New-York tribune., 1874-10-19
OUR TRADE WITH CANADA.

| CAUSES OF THE INCOMPLETENEss OF THE RETURNS
-EFFoRTs MADE TO REMEDY THE DEFICIENCIES.
To the Edttor OF The Tribune.
| SIR: Criticism by the press of my recently
published regarding tho incompleeness OF our
returns OF exports Canada during the last fiscal year
was not une pected. Indeed. while unde-
served IL Is not altogether unwecome since 1t affords
me opportunity to make more extended explana-
on Of the causes which have heretofore rendered 1t
impossible to obtain correct returns Of our exports to
| that country.
The first and chief cause is the defect in the law OF
1920 which was enacted before merchandise was trans
ported in cars as contained in the following extract
Before a clearance shall be granted for any vessel
bound foreign place. the owners, shippers or con-
sgnees Of the cargo shall deliver to the Collector
manests of the cargo, aud SHALL verify the same, &c
and such manfests shall specify the kinds and guam
titles OF the articles shipped by them respectively and
the OF the total quantity OF each kind OF articles
As freight is not vessel no clearance is neces
sary and is evident that neither the nor the train
can be detained until a manifest specifying the Kinds
quantities. and values OF the articles contained therein
be delivered to the Collector.
Your frat question: "Why Is there no law I" must be
answered if at ALL by the members of Congress- Neither
this Bureau nOrAhe Treasury Department. to which it
is subordinate it is unnecessary to say. possesses iegis
latiye power Tho Department did. however, as early
as 1851 make regulation requiring the conductor or
every railroad other carriage to produce manifest
of all articles laden board OF such carriage which,
IL could have been enforced would have cured the
defect under consideration
To tho second question: "why has attention not been
called to the incompeteness Of these before
Irepy that In the first Annual Report OF this Bureau,
I'm 1861 several pages were devoted to detailed state
ment OF the defective character Of the existing laws on
this subject, the legislation needed to secure
complete returns in the future (5ee Report on Com
merce and Navigation 1867, PIP. 22?6) And since
the Bureau has under my direction the subject has
occupied my attention while for the past TWO years
have sought opportunity to visit the Canadian bor'
der In order to consult with the customs officers, u s.
copsuls and Others with view TO devising plan that
would meet the exigences OF the with the least
possbe inconvenience to trade but have been unable
TO do so until recently. My first deterpination. while
making an Investigation OF the subject, and after
suatons with u 8. officials. was that the object sought
could only obtained through legsation subsequent
considerations however convinced me that other MEANS
less injurious TO inland commerce. could be
adopted which would, in the early future,
accomplish the desired end. Until this plan
could be carried leect it became that
other means should be adopted to enable to correct
the from the Customhouse and publish correct
statistics of the trade with Canada now imperat!vey
demanded In view OF the discussion which must
sary take place the proposed Reciprocity Treaty
with the Dominion Of Canada satisfactory arrange
ment was therefore made with the authorities at Ottawa
uuder which detailed statements OF the imports the
Provinces OF Quebec and Ontario from the United
States be land have since been) transmitted to
this Bureau the fiscal year ended June 80 1874 In ex-
change for similar statements to be furnished by me,
giving the imports into this country from those provinces
during the period. For 1t must be borne In mind
that their statements of exports 10 this country are
also Incomplete owing to the same cause. Under this
reciprocal arrangement similar statements OF the i'm
port of each country the other to be furnished
quarterly in future
To your final question. why cannot the Canadian
officials and OF the United States obtain the con
tents of these railroad the same time ana place ~
reply Arst because 1t Is unnecessary, as Canadian
officials critically examine all articles crossing the
border for purpose Of imposing the duties on those
not Free aud secondly because 1t would be too costly
s the duties not collected until the goods reach
their destination. Respectfully yours.
EDWARD YOUNG, Cniei of Bureau Of statiatcs.
Washington, Oct. Is, 1874