The Washington union., 1857-11-19
rRENoH ousToMs CHANGES.

Paris Monaeur publishes decree admitting into
France duty free certain descriptions of iron, copper
and steel imported from foreign countries as raw
material and destined for re-exportation after hav
ing been converted by French manufacturers into
iron ships or iron boats machinery, or engines
This announcement, from its necessary brevity, or
perhaps rather from the evils that the telegraph
sis heir to- is calculated to misead our merchants,
who have already availed themselves, to large e1
tent, Of the existing franchise Of the French Gus
toms in regard to the articles designated, but which
fsanchise instead of being continued or enlargedby
the decroc alluded to in the Herald's summary, is
strcted and ateniated by tho terms Of that decree
to an extent that must materially check the expora-
ton of such articles from the United States to French
ports We purpose, therefore, briefly 10 explain the
whole matter, complicated, as is almost everything
connected with the French customs, though 1t be,
and in doing so, we must necessarily ~ back al
least ycar in the history Of these imporut, but al
most countless, decrees and ministerial orders chang
ing, modifying or suspending. with cspricionness
exceedingly Gallic the permanent tariff regulations
of the French Empire. IN
On the lTth October, 1856, there was issued a de-
cree of which the following is extract "Nspo
leon, by the grace Of God and the will Of the nation
Emperor of the French, to all, &c. We hare de.
creed, and do decree, the following =
s.ARTIclE T.
For three years from the date Of this present decree
lumber, wood for cabinet work. in logs or sawed
than three decimetcs one decmctrc equals very nearly
four inches in thickness pig iron, bar IRON sheet iron
and fashion pieces, or ships copper and snc ynmAn
uactured hemp and fax, hatchclcd or nnhatchelled;
rosn and tar alow and other animal fats used in naval
construction shall be admitted free Of duty condition
that the importer, within year after the importation,
gives satisfactory proof that said articles have been de-
voted to the purpose above designated
This liberal measure was at once carried into ef.
feet and the range Of its application every day
becoming more extensive. AT the Same time, how.
over strong rcmonstrances were made by the foun-
dry proprietors against the free admission Of sheet
and other kinds OF iron. The decree which we
find noticed in the Heralds foreign summary is but
the action rather the concession, of the govern.
mont to the demands of angry iron professionals
This decree is dated also October II, and restricts
the admission duty FREQ to bar iron, Of which the
bars shall exceed he width multiplied by the thick
ness) 45s millimetres, [one thousands miinietres
equal 39a nches,] if the bars arc fiat; 22 mil.
limetres and over, if the bars are square; and
Is millimetres and over in diameter, II the bars
are round. The decree of October IL, 1855, docs
not restrict to any determined class of French
consumers the benefits Of this franchise tho new
decree limits the privilege to naval constructors OF
to persons engaged in the manufacture Of articles Of
equipment rigging &C., necessary in the armament
and appointments of sea-going vcssels. These re-
strictons to which others also annexed, but OF
less important character, contract materially the
liberal scope of the decree of October IL, 1855.
Indeed it is well known that this decree was, to a
certain extent forced upon the government BY the
exigencies Of the Eastern war and it is less mat
tor Of regret with the more liberal party in France,
who are opposed to the protective and restrictive
policy of their government in its commercial egisla,
tion than with the friends of unshackled commerce
in this and other countries that the French govern
ment should go back to the point from which il
started, under the most auspicious circumstances
and with the most beneficial results, two years ago.
The importation Of iron had taken an unprecedented
development under the decree thus so materially
modified. IN 1855 the importation of bar iron was
only l4,OOO,OOO klogrammes, (about 3ly5O0,00O
pounds j in 1856 it exceeded 2s,OOO,oOO kilogram'
mes, (63,Ooo,ooo pounds)
The French government has adopted another meas
ufe, which, unlike tne ABOVE, lHuCatcb lnOIc Hpo
raj disposition. A law of July 5, 1886, allows
as the Belgian law of March 4, l846, the adnis
sion, free Of duty, Of certain materials destined
to be worked up in France and thence re-cxported
in their new condition By virtue Of different de-
crees the benefit of this principle extended 70
castiron unmanufactured, destined to be manufac-
tured into machinery machines, &C., and also to cop
per in plates sheet-iron, fashion pieces, and other
iron destined to be worked up in the construction,
for expectation Of iron vessels, (ships) steam boil
ers, so. by decree, also, bearing date October IL
1857 the imperial government has extended the ap.
ploation of these principles not only to castiron UNI
manufactured but also to bar iron, Of heavy siEe
and steel in bars, provided they to be re-export
ed after having been manufactured in the French
workshops into vessels boats of iron machines and
their appointments railroad dappurenances intoany
other branch of foreign internal industry in metals
On the whole, careful analysis Of the dccrecs of
October IL 1857, well Of others of prior date
and careful comparison OF their dispositions with
former existing decrees, satisfy that the march
of liberal principles in commercial Legislation, though
slow-and, we think, ncedlessly cautious and timd-
is nevertheless onward in France. The protection
lists, however, dispute every inch Of ground, and
WELD when defeated with an exceedingly badgrace