The New York herald., 1877-03-17
THE vExED SILK QUESTION

ExAMININo INTO THE MARKET VALUE OF I'M
PORTED sILK-AMERIcAN MANUFACTURERS
Vs. FOREIGN IMPoRTATIoNs-A MILLION DOL
LARS WORTH HELD IN BOND.
Joy reigns once more among the importers OF French
Silks nearly all Of the embargoed goods held In the
public store and general order warehouses have been
released payment OF dutes and an extra bond mas
been given pay additional tar II the nvestiga'
ton now going on should warrant such a course As
stated in the HEKALD Of the l4th inst., Collector
Arthur appointed Mr. Samuel McLeon respected i'm
porter OF silks OF this city, as Merchant Appraiser TO
&C. in conjunction with General Ketchum tho United
States General Appraiser. These gentlemen net yes
terday at the atters Office. where they held pro-
tracted session. On The 18th inst number OF mer'
chants had been called In 10 place value on the goods
detained, blank invoices being furnished to about
eleven expertG These parties examined the Silks and
each one wrote the figures which 10 his mind was tho
market value OF the goods In France These hIIed up
invoices then submitted 10 the arbiira,ors
At the meeting yesterday oral examination OF
these witnesses held, and the testimony taken OF
Messrs Donncll, Of A. T. Stewart Il Co. Chamberlain
OF f. $. Janray n Co. Salenbach, OF A. Warburg n
Co.; Homer. OF the hrm Of Homer, Calladay Co.. OF
Philadelphia and Mr.. Darragh, Appraiser of the Port
OF Boston, and also some OF the silk manufacturers
OF this city, Paterson and Hobokcn. N. J.
DETENTION.
1t Is alleged that the American silk Growers Asso.
citation of the United States complained the Treasury
Department that, Notwithstanding tho rise in raw
silk the importers OF silk gooos receiving their
consgnents such low prices that there must he an
undervauation Of invoices somewhere. Orders were
issued by the department. to reapprasc the wares In
question. aud tho time Special Agents Tnglc
aui l;rush made Of tho principal cities and in
ssnued rigid inquiry into tho supposed iac.s Tnesc
officials have been engaged at their abors Tor nearly
month, upd IN the meantime the heavy importatons
OF silks arriving here were est0pped. Tbe dealers in
manufacturers VI SILK goods IN this country have
ST. o0O 600 worth OF french silks held In tho iron
grasp OF the Custom House authorities.
NO QUARTER GIVEN
The Collector of the Port appealed to by the i'm
porters TO accept the duties, and oven as much AS
deposit OF thirty per cent 10 cover any deficiency
such be found reappralsement But notwthstand-
ing the justice OF the demand and the kind disposition
OF General Arthur toward the importers, all Of whom
respected and trustworthy, the law precuded
his accepting the proicred security ana he CON-
PEELED 70 decide that a reapprasement must be nad.
vestigation TO the extreme limit Home protection
the cry, II tariff Of sixty per cent Was not suf
hcicntiy hign tor guarding domestic Industry
ORIGIN OF THE INQUIRY.
short time ago the pubic was treated to consider.
able sensation caused by the holding OF largo impora
tions against which the cry oil undervalua
ton was raised Upon REIMBURSEMENT OF the goods
tho largest increase added 10 lew OF the invoices was
only SIX per cent In tho case OF the Silks rumor was
the foundation upon which the undervaluation was
placed, and the Treasury officials base their opinion
chiefly what they consider tho actual cost OF manu-
acture and also statements mado IN regard TO the COR
rect prices OF Importation The importers whose goods
were withheld clam that the statements made TO the
Treasury Department were parte, and made by the
parties principally If not absolutely engaged IN selling
domestic manufactures. lurther story Is told that
empoye high In the ranks OF the Appraisers DE.
purnent IL interested iu f0menng the annoyance to
which the importers have been put
WHAT THE IMPORTERS PaorosE TO PROVE.
As stated above only merchants heavily interested
In the sale OF American silks were examined On
Monday, to which DAY the further proceedings were
posponed. the importers will testify, and snow, by
what they claim uEdeniable testimony that they are
right and that their goods have been nvoiced the
regular market value Europe. To strengthen their
position the merchants delegated to appraisc tho
goods only differed trhe on the real value, which, ut
The most. will only add not over four or i've per cent
to regularly entered invoices The examination Of the
importers Monday will be as TO the prices obtained
IN Now York for tho imported goods The question
the invoiced figures of the goods and the prices at
which they sold In this market will also bo ex
anned into They will also represent that they have
becn ut enormous loss on account Of the detention
redress from the government
ACTION.
Existing laws provide, where the General Appraiser
anu the Merchant Appraiser tall 30 agree the evidence
must be submitted the Collector Of the Port, and
IRON his there appeal In this instance,
however, there ID no fear OF disagreemcnt as the
praiseent oil the experts placed upon goods is
very small The penalties imposed by tho acts OF Con-
gress provide when goods are undervaued less than
per cent the increase must be paid, without how
ever, ncurring any additional fines II the invoices
raised to sum over that amount an additional
ten per cent Is added by way Of punishment
The examination OF the twenty.eight cases Of silks
on Tuesday made the test OF the entire bulk, then
10 the hands OF the government and which represented
n value upward OF 000 000 Most OF these goods
now either Withdrawn or IN process OF delivery.