Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-19
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
AN IMPORTANT CIRCULAR.
The Secretary OF the rrea ury Wants is-
formation IN Connection Nish the Matter
~ "A yatorefr or specific TpEes.

The sceee,sry Of the Urea ury Wants Ia-
formation IN Connection Aith the Matter
Of Ad yaioren or specific Taxes.
[By telegraph TO the Dispatch.I
WASHINGTON, July lS.--Ths fol-
lowing circular letter has been pre-
pared and is being sent out to manuiac-
turers and others interested in the IN
dustrial art:
Investigations Of the methods OF en-
try and spprsiSement of imported merr
chandise have shown that the tarin
laws are largely evaded by under-vaiu-
alton. Wherever duties are levied dd
ralorem the remedy suggested Tor TINS
evil is the adoption OF specific duties
With u view of obtaining information
on this subject which may be useful to
Congress in its fiscal legislation, and as
an aid in the improvement Of che Gus
toms-,.venue system, 1t is deemed
proper 10 ask tho advice of those
directly interested in the various
industrial arts OF the country which
may be affected by tariff legislation,
and which suffer more or less by rea-
son of the defective methods Of admin
istratioD. You are, therefore, request
ed to give your views as to the leasi-
bility of simplifying the tariff and
making the duty specific so far as APP
plicable to important articles, such AS
are made or produced in the United
States, in which you are interested or
with which you are familiar, with as
full information on the subject as you
may be pleased to submit. 1t is desl-
rable that, in addition to schedule
showing the rates Of the specific duty
which, in your opinion, should be
levied upon the various kinds and quail
ties of merchandise embraced therein,
the Information furnished ray cover
the folio wing points
|. Commercial or technical deslsna-
ton Of the article, with sample or sam
Piles. -.
2. Cost Of production Of given unit
| Of quantity by weight or measure, with
the following details as to each END
and quality Of the article-yiz.: Cost
Of materials, character Of the same as
for example, if wool, kind of WOOL
whether Of foreign or domestic origin.
If foreign, what part Of the value re-
presents the duties paid thereon. The
cost of labor il detail, giving each item
specifically, the rates Of wages paid for
operating expenses and how dibtribu-
ted. and interest and other elements oil
cost not covered by the above.
3. Description Of the buildings and
machinery and the amount of capital
invested in each.
4. If foreign article of similar kind
and quality is subject to an al rdLore0'
duty, state as nearly as practicable its
specific equivalent per given unit q
weight or measure.
5. Mention any exceptional element
of advantage CO disadvantage in manu-
featuring, such as location Of the fac
tory, with reference to market or the
means of transportation, accessibility
of supplies, nature of power or kind Of
machinery used, the character Of
labor employed, rates Of wages
paid, amount Of taxes or ex-
emptien from taxation, etc. You
are also requested to forward such
information as you may be able to sub
nit showing tho relative cost Of the
manufacture Of the same article in the
United States and in Europe, particu
larly with regard to the cost of labor as
affected by the rate cf wages paid II
different countries. State how much
the total cost Of given unit Of pro
duction is increased in the United States
over European countries by reason o
the difference in wages paid and thu
rate of interest on the capital EN-
ployed.
State also to what extent, with youi
knowledge of the special trade will
which your business is connected, tn,
present laws imposing taxes on i'm
ported articles have been evaded ant
how the same can be corrected, whethe
by specific duties or otherwise, and Il
what extent the home industry will
which you are connected has suffered
from this cause. 1t is not intended
that your reply shall be confined to tn,
form or scope Of the inquiries abov,
suggested, but you are invited to Civ,
the fullest expression Of your views oil
the general subject indicated in sucl
manner and form as you may deem
best. Publicity will not be given Il
the names, location, or facts relating
TO the business of individuals or cor
porations. These will be treated a
private if so desired. Please reply a
your earliest convenience.
Very respectfully,
DANIEL MANNING,
Secretary Of the Treasury.