The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-07


which they have rested for many years; but
the real meaning of their twenty-nine recon-
mendations of change in the manner OF col
lecting the revenue on imports IS simply
request that foreign commerce shall here
after be regarded as a legitimate branch OF
industry, and that an importer shall no
longer be dealt with as though he were .
rogue, who had no rights which anybody IN
Congress or in the Treasury is bound to
respect. We cannot blame the mer-
chants of New York if they put their
plea in roundabout language. Many OF
them have not yet forgotten the days
when our foreign commerce was the
pride OF the country; when the men en-
gagged in it were praised for enterprise,
skill, daring, and were regarded not only as
prominent contributors to the country's
wealth, but rs increasing the sum Of national
glory and eminence. Many of them, we
say still remember those days, and it was
hardly to be expected that they would sink
all their just pride, and plead openly and
directly to the government to cease to re-
gard them as parcel Of rogues. Yet that
is the meaning of the twenty-nine points
Somebody said not long ago that, under
the present system Of levying and collecting
the duties on imports, New York is merely
city at the wrong end Of railroad It
was a bitter saying, but true. II commerce
is crime seaport must necessarily be
superAuous place. But there is hardly
merchant in New York who has not been
made to feel, in the last ten years, that his
calling was, in the estimation of Congress
and the Treasury, little better than GRIM
inal-about on par, let US say, with lottery
dealing or policy swindling. Something
ct any rate to be checked and defeated by
every possible means to be put down with
stern hand and lofty look OF contempt
whenever it threatened to become really
prosperous. Lest we should be thought to
overstate the case we will give recent
instance of the vigilant care with which
every piece Of mercantile enterprise is
crushed. Under treaty provisions fresh
fish intended for immediate consumption
are admitted duty free from the British
Provinces. But a brilliant law adviser OF
the Treasury has, we are told. declared
that fish packed in ice cannot come
in free under this regulation! We do not
pretend to know what this sapient con-
struer Of treaties supposes to be the use OF
fish packed in ice but his construction"
has knocked in the head trade which
would have enabled us to sell some goods
to the British Provinces. If commerce were
% uofi Of
course be ridiculous. In like manner, under
the treaty, canned fish from the British
Provinces were admitted here; but Con-
gress, regarding commerce as crime,
passed q law laying q heavy duty on tin
cans, and behold another chance to sell
some of our surplus manufactures in the
Provinces is knocked in the head.
We pretend to foster home manufactures,
but we cripple foreign commerce. That is
to say, we invite our people to put capital,
labor, skill, ingenuity and industry into
manufactures, and then we prevent them,
with great care, from selling what they
make to anybody outside of this country.
For if we do not buy we cannot sell. five
hamper and obstruct the import OF foreign
goods we cannot hope to exchange our own
goods for them advantageously abroad.
And yet we now make much more than we
can consume ut home, and mills are idle
and working people are starving; and COM
merce is considered as little better than fiat
burglary.
We notice one plea in particular Of the
W, -, .ka dc Nn
in their list, and unless it gets o favorable
hearing soon New York. Boston, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore and New Orleans may make
up their minds to a largely diminished and
continually diminishing business. No. %
is not plea for more liberal treatment; it
is an humble request tor fair play. 1t reads
! thus
% An adequate system OF equalizing apprasemonts
| at different ports that like goods shall pay like
duties ~ all custom houses There were instances
like goods passing through small custom houses
/ were nvoccd at hall the value which duty would
be levied in tho New York Custom House. This was
/ TO the great disadvantage OF honest importers
few words will explain the meaning of
this request. Under our complicated tariff
the proper appraisement Of merchandise is
one Of the most difficult and intricate of
undertakings. Whether woollen goods con-
tain very little more or less silk. whether
they weigh over or under SO many ounces
to the square yard, and SO on in o great
many different articles, makes a very great
difference in the amount Of duties exacted.
The late A. T. Stewart used to say that he
! could afford to paw ten thousand dollars n
year to a buyer who was thoroughly
skilful judge Of certain kinds OF
goods; and every merchant knows that
u just and competent appraiser is very hard
to find Now, the New York Custom House
has skilled appraisers for every kind OF