New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-03

DUTIES remitffi, uut Feftf 90
5 5... -. { ss:: 5 a,.,s .... Il
Total. $500 3 % 50
Nothing except sound financial system, Is i'm
portant 20 the welfare of the country than that OF turn
ing and retaining the balance OF trade in favor OF the
United states by healthy stimulation Of the agricu
tural and manufacturing industry OF the country, the
transportation OF merchandise from TIE inferior 20 the
seabOard and the budng Of shD and vessels 70 do tue
other countries. and legislation should he neglected
which may assist the industrious people
desirable results with balance OF trade IA OF
United states, return 20 specie pay ments may be
easily reached, and, when reached may De maintained
If such wise financial measures are adopted as will pre-
vent oyertrading extravagance, ana speculation anu
directed and prudent MISREPRESENTATION as essen
tai 10 the prosperity Of nations as to individuals.
REVISION OF TARIFF LAWS SUGGESTED.
The attention Of Congress is invited TO the necessity
Of a revision and codacaton Of existing Tariff laws.
Duties on imports imposed under fourteen prin
cipal statutes relating 10 Classification and rates,
besides twenty other acts or resolutions modifying or
affecting tafih acts, All passed between Mch Looi'
and March T. 1879 10 which must be added he very nu-
merOus customs revenue laws enacted pr0r 10 Mirch'
s6l ana remaining either wholly Or partially IN force
Under these various enactmentS, questions reaUug 70
the proper assessment % duties constantly arise IAefe
is often direct cOufct between dEerent statutes aud
same statute, while single pr0VlslOhs are frequently
held 10 embrace diferent meanings These Gherenees
can be settled only by arbitrary interpretations or by
adiudicatOns in court. A necessary consequence,
protests against the payment OF duties eAacted
by collectors Of customs aad appeals 70 sails
Department. based on such protests, are or
daily occurrence, while suits brought ~ re Govern
ment TO collect unpaid duties OF ~ individuals TO re.
cover back duties PAID, crowd the cdIendlLs o! our
The number Of statutory Appeals 20 the >ecie-
tary OF the Treasury on tariff questions during the last
fiscal year 473l exclusive or miscellaneous cases or
applications for relief numbering 5oe5. Inc oneIols
lays 20 individuals, ana tie expense OF AJsatOn 10 al
following remedies
ton, in general revision of the tariff laws;
First. the abandonment OF distinctions based upon
commercial usage Ia other words the material OF whlcn
"a article Is composed instead "a - commercial desi
tion, where particular material forms the sole cnlcf
element OF value should control It's cia shcafOn and
the rate Of duiy consequently imposed whether al
second The abandonment Of Charges AMI commits
sions" element OF dUtl.Dlc Vn!le Tue revenue
from this source, while uncertain anu comparatively
triing IN amount, Is fruitful source vi euDhrTassment
ald complaint Ia tne liquidation OF daIies us continued
exlct0n Is therefore noe desirable
Third the repeal u ali provisions OF law for What are
commonly known as " damage allowance or proper
tomato Attachments Of dutes on mere lindlse INJURED
during the " importation. These way at different
ports exceeding az some by 10 or 10 per cent nOse made
&C Others u ko eases Ia many INSTANCES .he eAeAl
damage can DO only approximately determined, while
others there room 70 suspect fraud uent praeuces
and ODD AL the operation Oh tLo - stem is ylaoe 20
the honest importer % well as 70 tho government.
therefore recommend IT, entire abolition measure
winch wOud pace al importers on an C4ilD "a t-1
respect willie there wOud result Q. tncn only tue extra
expense Of insurance the uues, ~ addition 70 thI
ulOn the foreign cost or tie goods.
FURTHER NOTIFICATIONS OF TARIFF LAWS ADVISED.
Many articles upon which duties arc now levied, and
which DO not IN competition with those Of the
manufacture production Ok this coU Try ara imported
such small quantities that the duties cole ed thereon
arc Misguided ana do not compensate for the COST Of
collection suggest that al such articles be added 10
the free list.
ern frencr connected with the eXeC 4tlOn Of the avs
relating 20 gateB rad the coll a. the revenue
from customs are different from those upon the Goa
ana u - questohaDio WAo.uef sun ulhfiehoe uo5'
not constitute violation 90 tue CONSTITUTIONAL ro' islOu
PROHIBITING the giving Of pre- erenee by any regulation
OF commerce OF revenue W VIZ ~ ~ oi oio
those or another; ana revision ana equalization OF
tonnage tax IL now levied on all American sailing
vessels engaged la the foreign trade ana on AL sailing
American vessels engaged IN the c0dstlng Trade steam
ships % foreign nationality IN some gases arc sussvl %
by Old treaty stpuauous only recently carried
into effect. But all American 81 am vessels
In consideration oil the fact that this pax entirely
abolished all vessels or more than thirty years and
only re-Ored measure IA 1867, au that those
engaged in the cOastiag trade were aln relieved ltom
this burden hy recent enactnentsr / recommend LaIt
The Department mas found difficulty IN tue admins
tatl942t ts az q tS@gay 10 !SS Gea lag - t 'e
application canal boats and similar craft designed 20
be CHIEFLY o. the int nal waters O States From
period Immediately subsequea at 10 Tie passage or me
act Gown 40 cohp'Eali,e ~ ISeeSe "a S' 'Hs a.
uniformly aelI that such boat, exceeding I'VE
tons burden, were Liable 70 DC enrolled anu EeeAsel'
rrir. he term Of my immediate predec the GGes
ton thoroughly considered. and The Lap ty 70 en-
waters Of State into the 1aygbe waters OF the United
states But even this nOdined view or their liability
has been contested on the ground tAat suen bOals an
included in the provisions OF the enrolment act
The growth inland commerce. and the necessities Of
trade have of late years, led not only 10 a large
increase Ia the number OF canal Doits' put bso
TO their frequent egress into nayigaole waters
Hence 10 becomes more anu more TOT tne interest % TIE
numerous owners OF tins speces OF piopeI.S 10 cm
entire exemption from the burdens imposed Dy the
eoastlng laws Incidental to an enforcement thsreoi
while the department has no option put 70 administer
the law IL 10 therefore, Important that the status or
this class OF vessels should be definitely liked by such
r. vers aud harbors which have been dredged by the
Government at great are often made the fecep
tacle OF ballast thrown iion vessels py when we ean
nels become filed and navigation llnpreed thfe -
law prevent this practice, max
t "A penal oeuse "a deposit in such channels or mar
Dors ballast other matter Dy which their value AS
The general regulations this Department, issued in
1885, aud partially revised IN lSosos having become 20
some obsolete, aud la many respects DEFICIENT
have been completely revised anu adapted 10 existing
laws - scal pains being taken 10 make te ARRANGEMENT
ouprehensve aud concise IL Is believed that
ms REVISION an edition OF which will be issded az an
early dair viii materially Ia Customs ana otnef ooeTs
in tne performance oi their duties
REORGANIZATION OF CUSTOMS DIsTRIcTs.
invite the attention of Congress 70 the propriety Of
r.oreanixng the customs collection dist cts on the
Atlantic coast 70 In number. The establishInent OF
many OF these districts dates back 20 period when the
conditions determining their importance relative q the
commerce OF the COUNTRY, were entirety diEerent rou
those existlnas AZ the preseut tme. In some the ex
collecting the revenue exceed the amount col
te.fed. and the consolidation OF sueh districts
80 90 80 h. adVi.anle Al the same
time, must De remembered, mat TIE eject
i've administration Of the revenue system often
services customs onlcers Al points where
few or coer led Toe d1eio11 disposition
Of force the preyentoilOf smuggling " nd spenss
BILE Ia the collection OF the teNen1e from mpsrG
especially where The extent f,S coast affords oppor
taaite. eandestne introduction az uus0le