Remission of Duties—Duty on Coal-Protection to Manufactures.

REMISSION OF DUTIES.

Wherefore, your committee recommend 10 the

House the following resolution: [Communicated to the House of Reps., Jan. 25, 1802.] said Lyon 'Lehman is reasonable. and that the

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of the Mr. S. Smith, from the Committee of Com- said petitioner ought to be refunded the sum of merce and Manufactures, to whom was referred one thousand six hundred and eighty-four dollars, the petition of Lyon Lehman, made the follow- being the amount of the duties he paid on the ing report:

importation of 3,500 rifles and carabines, and 287 That it appears to your committee, that the pair of pistols, into the United States, in the year said Lyon Lehman, being a citizen of the United 1799. States, residing in the city of New York, did, in the month of October, 1799, import into the United States, 3,500 rifles and carabines, without

DUTY ON COAL. bayonets, and 287 pair of pistols.

That, at the time of the said importation, there existed in force an act of Congress, entitled "An (Communicated to the House of Reps., Feb. 4, 1802.) act prohibiting, for a limited time, the exportation Mr. RANDOLPH, from the Committee of Ways of arms and ammunition, and for encouraging the and Means, to whom was referred the petition of importation thereof," passed on the 14th of June, John Graham, and others, praying that an ad1797, which was continued by a subsequent act, ditional duty may be laid on foreign ccal imported passed the 7th of April, 1798. That, by one of into the United States, made the following report: the provisions of the said act, “all muskels and That the object of the petitioners, as set forth firelocks, with bayonets suited to the same,” im- in their petition, is not to enhance the price, but ported into the United States, during the continu- to increase the consumption of native coal, thereby ance of the said act, were to be admitted duty enabling the petitioners, who are interested in the free. And that, by provision of the same act, it coal pits of Virginia, by enlarging their capital is declared "pot to be lawful to export from the in trade, and by substituting machinery for manUnited States any cannon, muskets, pistols, ba yo- ual labor, to afford an adequate, and, eventually, nets, swords,” &c., but the exportation of all ihe cheaper supply to the increasing demand, within aforesaid articles is, thereby, expressly prohibited. the United States, for the article in question.

It further appears to your committee that, by The committee are of opinion that a complithe construction given to the said act by the Col- ance with the prayer of the petition, granting lector of the port of New York, the petitioner that it should not have the effect of enhancing was compelled to pay the full duties on the im- the price of coal at the shipping yards at Riche portation of the said 3,500 rifles and carabines to mond, would, by discouraging the importation any port of the United States.

from Europe, and the difficulty and price of freight It further appears to your committee, that the coastwise, tend exorbitantly to increase the price petitioner, in the first instance, offered the said of this necessary article, in the more distant parts rifles and carabines to the Government at first of the United States, and, perhaps, entirely to decost and charges of importation, which, as ap- prive some portions of the Union of their accuspears from the letter of the then Secretary of tomed supply: War, was refused; that the petitioner afterwards The committee are likewise of an opinion, that made several attempts to dispose of his said rifles it is not consonant with the principles of a wise and carabines at private sale; and in one of the policy to lay duties, (not for the purpose of raising said attempts incurred a loss of the whole expense revenue to the Government,) but to operate as å of freight and insurance from New York to bounty on any particular species of labor, at the Charleston, and back again, amounting to one expense of the community in general, on whom thousand and forty dollars; and that, finally, he- the tax is levied. They, therefore, submit the ing distressed, and otherwise unable to make good following resolution: the heavy expenses of the duties, freight, insur

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition ought ance, and storage of the said rifles and carabines, not to be granted. he was compelled to expose them to sale, at pub. lic vendue, in the city of New York, and thereby incurred an actual loss of fifty per cent. on the PROTECTION TO MANUFACTURES. first cost of the said rifles and carabines, additional to his other losses thereupon.

Under a full view of all the circumstances, and (Communicated to the House of Reps., Feb. 10, 1802.) considering the great loss and injury sustained by Mr. S. SMITH, from the Committee of Comthe petitioner, logether with the doubtful construc- merce and Manufactures, to whom were referred tion of the term, muskets, by which, under the act of the petitions of the manufacturers of gunpowder, Congress aforesaid, he was refused permission to of hats, of types, of brushes, and of stoneware, export the said rifles and carabines, your commit- made the following report: tee are of opinion that the prayer of the petitioner That, in the opinion of your committee, such to be refunded the amount of duties which he paid manufactures as are obviously capable of affordon the importation of the said rifles and carabines ing to the United States an adequate supply of • ught be granted.

their several and respective objects, ough to be

a

Remission of Forfeitures—The Mint. promoted by the aid of Government. Two modes inquiry, and were fully satisfied of the fact, when of administering this aid have presented them- the petitioner offered his aid and assistance in proselves to your committee: The one, to permit, curing the necessary proof. free of duty, the importation of such gross articles That the said ship was libelled and condemned as are essential to those manufactures. The other, in the district court of New York ; that she was to impose higher duties on such articles (on im- sold by the marshal of the said district, for the portation) as can be supplied by our own citizens sum of five thousand dollars, and that the half,

to advantage. That, at the present juncture, our due to the officers, had been distributed, and the ks infant manufactures peculiarly demand and merit other half paid into the Treasury. The petitioner

the protection of Government. Exempt as the states that he was in nowise concerned in the act. foreign manufactures will now be, from the which contravened the law; that he was an innocharges of war freight and war insurance, the cent purchaser of a ship that had been fraudumanufacturing interest of the United States will lently employed, and of which fraud bis agent. not be capable of entering into a competition with could have bad no knowledge; that he had given them on equal terms, without the friendly inter- every assistance in his power to prove the fraud position of Government. The committee, there had been committed ; and, therefore, prays that fore, recommend the following resolutions: the half of the proceeds paid into the Treasury

Resolved, That the following articles (in addi- may be refunded to him. tion to those already free) be admitted free of The committee are of opinion, that a sale duty, on importation, viz: burr stones, unwrought, abroad, of a vessel abroad, which had incurred a bristles, regulus of antimony, saltpetre, sulphur, forfeiture, ought not to release her from the pen

alty; and, therefore, recommend that the prayer Resolved, That it is expedient to impose a duty, of the petitioner ought not to be granted; and in future, of twenty per cent. ad valorem on fur that he have leave to withdraw his papers. hats, brushes, stoneware, printing types, saddles, cannon, ball, glass bottles and glassware of all kinds; on gunpowder, five cents per pound; on glue, three cents per pound; on tarred cordage,

THE MINT. two cents per pound; on untarred cordage, or yarns, two and a half cents per pound; on soap, three cents per pound; on candles of tallow, three

[Communicated to Congress Feb. 18, 1802.] cents per pound; on window glass, ten by twelve,

MINT OF THE U. S., Jan 1, 1802. or under, two dollars per hundreu feci; on all Sir: I have the honor of enclosing the annual above that size, three dollars per hundred feet; on report upon the present state of the Mint, for the anchors, two cents per pound; on spikes and bolts information of Government; and am, very respectof iron, iwo cents per pound; on cui, slit, or rolled fully, your obedient humble servant, iron, one cent per pound.

ELIAS BOUDINOT, Resolved, That in future there be imposed a The President of the United States. duty, on importation from any foreign nation, of one dollar per barrel on all pickled fish, and one

MINT OF THE U. S., Jan. 1, 1802. dollar per quintal on all dried fish.

Statement of the amount and description of Coin issued from the Mint of the United States, from the 31st day of December, 1800, to the 31st day of December,

1801, inclusive. REMISSION OF FORFEITURE.

GOLD COINS-1801.

and rags.

Time of coinage. Eagles. Half eag. In dolls. (Communicated to the House of Reps., Feb. 12, 1802.] Mr. S. Smith, from the Committee on Com- Quarter ending Mar. 31 3,558

8,522 78,190 merce and Manufactures, to whom was referred Quarter ending June 30 2,931 10,725 82,935 the petition of Ebenezer Stevens, made the follow- Quarter ending Sept. 30 11,110

111,100 ing report:

Quarter ending Dec. 31 11,655 6,759 150,345 That your committee have carefully examined the papers submitted by the petitioner, and others,

Totals

29,254 26,006 422,570 furnished from the Treasury Department, and find that the petitioner became possessed of an

SILVER COINS-1801. American ship called the Bellona, by a purchase made by his agent at Saint Jago de Cuba ; that, Quarter ending Dolls. dolls. Dimes. } dimes In dols. on her arrival at New York, she was known to have belonged to certain merchants of that city; March 31 34,406

9,260 16,100 36,137 that the officers of the customs had just grounds June 30

.

Additional Protecting Duties.

RECAPITULATION.

COPPER COINS-1801.

tecting duty heretofore laid by law, or now ree

ommended by your committee. The committee Time of coinage.

Cents. In dls. & cts.

are apprehensive that the laying of higher duties

on those articles would have a iendency to induce Quarter ending Sept. 30 505,000 5,050 00 our ship-owners to equip their ships in foreigo Quarter ending Dec. 31 857,837 8,578 37 countries, to the great injury of the petitioners,

and such other citizens of the United States as Totals

1,362,837 13,628 37 may have engaged in the culture of hemp, or its

manufacture into cordage or sail-duck.

The committee are therefore of opinion that it Amount of gold coinage

$422,570 00 would not be expedient to impose further duties Amount of silver coinage

74,758 00 on hemp or sail-duck. Amount of copper coinage

13,628 37

To the honorable the Speaker and the other members Aggregate amount of coinage in 1801 $510,956 37

of the House of Representatives in the Congress of

the United States : The Director deems it his duty to mention that The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the greatest part of the gold bullion was received the State of Kentucky, humbly showeth that, in in ingots and lumps imported from foreign ports, consequence of the termination of the war in Eu. which, had it not been for the Mint, would have rope, (an event at which, however injurious to their been exported as remittances to Europe, but has interests, they can but rejoice,) those articles which now become an addition to the current coin of the have hitherto been most usually exported from United States.

this State, (flour and tobacco,) have experienced It becomes necessary for the Director again to the common fall in price which has attended them mention that the amount of cents issued from the throughout the continent; but this decrease is, Mint has long since exceeded the sum of $50,000, perhaps, nowhere so sensibly felt in America as amounting now in the whole to $93,019 19. The in the Western country. While other parts of the law requires that, after the expiration of six cal- Union are so situated as to be able to command endar months from the time when there shall have the earliest information of the state of the market, been paid into the Treasury, by the Director, in and the best prevailing prices for their commodicents and half cents, a sum not less than $50,000, ties, the people of the West are compelled to de(which time shall forthwith be announced by the scend two of the longest, and one, for navigation, Treasurer of the United States, in at least two the most difficult, rivers in the universe. And newspapers published at the seat of Government,) when they have overcome these natural obstacles, no copper coin whatever, except the cents and hali they have only gained, in point of commercial cents, shall pass current in the United States. If advantage, that position from which their Eastthis has been heretofore done, it has not come to ern brethren set out. But the expense, and other the Director's knowledge.

obvious disadvantages, the consequences of their All which is respectfully submitted to the Pre- remote situation, burden their flour and tobacco sident by his very obedient humble servant, so much that, when at length they reach the mar

ELIAS BOUDINOT, ket, the net sum produced, if a loss (but too often

Director of the Mint. the case) is not sustained, illy rewards the toil of The President of the United States.

the husbandman, and the enterprise of the merchant. It becomes therefore necessary to abandon these unprofitable articles, and to resort to some

other, more likely to give encouragement to indasPROTECTING DUTIES.

try and commerce. In doing this, your petition

ers acknowledge the kindness of Nature, which, [Communicated to the House of Reps., Feb. 18, 1802.] though she has thought fit to remove us far from

Mr. S. Smith, from the Committee of Commerce the ocean, has nevertheless bestowed other blessand Manufactures, to whom was referred the pe- ings upon us, which, under a wise Governmeni, tition of Thomas Wallace and others, citizens of fully counterbalance this disadvantage. Hemp Kentucky, praying that additional protecting du- has, therefore, formed a considerable object of ties may be laid on hemp, cordage, and sail-duck, attention to the cultivator. That article, howeimported from foreign nations, made the follow- ver, neither in its raw nor manufactured state, has ing report:

been exempted from the general effects of peace. That your committee have, in a former report. And the citizens of this State, who have hitherto recommended additional duties on tarred and un-derived from the sales of it great aid in enabling tarred cordage and yarns, so that the duty payable them to meet the demands of their Governments hereafter may be two cents per pound on tarred, will henceforth lose this valuable resource, without and two and a half cents per pound on uptarred, the interposition of Congress. Your petitioners cordage. That the present duty on hempis twenty-beg leave to state, that their country, both as to two dollars and forty cents per ton; on sail-duck, soil and climate, is well adapted to the raising of twelve and a half per cent. ad valorem. That the hemp; sufficiently so, not only to supply the conduty on hemp is about twenty per cent. on its sumption of America, but to yield a surplus for prime cost in Europe, which is equal to any pro- I foreign markets. But, whether from the effects

a

a

Protecting Duties–Drawback.

of despotic governments, the cheapness of labor, will be discerned, that New Orleans being in the a more improved cultivation, or a more bountiful Spanish province of Louisiana, which immediately soil, the Northern States in Europe are able to adjoins the United States, was clearly within the undersell us in the article of hemp. Your peti- prohibiting words of the law, and that of course, tioners, therefore, pray that Congress will lay a no drawback was to be allowed on any exportation duty on hemp, cordage, and sail-duck, imported to that port. For the purpose of giving time for from abroad, adequate to prevent or lessen the im- a full understanding of this law, by a clause withportation of them, and to give encouragement 10 in it, it was not to go into operation till the first the husbandmen and manufacturers of our own of July next following its passage, which was country, the present duty being insufficient, for March 2d, leaving nearly four months for its prothose purposes. Your petitioners need not remark, mulgation. that it is has been the policy of all nations to give Ai this time, and until the peace in Europe of such a preference to the productions of their own 1801, there were extensive exportations from many countries, as might enable them to form a success of the ports in the United States to New Orleans: ful competition with those of foreigners. But they and from the 10th of July, 1799, to the 5th of cannot omit declaring that, since the value of land February next following, there were about 240 depends upon the value of its produce, the lands debentures for drawbacks given by the collector both of Congress and individuals will be benefited of the port of New York, for duties paid or secured by the measure proposed, which will attract the to be paid on goods exported to New Orleans, attention and reward the industry of the cultiva- l amounting to more than $60,000, of which sometor, and demonstrate that the General Government what more than $14,000 are paid, and the payis not more unmindful of the interests of their cit- ment of the residue suspended by order of the izens, than the Governments of other countries. Treasury Department. [Signed by Thomas Wallace and others.] The excuse of the collector for giving these de

bentures is, that, from pressure of business, he had not taken notice of the prohibitory clause of the

new law, which began its operations on the first DRAWBACK

of July, and that his neglect is imputable to the

removal of his principal and other clerks by the [Communicated to the Senate, Feb. 19, 1802.] epidemic, which unhappily prevailed in New Mr. Tracy, from the committee to whom was York the latter part of the summer and autumn referred the bill passed by the House of Represen- of that year. tatives, entitled "An act to allow a drawback of There were, likewise, similar debentures given duties on goods exported to New Orleans, and by the collector of Salem and Beverly, in Massatherein to amend the act, entitled 'An act to regu- chusetts, from October 29th, 1799, to February 3d late the collection of duties on imports and ion- next following, for the sum of about 2,500 dollars, nage," made the following report:

nearly 1000 dollars of which is paid, and the payThat the original design of the laws of the Uni- ment of the residue suspended by order of the ted States for raising a revenue on importation, Treasury Department. Your committee are not seems to be that of taxing consumption; and the informed of any particular causes for issuing these system of drawbacks is, undoubtedly, meant to last mentioned debentures, but they suppose the favor trade, by releasing from the payment of officer had not paid attention to the alterations of duties all goods exported for the want of consum- the law. ers in this country.

This mistake, it is probable, has not occurred In March, 1799, Congress revised the laws re- in any other ports, as the period of payment must gulating the collection of duties on importation have arrived before this time, and a discovery of and tonnage; and as experience had taught that them would have been made. goods exported to ports or places within foreign On the 5th of April, 1800, Congress passed an dominions, which joined immediately to the Uni- act allowing a drawback of duties on goods to be ted States

, were easily returned into them, and exported to New Orleans, after the lòth of said consumed duty-free by our citizens, the law re- month of April, at the passage of which there was specting drawbacks was altered so as to meet and an attempt made to give the law a retrospective remedy that evil.

operation, to cover all.exportations to New OrThe 75th section of that law is in the words leans after the last day of June, 1799, but it was following: “And be it further enacted, That a refused by both Houses. Your committee have drawback of duties, as prescribed by law, shall be not been able to obtain correct information of the allowed and paid on all goods, wares, or merchan- amount of exports from the several por is in the dise, imported into the United States, in respect United States to New Orleans, during the time to all such goods, wares, and merchandise, where from July 1st, 1799, to April 10th, 1800; but it is upon the duties have been paid or secured to be well known it must be very considerable; none of paid, as, within twelve calendar months after the exporters of which, it is presumed, for the reapayment made or security given, shall be exported sons mentioned above, received debentures for to any foreign port or place, other than the do- drawbacks, but those of New York, Salem, and minions of any foreign State immediately adjoin- Beverly. Your committee are unable to distining to the United States," &c. The words in guish, in point of principle, between the claims of italics were added in this revisal; by which it ihose who exported in obedience to existing laws,

Protecting Dulies-- Internal Duties.

.

without receiving debentures, and those who, by a kinds. It would be extremely injurious to that mistake of the public officers, received debentures. useful branch, and inexpedient, to increase the

If payment of the debentures is allowed, the duty on imported paper. equity of the case in favor of those who did not Your committee recommend that the duty, in receive debentures is strong, as their competitors future to be imposed on starch, may be three in the market were allowed by the public, from 5 cents per pound; on hair powder, four cents per to 15 per cent. advantage over them, without any pound; and umbrellas. fifty cents each. merit to entitle them to it, and entirely owing to a mistake and violation of the law by the public officers.

INTERNAL DUTIES. Upon these facts, the committee report the following amendment, to be inserted at the close of the bill, in a new section, viz:

[Communicated to the House, March 8, 1802.] · Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all per

Mr. Randolph, from the Committee of Ways sons who have exported goods, wares, or merchan- and Means, who were instructed to inquire idio dise, to New Orleans, from any port in the United the expediency of repealing the laws laying duties States, after the 30th of June, 1799, and before the on stills and domestic distilled spirits, on refined 11th day of April, 1800, and who would have been sugars, licenses to retailers, sales at auction, pleasentitled to a drawback if their exportations had urable carriages, stamped vellum, parchment, and been made to any foreign port or place, other than paper, and postage on newspapers, made the folthe dominions of a foreign State, immediately ad- lowing report: joining the United States, upon proof of such That the whole amount of revenue arising from exportation and actual delivery in New Orleans, those duties, exclusive of postage on newspapers

, shall receive from the proper officer of the port as appears by the statements laid before the House from which such exportation was made, a deben- by the Secretary of the Treasury, in the early ture or debentures for such drawback, for the same stage of the session, did not exceed, for the year sums, respectively, and payable in the same time, 1800, $925,000, after deducting the amount of after delivery, as the debentures would have been, drawbacks, paid on the exportation of domestie had they been delivered at the tine of such ex. distilled spirits and refined sugar, during that year, portation: Provided, That such proof of exporta- which suin is chargeable with an expense of coltion and delivery shall, in every case, be produced, lection, equal to $137.000, exclusive of the exas shall be satisfactory to the officer who shall penses of the officers of inspectors of survey, which issue the debenture; and when such proof shall be have been abolished. The net revenue arising produced, such officer shall immediately transmit from those duties may, therefore, be estimated at the whole proof, with his opinion thereon at large, $792,000; but if from this sum be deducted the to the Secretary of the Treasury, and if the proof duties accruing on stamps, which, as, under the shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Trea- existing laws, ihey will cease to be collected aster sury, be satisfactory, he shall so signify his opinion the fourth of March next, cannot be enumerated in writing to such officer, then he may, and is among the permanent internal duties, the whole hereby authorized, to issue a debenture or deben- net revenue produced from those duties may be tures for drawback, as described above: And pro- estimated at a sum not exceeding $710,000, charge vided, also, That all such proof shall be complele able with an expense of collection equal to $120,before such officer, within after the passing 000. To produce, therefore, into the Treasury

, of this act.

somewhat less than $600,000, an expense must be incurred more than equal to a fifth of that sum; and upwards of four hundred revenue officers, er

clusive of the inspectors, must be maintained af PROTECTING DUTIES.

the public charge. The continuance of a revenue

drawn from the people on such terms, can, in the [Communicated to the House, March 8, 1802.]

opinion of your committee, be justified only by as Mr. S. Smith, from the Committee on Com- imperious necessity—a necessity which, in their merce and Manufactures, to whom were referred estimation, does not at present, and is not, hereafthe memorials and petitions of sundry manufac-ier, likely to exist. turers of umbrellas, in the city of Philadelphia, Of the proceeds of those duties, more than and its vicinity, and of sundry manufacturers of $500,000 arise from the tax on distillation ; $372: paper, in the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 000 of which are paid by 22,000 country stills and Delaware, made the following report: scattered over the immense territory of the Uni

That your committee have already recommend ted States : 65,000 other dollars are the product of ed that rags, being the gross article ot which paper 13,000 retailers' licenses. These facts demonstrate is made, should, in future, be imported free of duty; the difficulty, and even the impossibility, of matethat this encouragement, added 10 the twelve and rially lessening the expenses of collection, so long a half per cent. now imposed on the importation as the subjects from which the revenue is to be of foreign made paper, it is hoped and expected, drawn are so thinly dispersed over this widely eswill be sufficient for the manufacture of that article tended country; and the annexed communication

The committee are of opinion that paper is the from the Commissioner of the Revenue will esgross article made use of by our printers of alaplain the deficiency which is likely to occur, on

: