Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-01-06
DIRECT TRADE.
R0atwsII and the Merchants. Writes
and Explains.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
WAsHINGToN, January 4, 1870.
Sri have the honor to acknowledge
your communication OF the 2eth nit, in
which you direct my attention 70 therules
aud regulations Of the Treasury Depart
meut. as required by the importation set
of January IA, 1870 In that letter you
call nv attention TO features which you
regard as difficulties in the way Of the
practical operation of the law. First
That under the regulations Transports
tiOu companies are prevented carrying
any goods in cars containing bonded
goods, though the lstter may occupy ever
so small a space; and you suggest
that there be such modification as viii
permit other freights to be carried between
the same terminal points in the same car
with bonded goods. Should business be
tween ports of first arrival and ports Of
entry named in this act be large, as an
tcipsted by me, the difficulties arising
from the regulations, To which you call
my attention, viii be Of unfrequent occur
renee only, and believe that a careful
examination, presented in your letter,
would increase materially the risk of
the government. Acting on your
suggestion, 1 have, however, ascertained
the size Of the doors OF the box cars Ordi-
narily used in the country, and ind they
are sufficiently large to receive case or
feet in width, and seven feet in length.
The suggestion that make is, that rail-
road cars which may enter into bonds for
the transportation Of goods under the act
of January a. shall provide themselves
with a sufficient number of cars, as large
as can be conveniently placed in ordinary
box cars; that these smaller cars should
be made Of iron, and arranged so as to al
low larger to be placed under lock also.
- no
the purposes Of Government, and enable
the railroad TO transport small quantities
of goods, when the quantity offered is in
sufficient for freight in a large car,
and this without much additional
cost to the railroads. Should this
appears satisfactory, am prepared
to modify the regulations accord
ingly. You state. secondly, that the
transportation companies seem to be un-
der the impression also that they are bur
dened with numerous inspectors on cars
and vessels along their routes, the eX-
psnse of which the law would devolvs
on them. 1t is true, the regulations pro-
vide for the appointment OF inspectors
at stations along the route and on trains,
but 10 is not anticipated by the Depart
meut that in ordinary cases such lnspeC-
tors be needed; il is presumed that
goods deposited on the cars al New York,
for example, be transported TO the place
of destination without any other super
vision than that which the transportation
companies furnish, but it was thought
prudent TO reserve to the Government
the right to appoint inspectors, that in
extraordinary or unusual csses, where
the risk might be great, or where there
might be reason to suspect fraud,
the Government should be able
to protect its interests. 1t is not
anticipated that the burden Of this regu-
latiou will interfere in the least with the
business transfer. You also state that
iron is constructed for the purpose OF car
rying bonded goods under law, and you
add (which l find no mention in printed
regulations" This latter statement or
apprehension is without any foundation
whatever. The department expects that
railroad companies win use for the pres
ent, at least. customary box cars, IN good
order. Assuming that your letter con-
tains, as 1 believe il does, 2 full state
meut of all the objections which can be
urged against existing regulations, il is
clear that there is in them, when modified
as proposed, no serious difficulty cOntam-
plated in the way Of business, by act Of
July "A, 1870. Very res pectfully,
(Signed) O.. 5. BOUEW WE'LL,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
To Hon. G. a. Finkls.