The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-10
WEIR. DGneaE,s sTA'En77EN.w.

1t tie investigation now gong on before
the House committee on ways and mean.
has no other immediate effect, It will seryI
to draw tie attention Of the country to thc
chaotic condition pf the present revenue
laws. We regret that VIC have not Tie
space to publish the full, fair and candle
statement Of Mr.. William L. Dodge, OF
the firm of Phelps, Dodge & Co., in refer
ence to the seizure Of their books ant
papers, and the eXactiOn OF the cuortuou;
penalty of two hundred ard sixty thousand
dollars for an alleged undcryaluation oi
goods, by which the government received
some sixteen hundred thousand dollars les
than they otherwise would. We have nt
doubt that the reading of his sLatemen'
would produce the same effect upon th'
minds OF every one. that the New Yorl
Times says, in the extract published yestcr
day, was produced upon the committee ant
members Of Congress. That the under
valuation was mistake is undoubed. i
had its origin in the fact that the firm con,
tlacted for their goods at one time, at
specified price, but to be delivered in GER
tain quantities SO many times a week OF
month. The invoice accompanied each
shipment Of goods, and were valued at the
contract price The goods are subject tC
an All oaiorem duty-that is Il duty as
sessed upon their value. These goods, Of
course. vary IN value and price. For in
stance, the goods, on which the undcryalu
alton was charged, were worth in January
1872 twenty-eight shillings, in July forty.
four shillnGs, and in December thirty-fiye
shlllings. A difference would, therefore,
be apparent between the actual value Of The
article shipped in June or July, but which
was delivered under contract made in
January, and the invoice price He i'm
putes no blame to the administration or The
regular officers of the government, bu'
places the difficulty at the door of the laws
and the system of moities and informers
AS an instance of this, he states that h,
found one of his trusted booll-keepers in
the employ of Jayne, who reported to lin
everything that took place in the store, even
to the burning of unimpoitant letters. TIT
result IF a continuance in this couise will
in his opinion, result in placing the Who'll
carrying and importing rale in the hand
of foreig lers--no books u inyt ices bein!
kept in the United States. The business
on this side, will I've conducted by unnatu
rallied foreigners whose wealth will b
spent il and lend 10 enrich. Eurore}
countries. His rcmeoy for all This is sim
pic lie proposes 20 colify the revenu
laws and have specific instead Of ad val
orem duties If there is prospect OF nc
complishlng the result we trust that It vii
he given fair trial It Is important, jus
now, Mhen 80 are struggling go regain tn
carrying trade. lost 10 this country dprn
the rebellion, that nothing should occur {
deter American merchants from brcomin
shippers and importers, OF one thing "
may be certain. il the importing al good
shall pa.- from American to foreign band.
ihorr Hill be no further use for an Amcii
can merchant marine service. The carry
ing trade will never be regalned Upo
the larger class Of imported goods, speciii
duties can be levied as well as an adj valo
en- duties, and with the same pecunar
results. Something must be done IN
that before many years.