The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-10-11
COLLECTOR GENERALS OFFICE, }
~ n- lnaL 1000 4

SIR In June, 1866, instructions were sent from
this office to Consuls Rhodes, at Victoria, b. c., and
McCracken, at Portland, Oregon, to see that a charge
of % per cent. commissions was added TO oil invoices
not having q charge for comissions, that were certified
to at their Offices; and it was then supposed that like in
structions were to be issued to all our foreign COnsuls.
One of our merchants receiving invoices from Vic
toria with the q per cent. commissions added paid
the duty on these commissions under protest, saying
that it was not the custom at any other ports where
we had Consuls.
would therefore ask your Exceleney to approve
of a Custom House Regulation to take effect from and
after January LIST, 1869, authorizing the Collector
General to add to all entries presented at this Office
on which no charge for commissions appears, q per
cent. for commissions. l think the regulation should
fix q per cent. as the.rate expected to appear on all
invoices as a charge for commissions, unless ii can
be shown that a less rate of commissions is established
by the Chamber of Commerce at the port where the
invoice was made.
All our regular merchants who do their business
through mercantile houses in Boston, New York,
San Francisco and elsewhere, have this charge for
commissions attached to their invoices and pay duties
on the amount, while the importers of clothing and
irregular traders, some of whom are large importers,
never have q charge for commissions on their in
voices, thereby paying less duties many times on the
same goods than the other dealers.
Referring this matter to the consideration of Your
Excellency, | have the honor to be, sir,
Your Excellency's most ob't serv't,
(Signed), W. F. ALLEN.
To His Elk. c. c. HARRIS,
H. II. NJ. Minister of Finance.
HONOLULU, October Goth, 1868.
SIR Your letter of October 10th instant, stating
that-"In June, 1865, instructions we're sent from
this Office to Consuls Rhodes at Victoria, b. c., and
McCracken at Portland, Oregon, to see that q charge
of q commission was added TO all invoices not haV-
ing a charge for commission that were certified to at
their Offices, and it was then supposed that like in
s~tructions were to be issued to all our foreign Con-
suls,' was received in due time.
You state " that one of our merchants receiving
invoices from Victoria, with the q commission added.
paid the duty ON their commissions under protest,
saying that it was not the custom at any other port,
where we had COnsuls.' You ask that this depart
ment approve "of a Custom House Regulation to
take effect from and after the 1st of January, 1869,
authorizing the Collector General of Customs to add
to all entries presented at this Office on which no
charge for commission appears, u per cent. for COM
mission. I think the regulation should fix q per
cent. as the rate expected to appear on all invoices
as a charge for commissions, unless it can be shown
that q less rate of commission is established by the
Chamber of Commerce at the port where the invoice
was made"
Upon careful consideration, | do not see why the
commission, which you allude TO, should not be
charged upon all invoices Immediately, and without
waiting till the lst of January, 1869. 1t is the
u - - L. - N II rarFeo % tha vuor1d Tho Jufiau
in this country are levied on the VALUE Of the in
voice, at the place from whence it is imported. 1t is
not to be presumed that any man works for nothing,
and if he does his labor still forms an important
item in the UaIue of the goods which he purchases.
For instance it cannot be supposed, for q moment,
that if a man should proceed from here to New York
for the purpose of purchasing goods. and occupies
his time in SO doing, that his expenses and the value
of his time, whilst engaged in that business, did not
form an important part of the cost of those goods.
Now, this time and expense Is repaid by the charge
of commission; | am therefore Of the opinion that you
should add the customary commission continually,
and as q matter Of course without any special notice.
But as / have always great reliance on your pru-
dence and confidence in the manner Of conducting
the business Of your Office, this department will ap-
prove any regulation you see fit to make in accord
ance with the above ideas. / am inclined, however,
to think that it will be better to follow the idea
which l have indicated and add the item without
exception, least a publication of any regulation should
induce those who have added the item heretofore, to
think they have wronged themselves by such charges,
or raise doubts i. the minds Of people, wether we
were not making a new impOst rather than enforcing
a clear and pOsitiUe right.
Your obedient servant,
(Signed), CHAs. {. HARRIS.
To WILLIAM F. ALLEN, ESQ,
Collector General of Customs.
The Duke of Edinburgh will start for ST. Peters
i,,rn In nono,nhor u taln a mod snnArp lnOk al