OF
them, he peases OF individuals may do the same for
bending purposes But the great difficulty and annoy
ance is that the collector constantly interefes with this
private business by refusing to allow merchandise to be
eorsd in these more conveaent and cheaper stores
til the government stcses first filled
What merchants want is this Tree system-freed from
all such vexatous annoyances-freed from The heavy
charges imposed at the government and exobiia
want the privilege of placing their goods in any bonded
stores tina, may be established and this just what Mr.
Hunters bill alle,cs They want the time extended for
Just what Ir Hunters bill aliosed but ii was amended
motion Of Senator Davis. oil Massachusetts, reducing
the time TO year, the under the present law
The merchants want their bonds for duties cancelled
when goods destroyed by fire while in bond THIS
iusi uh1t Mr. Hunters bill grants They do not want
least but few OF them want, the old system OF draw
backs revived, under which frauds committed
than through any system ever had You may idenl-
y sugar and moasses after it has passed into the hands
Of the merchant but you cannot silks and musns, and
may be substituted for the original goods too Of
the while the system existed Here then, is Mr.
Hunters free storage bill, which Canada says had
better be defeated He may go further and longer and
fare worse Every measure, be will find, will be OPP
posed by some interest; and II Canada gets bill re-
ported suited exactly to has views he will likely
find quite effective opponents as himself ready TO de-
fend IL.
leading objection made to the present bill is TO the
payment OF the officers salary by the owner or propre
Tor of the store This Canada SAYS is the "lsai-
Jslou he
it might otherwise have to the Of "reesystem =
and that it should this account be defeated ln ref
erence TO these fees, II Is merely matter OF opinion
whether the government those deriving benefit from
the system should pay the expenses OF IT, All prtvate
res and cellars pay the amount OF the officers sal
ary This is all that is proposed in the new bill You
never have any free system without such payment.
bill proposing TO settle all the expenses OF bonding upon
the government while the whole sysem is for the
convenience, and benefit OF the merchant giving him in
reality credit on duties, would not receive twenty votes
10 both houses of Congress II il is not worth paying
rihng tax for it is not, ndeea worth having .1s
The named may be too high though the pri.
vate stores learn, now pay 81 ,095 per annuR, and
cellars Two three huDdred-qui,e enough TO
ate the government Tor the services OF officer This
grant, is pretty large for storekeepeT to pay
on his busnss but the increase in the rates OF storage
owing TO this fee, too insignificant for any
chant to complain of and the rates in private stores
even with this arrangement far less than in the gov
eminent stores and accompanied with no fees
aiions. e .4U" ..1t .r..s
There are other matters in % Canadas" communica-
tlon whlch wound IKE 70 refer TO- pot nave alfeany
made this long, and will leave the subject with the
strongly expressed hope that the interchangeable chairman
of the Committee OF Ways and Means will find an op
portuny TO get the bill before the House and pass il IL
some shape at the present session. petition, numer
ousy signed, learn, by many OF oar very first mer
chants is in his hands. and he easily understand
that strong desire is felt for freeing and berang tbs
present system. Pass the bill, and whatever
wrong at future session Pass the bill, and the trad,
and navigation interests OF country would be double,
in a few years
A FRONT-STREET MERCHANT