, 1880-02-01
;: OUR IMPORT TRADE.
A Complete. Explanation of the
-. Aldrich Bill. 80.
It Will Do Away with the vexatious
importers Bonds,. -.
And Relies on the Security Given by
-: the Common Carrier. So

- il the Common Carrier. -: 49,
In view Of the interest excited in this and
other cities Of the West in regard to the In
mediate Transportation act of Congressman
Aldrich, and the efforts now being made to
secure its early passage, reporter yesterday
devoted some time to securing information
from customs officials, importers, and brokers
on this subject. The bill as prepared
embraces So many technicalities, and
. terms unknown to the average importer,
: that its Importance has not been so
generally recognized ns it should be, even by
the most interested class. A series of inter-
views with those best informed on the sub
ject has been boiled down into a more con-
densed form. :. - .:
The Immediate Transportation bill Of Mr..
Aldrich supposes the voyage Of original i'm
portation Ito close only with the arrival Of
the goods at the point Of destination. 1t pro-
yides, III furtheranee of this idea, that for
eign goods consigned to importers in the
! INTERIOR, as shown by the ships mani
fest, shall be transferred directly from
the ship to the car in which
they are to be transported to the West.
The language is imperative, and is intended
to prevent any delay in the shipment be-
yond the identification Of the pack
ages with the description given in the mani
fest. No entry Is required and no bond pro-
ytded for.
Under the present system, which is known
as the pro-forma entry, as adopted in 1870,
the St. Louis or. Chicago importer is obliged
to furnish bond with two sureties In q
penal sum Of double the invoice value Of the
merchandise. with the duty added The
present measure contemplates the do
ing away with, the pro-forma entry,
oH 5se Carrier 3e h' bend e9nd which 6 sya the Gds
either the old or new systems. The Western
importers complain justly Of this entry and
bond at the seaboard port, for during the
past year these bonds footed up nearly S225,-
sureties. signed bonds. for the Western i'm
p0rters.. At the same time it is easily to be
seen that these bonds, although oppressive to
the importer and the cause ofmuch delay, are
II no sense relied upon for the duties, but for
the safe e d4gery g n the goe{d REX sG for 50
a landing certificate is issued which cancels
the seaboard bond, As species Of protec-
tion to the revenue it Is simply q second bond
for which there is no need.
NOT A SINGLE BOND OF THIS CHARACTER
has been prosecuted since the law was put
IL. i
With Ills bond Of tie importer. and relies on
the hond of the common carrier pronortfoned
to the value Of the goods, for the protection
Of the revenue and for the collie ction Of
duties upon goods lost or stolen in transit.
either RI Dian, ma and % be under the % exclusive
control Of tie customs officials. The officials
at this port say that there Is not an instance
on record where; the common carrier has
failed to. pay promptly demand for goods
~ rJNlS r4[ E%4t%. JFJ2Nf fnYyr1
The Treasury has never brought suit upon
an r. coinmon-carTier's bond. bocause
there was no need of It,
What the importers complain of regarding
forna entry at present required makes it
necessary for them to send their invoices
and bills Of lading to the port Of ar
rival. The goods are delayed until the
entry is completed. There are standing
inscribed on this entry shall be as Carefully
made rs If it were an estimated lfquidation
upon an actual entrC:for consumption or
Warehousing. When the I. r. entry covers
twenty ornlore cars, the Western @ imp9;Ete1ss s
copy Of entry, invoice, bill Of 1ading, and
manifest for each car, are not supposed
to be- sent By mail until the last
car has. been started on its journey.
Owing to this restriction It frequently occurs M
that from n one-halt to thIee11ourths M OF ING ne
desinaton G fa! TeeS 6stoTe he 5sesps q
the papers, and the importer is IN unable 1 to q Of
fer entry. The government mas taken nus
papers, and from TINS cause alone vls11S rs upon
him delay Of ten days q Or more. ne I'm.
poFtS5 ppoFes nsnd snd fa at the s Law Sy IS ss sup I
senseless relic, Of antiquity, for It .compels
them to send the invoices to New YORK,
where they are OF no possible uSe, anu lhen
falls to provide LOT eir pronps Pr aedn 4ba 70 70