Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-22

WnTutu u ntuHtDTs at w asHIH.lDu, tx
plains itself, and deals with a subject Of
especial and important interest to the farm
ers Of Maine:
The Who AND COURIER,
Editorial Rooms,
Bangor. July 10, 1882.
Hon. EuGESE HALs and Hon WM. p. FRYE,
u. s. Senate, Washington, ID. C..
NV dear Senators:
have recently learned with considerable
surprise that the duty upon hay imported in
to the United States has been reduced one
half BY a circular issued by the secretary of
the treasury ''to collectors of customs and
others" under date OF March %. 1889.
In the circular referred to secretary Fulger
says that BY decision of the treasury depart
ment Of April &, 1868, it was 'held thar hay
imported into the United States was to be
classified rs a non-enumerated manufactured
''article, dutiabe at the rate of tpenty per-
cent. ad raiorem." but that 1.-THE United
Estates Circuit Court for the Northern Dis
''trict Of New York. in the case of Frazee ct
"al VS.. Moffitt, has decided that hay is duti
able only at ten per cent. nd rdiorem, as a
mon enumerated UHmsnufactured article,
under Section 9. 5l6 of the Revised Statutes,
land the Attorney General has advised an
''acquieseuce in such ruling. Weld to this
''opinion. and officers OF the customs will
govern their action accordingly"
The Secretary then proceeds to authorize
applications for a return of duties exacted in
excess of ten per cent where the requisite
steps have been taken.
1t IL unnecessary for me to state to you the
serious importance of this sweeping change
in the tariff upon a great staple product, eff
fectcd in a manner that failed to attract the
notice of the country, and which apparently
escaped the attention of Congress, as | per
ceive that Hon. J. r. Updegraf of Ohio in
his speech ON the Tariff in the House of
Representatives, April 18th. 1852, cited the
duty on hay as srenty per cent. when it had
in reality been reduced one-haf by the
Treasury Circular sent out some weeks be-
fore.
The matter is an important one Cor the
whole country, but it especially affects
great agricultural interest of our own State,
and write you in the hope that. upon con-
sultation with our representatives in the
House, measures NAV be taken to secure
restoration of the former rate of duty. be-
fore the adjournment of Congress. which has
already been fixed for an early day.
BY the-fgures of the latest census learn
that for the decade ending with 1850 the az
gregste hay product of the United States
was 292, Cos ,02? tons, or an average of 80
266. sos tons per annum. In the year 1850
the hay product of the country was 81. 1925.
23s tons which, at the average market price
Of to-day. say Sl4, would be worth SAC. a5s.-
2e2, or more than the value of the entire cot
ton crop Of 1850. which is reported at 3. I99,-
$50, 6sa pounds, worth at the present average
price say II cents, giving a total value of
S4l5,9.6. 94s.
The eame statistics show that the annual
hay crop of the United States. during the de-
cade. has been equal 10 one.third of the
value Of the total cereal produc,;ons NJ ,hs
country. that IL ha. heen NOR. than s,nr
times "a yamable as the notsto cron ana
nearly eight times as vaIn.bIs as the ,nhacco
cron.
regret that a, the moment of writing I am