The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-04


must at every hnzard have cheaper dol lnr. in
order to lessen the burden OF debts alrendy con
trarted II il lar better, rather than to adopt the
single standard 81 silver. to boldly reduce the
number of grains IN the gold dollar, or to nhnn-
don and rtrnce all Efforts to make United States
notes equal to coin. Either expedient will do
greater harm to tho public Mt lnrgc than any
possible benefit to debtors.
The free coinage Of silver will also impair
the pledge made Of the customs dut'e. by the
art Of Fcbrunry 1862, for the pnymcn! Of the
interest Of the public debt Tho policy thus far
adhered TO. Of collecting these duties in gold
con. has been the chief 'ntsc Of unfolding
and advancing the public credit. and making Il
possible to lessen the burden Of interest by the
process Of refunding.
In view Of these considerations the Secretary
has felt II to lie his duty to earnestly urge upon
Congress the serious objection 10 the FREQ coin
ngc ~ silver on su.h cond tions ns will de-
mOnciae gold. greatly disturb all the financial
operations OF the Government. suddenly revolu-
tome the basis Of our currency. throw upon
anr , me ~ IRE ioJ, ., cn,nige
pnir the public credit with no apparent advan-
taac To- the people at large.
results hoped for from lihoral issue of silver
com can be- ured 10y issuing this coin, in
pursuance of the general policy Of the act Of
| 1853. in exchange for United States notes.
coined from bullion purchased in tho open
market by the United States. aud maintaining
| II 10y redemption. or Otherwise at pur with gold
| coin 1t could be- made legal tender for such
| sums and on such contracts ms would secure to
| IL tho most general CIRCULATION. IL could be
easily redeemed in United States notes and
gold coin. and only rrissucd when demanded
| Tor public convenience. ~ me essential quality
| OF r.deemability given to United States notes,
| bank bills. tokens, fractional coins. and cur
rcncy maintains them 1T par how much easier
| il would be to maintain the silver dollar. of in
| trinsic market vau" nearly equal to gold ut
par with gold coin. 10y giving to II the like quail
| ity of rndcemnbilitv. To still further secure a
| fixed relative value of silver and gold, the
| United States might invite an international con
v"ntion NJ commercial nations. Even such q
| convention. while II might check the fall OF sill
| YER could not prevent the operation Of that
| higher law which places the market value OF
conditions here stuffed the Secretary IL of opin-
| ion that TIA" sver dollar Will he "A great public
advantage. but that II ISSUED without limit up
| on the demand of tho owners Of silver bullion.
| II VIII bo great public injury.
EXPLOITS AND IMPORTS.
& Tr'GI sgl ro q, lSr r y sn cn1 ,
4oSo7-a decrcass Of .i7ii5 ,i9i * TH;c re-
were s37 .jji, 72s.5J. while for the correspond
INK period Of this yenr thy were s3G.9o3. j3l. sc
II decrcnsc of s57l 1876 ~.
| Tn" umhnrraAsnents attendant upon the coll
| lection Of the revenue at the port oi New York
alluded to IN the report Of my immrdiat" pre-
drr"ssor-erowng out Of the lnrge number Of
suits brought to recover alleged excess Of duties
| have not ceased: but considerable number
| OF such suits have boon pressed To- trial. with
| results IN favor of the Government IN the ma
| such suits n considrrnblr delnv necessarily o..
| ours before they can be brought Ia trin.: viii h
dclay Is adverse to the inter SIS both Of the Cow
eminent and the importers. The rer9mmenda,
| he created by law for tho trinl Of customs revo-
nue. cusrs at the port ol New York. is renewed
act approved Aux. Is. 1876. and since the l,h OF
! March lust commissions have been organized
under direction OF the President. To- inVe-tg gate
generally the manner N Nhich the customs
! husin - has been condu t"d AZ many of tho
pr ncipal ports. They were also directed TO in
| quirs into the manner In which appointments
! in the customs srrNc" have been hcretuior"
! mndc. ana t. suggest -u'h 'hangrs in existing
laws as would more fully meet the neees~ tiles al
! commerce al the @fuf flmp. AMI ITUIUDf
| economy in the coll' tiun II the customs roy
| enu". The a. ton taken hythis department, in
| pursuance OF the recommendation OF these
cumuilss on-. has worked marked improve
mrnt in Tho cundut OF ia" customs service.
copy oi tn ~iNth report I the commission
I appointed e. inNt.-tiNrt. o." New York t4-ioui
/ House II !, r"wlth TRANSMITTED, and the change
I rccumm"nd. 81 ia existing laws arr cunucnd'd
Z L" inc cons a. non 81 congress. pthrr 'hhng'-
/ recommended by the various commissions viii
/ he pr'~"nt' a 10 ouEf - "a uitn Time. lur -u'
/ "a tlun rs may p' deemed me- r~-ary.
Embarrass m"nt has occurred during the pnst
/ y"ir pa tn" collie ton Of lutIeS on ~ugar. under
/ hHiulr G.. tn" 33. of the Revised SHtut' :.
] THESE DUTIES are n~s'Ss'd by the Dutch -taiid-
hfd. according Ia color; and Il has br"n alleged
! that sugars have been nrtiileally col0rrd ia tn,
country Of export. tn secure their passage at the
! Custom House NJ a less rat" of duty tlnn would
! be charged according I" thr color acquired IA
/ While the truth Of su h allegation has not
been eStnhl shed in any ls'sit.y" mnnnrr. not
has been n ndc by thr Officers II this depart
| m"nt. 1t has been us,erned that ~" su-p"'frd
]
/ Custom IL use were # u higher intrinsic graz,
/ in many @is"- tiHn those laf NIX higher rates
Oi duty. stat -ti'- snow that. from som" cnu-".
= mhrk"d in'r"n-' nus or arr 'd IA r.r lmporlh-
/ ton ot SUGAR -ahlr tu tu" low II Il" OF duty.
/ and u CORES poudiug d.rrcas" in tht mportu-
unn OF unr"llnrd -usnrS paying IN" higher
! ruu.s. This ~ doubtless du' III part Ia the act
! ol March =. 1919 stat at Large. vol. IS. pal.
/ 33H' VII cil imposed an additional duty ~ -
/ per cent of the duties pres l,ed IN schedule O.
/ AMI thus increased tho dis rlmInst.On III favor
of the lower grades of sugar
lJif IA standard -lu
/ has s for ia" --nrnt OF duty. bounded a- d
! X On roor alone. Which hears no definite r'ln-
f tom tu ia" value of III" sugar If. how ever tho
/ lui standard II a.. bee retained. II j. recon-
I nendri that tn grades Dee reduced Ia number
50 thai Their shall be- hut tur"" rates of duty
one iur -uslrs nnt above No. -. one Tor sugars
above - and not hipNe 20. anu another tor all
SUGARS. Based upon the quantities OF the vnri-
J Gus grades imported during Ia" past two
Nrhr-. th' following rats would yield about IA t
same amount "i revenue Hs was '".irrtrI dur
INK that time: sugars not above No. 49, per
per pound; ~ 100; nhoyr No. l3 and not
above ~. ij-lOu: above 20. and AL refined
sugnrs. cents. lh.s Is inru- We of the - per
r.ni. additional duty imposed by the act OF
Extensive underyauaiions in tho entries Of
silk goods nave occurred during the l. ~ yrur.
and the prrs lst"nt Efforts oi the ON Of tn,
department al tho prn lpnl ports Ia prevent
AMI break ~ such frauds nn tn r'Nrnur have
not been an n. led with 'ntirr ~ 'n'ss. Ih.- il
| du" IN part 10 "a" prh q - ot shipping goods To-
agents in tn. l. ted States On ron-llflnl' M ion
/ sale On the mhnuih tur"r- Arruuut. Tor winch
goods. II Is ciaimrd. thor" is cons qur utly No.
| mnrkri vniue ahroad. II has D'"n -u-g -t'l aS
/ pr'v"utiv" Tor such evils ~ tn" luturi' that
IN" duiy ON silks b" changed q" one per pound.
| in-t"Hd ui the pros ut dd-Nulorrin duty. Tho
/ subject n cummcndrd e. the careful cousid"ra
/ ton Of Congress
For the r,nsons already stated the aagr,,nt,.
7 revenue from imports cannot be- drrrrn- 4 witt
du" gard t. the Wuu'- pi inr Governments \
/ rrvisu,n ~ tho taril q. ns DIES rnhlo and ~
Srrrolnrv recommends that q duty Of two a'uit
pr pound ON OH '' ana ten cents per pound pli
/ tea hf adopted. whi Ii would weld "a DA ma.
a