The sun., 1919-06-30
NJ ". GONZALES.

grail part Of export Recommendation to an
extent that evidence OF shipment, and
therefore theoretical possession OF goods,
is not complete without them.
Commerce can AFFORD to add one or
moro papers to complete or perfect rec
ords Of any and all transactions II only
the same procedure were to be followed
for shipments TO all countries.
This is not the case. Every other
country has different regulations which
are changed, amplified or extended al
most continually, imposing eventually
further restrictions and formalities until
the whole matter Is unbearable.
No two Of the twenty countries have
the same regulations regarding bills of
lading, consular invoices, marks. values.
penalties and others. No two OF them
have the same charges, ONCE hours ana
other requirements. They are all differ
ent in essence or in form.
No Uniformity Yet.
As early as 1890. that is. twenty nine
years ago. when the first Pan American
Congress met in Washington, It was re-
solved to recommend to all the Latin
American countries forming the now
Pan American Union the study re plan
to make all these regulations Uniform.
Since then and during these twenty
nine years there has not been q meeting
OF business men gathered for the purpose
OF discussing Latin American trade that
has not again and. again recommended
the same: the uniformity Of customs and
consular trade regulations.
1t seems that this Is the most unfor-
tunate question. No one can explain
why nothing Is done to relieve the situa-
ton after so much has been said, writ
| ten. recommended and resolved. After
80 years we find conditions worse thar
ever.
An exporter to-day has to carry ar
| encyclopedia IN his head in order &c
know what he can and what he can not
do. He has to know the different names
| given TO the same article in the different
| countries; the tariff peculiarifsas Of eaci
| with their more or less compf lated pro
visions regarding the severM forms o.
estimating the gross. net, legal and &C
tual weights. He has to know how eaci
article Is classified In everyt tariff, ant
| when and why he has to de@1are meas
ure, weight, size, form of papisages. con
tanners. &C, how he has I'd mark tn
inside and outside packages, how he ha
to number them, what besides marks ant
numbers has to be mentioned on tn
package. and when can he use brusl
and Corr stencil and whepsthe latte
only. otherwise ne may mike himsel
liable for damages due to unwilling mis-
taken declarations.
Ruyers do not always give specific in
structions regarding all these details ant
good and sound judgment Is not alway
successful in complying with unknown
requirements. -
description OF goods in consular In
voices Is not the worst OF the troubles
often the task OF fulfilling instruction
and yet expressing the truth Is just @
bad The saving of duties and otne
charges Is looked upon very lightly b
some people while we may CONSIDER
fatty as an attempt to defraud the GOV
eminent OF its legitimate taxes. Alon
these lines the conscience OF some pee
ple is wonderfully elastic, and they d
not think they are doing wrong unit
found out and they have to suffer for q
Dodging the Customs.
A customer. instructing the shipper I
declare silk shirts" as Shirts" onl
NAV have the intent II passing" ther
as cotton" The shipper may suspeC
this intention and refuse TO assist an
will declare the goods as they are.
NAV have to face a loss for not havin
followed instructions. Furthermore,
| NAV lose a customer. who still think
and feels he Is honest But he does nc
care to compromise with his own cor
science.
Some countries confiscate goods whe
undervalued in the consular invoice
others establish their right to TAX
them for declared value; others wi
impose heavy fines, while others NOR
lenient may only disregard the declare
value.
some countries demand original mar
ufacturers invoice to verify the valu'
an unnecessary requirement, as dutie
are almost everywhere specific on III
weight. measurement and Contents.
Some countries demand that separat
invoices be made for each difterer
mark, while others permit the consol
dalton of several marks into one :r
voice. Others go as far as fixing II
minimum size OF marks on packages,
In other countries the absence {
consular invoice makes goods liable I
double duty.
However, all these troubles would
greatly rninimized II all were to be el
4 on the same pattern. But TO have to 10
low twenty different SETS OF regul;
lions changeable with or without NJ
tIce and TO keep track of all thes
| changes at the expense OF a good nan
or good money Is beyond endurance.
I Tho peculiar requirements OF eaC
/ country exacted from their consular o
fcers force them TO issue regulations
/ their own concerning the time wht
shipping papers including consular Il
voices must be In their hands and wht
and how they are to be delivered.
: some cases regular gymnastics have
1 be resorted to in order to mail all pi
pers by the same vessel carrying u
goods, avoiding imposition Of fines
Importers should they not arrive in tim
Much Red Tape Involved.
Then comes the matter OF actu
| papers to be presented for certihcatio
Some countries demand bill of ladir
and consular invoice, some the FIRST onl
some the second. Some, In additio
require certificates of origin. of heal'
and others. Some require oath before
\ public notary, some before the Consu
some are satisfied with signature only.
Some countries demand as little as tv
copies of the invoice. some as much I
seven. Blank forms are sold at differei
prices. one country charging as little 4
six cents for a set of six copies and Al
other as much as seventy-fiv~ cents Il
four copies.
Consular charges proper are also di
ferent
Only one country COSTA Rlca) maxi
no charge for certifcation OF other col
sular invoices or bills OF lading.
Two (Argentina and Uruguay r.
/ ouire no consular invoice and charge
small fee for certifying bills OF lading.
One Paraguay charges a small II
for certifying bills of lading. and anoth'
fee also small. for certifying the con
/ mercial invoice.