National Republican., 1873-11-08
AM ERICA AND JAPAN.
REPORT ny THE REV. J. T. NEWMAN,

Commercial Interests OF Japan with the
United s,ste.-Prnuds upon Our Gsvern-
mept In Ipyoicips Goods shipped from
Jppnp-Tbe "Jnp-, distracted In Amer
lean smnrtnes.-Prosperity and Power
Of Jnpnp-Excciicut Qualities Of Iron and
Tobacco Produced.
Rev. J, r, Newman, formerly chaplain OF the
United States Senate, but now special agent OF
the Treasury, makes q detailed report to the De.
partment, from Nagasaki, Japan, under date OF
september I, Of the result OF his Investigations
into the practice Of consuls, as TO riplioatc IN
voices, as to the methods Of determining tne
valuation Of goods, wares and merchanu,se
which have been shipped TO the United states
without complylng with the law In regard TO
the verincatlon OF invoices, and which importers
upon entry without such verified invoices are
required to give bonds to produce; as 70 tue
management OF the funds for the relief anh pro
lection OF American seamen, and the system
and administration Of the aid and relief given 10
said seamen. Mr. Newmans report Also con.
tains a large amount Of information OF genera
nature, touching the commercial Interests o. me
limited states, which was lncidsntaly oOtalneu,
inc knowledge nt which lsdeemed adyantageous
Ia iLr treasury Department. Mr. Newman says
that, 50 far rs he can Judge from the fscts whieh
came TO his knowledge, our
sYsTKN OF INVOICES
visited by him, various reasons are gwen Dy
consuls for noncompliance with their duties In
all respects. The well-enown character OF COM
mcrciai houses Ia regarded In some instances As
a sufficient guarantee against frauds on the reve-
nue., but IL has been suggested that that pre-
sumption may be carried too faf, and shereIo.e,
greater vigilance Is recommended. The report
shows that Invoices have been made giving tue
actual quantity Of merchandise shipped anu un-
derstatiug It's value when an 40 valorsm nast uu,
stating the quantity when n specific duty was
chargeabie. For instance, one metehsnt msae g
an nySse 9I ssg Costing 90 about eighteen
thousand dollars, but after discovering tnal :
certain discriminating duty would be leytable on
the rice, the value was changed 10 about eleven
thousand dollars, while the quantity remained
Among the chief exports from Japan to tn,
United States are curtos aud from data conectet
from various sources, the special agent judge
that
ruR GOVERNMENT u ANNUALLY pKrRArpkp
TO the extent OF from thirty to nifty THOUSAND
dollars. The agents OF the houses exPortlnl
are certlned to by the consul without inquiry
CVrios have no fixed market value In Japan, an !,
the maker OF the invoice states the pIice palu '.
snjt his own interest and without regard 10 tne
revenue laws. This trade between the twt
countries Ia not likely TO diminish. The Japan
ese are well aware OF the increasing demand io
their works Of art, and are preparing 10 NEE
that demand, and having been
INSTRUCTED IN WESTERN sNLRrsxss,
they are also said to be prepared to product
ancient lacquer-warc and antique oronkes ~
few weeks notice.
and various other manners, suggestions AM
recommendations are made. -,-,,,
Attention OF the authorities here is especial.
called to the article OF q noss-silk, which usual
passes as waste silk, but which Is really pre-
pared or manufactured silk within the meanlnl
of the law. About quarter OF million pound
Of this article are annually exported from Japa
10 the United states, and valued at three hun
Lred and nifty thousand dollars. -
In his general remarks MIR. Newman say
Japan has entered upcna
NEw POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL LIVE.
with unparalleled progress she has passe
within q few years from the civilization OF W
middle ages to the civilization OF the west. I
render that progress permanent she neeus
rulers and the rights OF her people, and accepte
by the latter as the approval OF their soyereia
WILL TO create and adopt such q constltutio
would be to secure 10 herself the wealth, the
PROSPERITY AND rowER
Of a nrst-class nation. At present her natonl
finances are embarrassed, In consequence OF q
attempt to meet the enormous expenditures u
cident to the new order OF things, and which n.
been met by loans from English capitalists
the amount Of many millions, and at large II
tereAt. Yet, with these disadvantages TO EN-
harrass her financial movements, she has neye
theless increased her home and foreign trade
the extent OF millions OF dollars. and Is now d'
yelopng her vast metallic and mineral resource
which Will prove revenue OF immense Wehltl
In 1871 her imports and exports amounted
nearly thirty-seven million dollars, and In IS
they were nifty aud one half millions.
HER OPERATIONS IN TREASURE
show an excess OF seventeen and one-half M
lion dollars for lsT2, over those OF the prece
ing year. Large snus have been shipped, bo
TO and from America and to and from Chin
England controls fully one half Of the impo
trade Of Japan, and strong Efforts are bell
made to increase the trade with England. 1t
the opinion OF our consuls and resident Amel
can merchants that this trade could he large
shared by the United States could the numb
OF American vessels engaged in the Japan ira,
be materially increased. Specimens OF
THE VERY BEST QUALITIES OF IRON
have been sent to England and sold at abo
half the cost OF production In that country.
import iron from Great Britain, paying enc
nous prices therefor, whereas iron can be u
from Japan at from ten to twenty dollars q
less than that Imported from England, with u
same duties and a much less freight.
Many farmers finding that
TOBACCO
Isa more rcmuneratiye crop than rice, ha'
commenced the cultivation OF the leaf wherev
IL il practicable and the native banks al
trading companies have already advanced niue
money 10 the farmers for this purpose. Al pre-
eat thousands OF acres are devoted to the pr
ductiOn OF the leaf. II Is long-grained al
mild, and not unlike the best Turkish tobacc
The bulk Ia now shipped TO England and Ge
many, hut In the revival OF our commerce " m
md ready market In San franclsco. Wh
effect the large shipments OF rice, iron, a
tobacco from the Japanese empire shall ma
upon the trade OF the corresponding products
the United States, the special agent leaves
the superior Judgment OF the Secretary OF
Treasury to determine.