New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-20
THE REPORT ON DOMESTIC IN
DUaTRY,

The Special Commission for examining the
sources of national revenue and the means OF
collecting the same. has just issued another of
its valuable Supplementary Reports, showing
the relations Of foreign trade to our industrial
interests.
II points out forcibly that tho burden Of our
internal taxation is oppressive to the producing
interests of the country; and that we are suffer.
ing from excessive importations OF foreign
goods, the product OF cheap capital and ill-pald
labor. If we would encourage national progress
and independence without debasing our labor
ers, we must protect them against unscrup-
ulous foreign competition. We must
check this exchange Of promises to
pay for goods we do not need, or
ought 10 mako for ourselves. Tho necessary
burdens entailed by the war are heavy enough
without adding ~ tnem ny the seiisame means
that cripples our industry. In O word, ii is time
we should stop enriching foreigners who make
us their creditors, but rather develop our own
resources, and give competent support to our
toilng millions.
After having gone over the whole field Of tax.
alton, both home and foreign, the Committee
recommends that the load should DO largely
taken from our own staple products and laid
upon demoralizing. .ruinous foreign importatons.
That is the most benefcent, as IL is also the
most trustworthy source Of revenue.
II is more easily and chcaply collected.
Obviously, any system OF taxation, whether of
customs or excise, ought to DO fairly and rigidly
enforced A vital objection to our present
system is the difficulty Of collecting all that is
imposed. 1t operates as premium upon fraud,
perjury, and dishonesty, debauches the public
conscience, and doubles the taxes Of honest
men. Taxation, like punishment. should de-
pend as much upon its certainty as its severity
for efficiency. Recent developments In the
Internal Revenue Bureau lead us to believe that
not third of the taxes imposed are collected.
The outcry against the tariff also would be more
exeusablc if the duties were paid. The rates
have to be put up in order to collect the 30 per
cent which it is estimated evades duty. i>t
The Committee recommends change from
u
too much stress upon its value. VIGOROUSLY,
great frauds are practiced in our Custom
Houses by means Of false invoices. The ap-
pralsement system is found to work badly
This report cites instances Of wines which were
invoiced at fifty per cent less than the market
price Of the same goods at the port Of ship
ment. But the bulk of our importations con-
sists Of fine fabrics and articles which cannot DO
well appraised even by experts. The difficulty
seems to DO rather the enforcement Of any system
than choice Of methods. Change tho duties
from ad valortm to specific. that is to say from
cost to quantity, and the dishonest importer
simply fixes the other margin Of his invoice.
Instead Of diminished prices he puts diminished
quantities. The same difficulty experienced in
the Appraisers Department would be felt in
the Examiners Department. Besides, the law
as now interpreted works in favor of the great
monopolists who buy their fabrics at the manu-.
factories in interior Europe, while the smaller
dealers pay duty on the added freights, costs,
&C., to the great markets. q"
In the interest Of justice and truth, as well as
tho National economy, Committee might be
appointed, similar to that now stirring up the
vigorous enforcement Of the Internal Revenue
law. to examine into the working and usage Of
the Custom. Houses, that Of New-York In par.
ticular.- ..trl. .e.
Thu ohaannasa of fovoi0u 0aada danau1a