The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-07

Tneae, with other ordinary channels Of informatios
common 70 no public furnish, il would seem, ample
for h coifect and faithful discharge OF tho duty
Tic addti ohsi eemen. OF cost anu charges Of ship
meut carnot De calculated with the same certainty.
IT, however, constitutes small portion of dutiable
value, and tne experience OF the appraisers viii
enable then 70 guard against any injury from
that quarter 10 substitute for this plan home valuation
would be to require the appraisers 20 ascertain the value
OF the artic " an Inquiry INTO US value at the port ~
mnortaton In what manner shall he proceed 20 do soS
He must tai &c the price current OF the market
in the ordn ary mode, and such information as no cas
gather from his intercourse with commercial and his
knowledge 'ne .ae anu business Of nus port The re-
su, woud that the duty levied on the same article
would he din ereEt in the different ports of the country
aud this WON happen, though the appraisers might dis
charge their uty honestly and faithfully Such would
he the M der the most favorable OF the subject
hat we cannot close to the fact that the adoption
Of the sxs,am home valuation would inevitably lead t.
dfiIcrt;es and 4 mbarrassments
would becom the interest Of importers TO control the
market value at their respective ports with view
TO the amount Of duty 20 be paid by them. In
what manner and 10 hat extent combinations for this OBJ
ec would be made esp, ciay a. the SMALLER ports Is in
possible anticipate 10 men who are enabled TO evada
the present law and der aud the treasury spite tia
restrictions and with the becks now thrown around
them would not find it din 'ait 70 establish, when
suited their purposes, Gcttio Us market value for the
most il not al Of ports II Il he appraiser, convinced
that by such combinatons ot ier means fraud was
attempted should find necessary TO ascertain the bona
fde market value, his most eflce ut mears of doing
would be TO 20 to the OF information hatha
the foreign market, and the cost anu charges Of ship
ment but he would be required to extend his investsa
ton to the other elements which TO max up the homo
value a the article. After ascertainng the dutsbs
value OF the goods, at present, he mus ascertain
the insurance, the freight, the profits OF the
importer and adding all these together with tile amount
Of duty TO paid would arrive at the market
value my mind this process would constitute the airest
and safest check against fraud As however all these ee
ments except the rate OF duty would differ according 70
the different modes Of transportation TO the different ports
leads in the end TO the same Objectionable result which
have already considered. Not only So but each new
element entering into the calculation adds to the din
Guilty OF ascertanng the true value and opens new door
for imposition. IT. charged, cannot ascertain the
value Of an article in foreign market and the cost Of
putting IL on shpboard would be still more difficult 70
find out not only tha. but the additional amounts Of IN
surance. freight, and the profits of the importer In this
view Of the subject will be perceived that tho change
Objectionable FOR two papablc reasons. BY inevitably
causing different valuations Of the same goods at the
dgcroht ports-;hus violating both the spirit and
letter OF the constitution, which declares that CAN
out The United States" and tina, mo preferesc,
shall be gwen (by any regulation OF commerce
revenue to the ports OF one state over those Of another
Though he may not be able under system to have the
precise valuation every port yet that which
most nearly arproxinates to it should be adopted 2
second objection s, that 50 far from preventing existing
frauds offers greater opportunities for fraud than tbs
present law.
ments by making the market price at New York the
standard Of value and 10 levy duties not only there but
throughout the United States, upon that basis DO not
that meets the objections which have been presented
against the system The same danger OF affecting the
market prices b. improper combinations would exist II
would Ia attended with Ike difficulties IN reaching the true
valuation Of merchandise The appraisers at other ports
would encounter the same atect at fraud and under
valuation, wthou: possessing eqra means Of de-
lection. lis operation would be UNEQUAL aud
jus,--the importer at Ney York paying duty
upon Tue feai vhue d NJ mefeaaasse, whist
~ an o'ner ports no ~oa.i &c rsgurea 70 pay
upon FICTITIOUS vaiu', aS the aetuh Saius o. sH
article New YORK on one day would often be very DIFF
iefen. IRON Us actual value ~ ne" orieans anu oaa
a New York would pay his duty upon the real value
Of h goods the time he receives them, whilst at all
o'heT places ~ would DC required 70 pay upon nouaous
poni These objections would seem 20 DC sumcenito
reset TIC proposition but the mprachcaoliy OF WORKING
such ai'an - conclusive against ~ Inc uihcuiy OF as
eeTia.hng n Boston Phadephia charleston. New Or
Leans and other points uton the Atlantic ana Cur the
arasi bu, when the RTE extended 10 the Pacc s en-
fcresfn' ut would be no ony Of the constitutional
pfoN 20 wneh pave 'c'e'ieo oa' " every prmc'
PIE OF Jusnce ano eqohny. 49, .....
Tik sciEUI.s 10 nk Rk'isSn.
Adaer'ng g the principles o 'he present s'r act,
such changes a. VII produce the amount
required for nc public service In accordance with the
suggest on contained 70 my ast annual report recon-
mend that schedaes g DF 9, H. be raised respectively
70 70 20 10 10 and per cent sec no gooo reason Tor
having departed the act OF 1897 from the system Of de-
ma DIVISIONS. me present state o. tings ahofds IN
OPPORTUNITY 81 correctl the error IDS cnange VIII IN
crease TIE revenue from customs siooovoo, upon the
basis Of the imrortaons Of the last iscai year
To rasc the additional amount needed VIII not require an
increase OF all the rates 81 duty oi tue PR sent tnf
VIII become necessary therefore 20 select certain articles
10 be transferred from lower 10 higher schedules 10
making saeh changes tue true principles governing the
imposition Of duties for revenue should kept IN Wow,
nnd Snth DETERMINATIONS made az, consistently there~th,
Will best promote the various interests OF our country
without dong injustice any The Information contained
70 table no VIII AFFORD 70 Congress the necessary data
Tor their action. Tint table CONTAINS The imrorts.ons,
With The rates OF duty aud amount Of revenue dcriyabs
herefom ior enc o. ,ne tnrte iast naea years When
The amount which the 'egrlao OF congress shall make
necessary 70 rasc SHAH have been a,certaned with
anything IKE rc3scrabe certainty the Information con
ahcd ~ ths Table VIII rcndef tue worA OF making such
transfers smpe and easy
IVA rtRIc nxrn-ras TREASURY VOWS
ne public aeo.on INC is' july 1897 was 20,
~ stated IN my last report During the last fiscal year
thefc was pad OF that deot tue sum oil S3@ 400 "a,
favng the gum o. co outstanding on the fst
July, 1858. TO tbs amount must be added the sum a.
3oOoooc negotiated during the present fiscal year, o.
sbe loan authorized by act Of June IL, 1858 There Was
ssucd under the PROVISIONS Of the act OF Dccembcr ~,
1877, during the lat fiscal year treasury notes to che
amount OF OF which there was rcdoemcd AMI
TIE department infc med thereof during the same perod
~ SCI SEQ, leaving the erm o' 500 outstanding on
the fst July, 1888 In estimating tue receipts and ex
ptnehur for the present and next fiscal years. not