New York Importers Press for Change in Customs Valuation Law

[…] He mentioned the case of a New York importing house, whose invoices had been found to contain undervaluations, and had accordingly been increased in [...] hundred cases in a single year. The committee defended their report, maintaining that they did not intend to reflect on the honesty of the inland custom house officials, or inland merchants; and that the object of their report was to secure uniform valuation; and to prevent goods intended for the New York market from being sent, in bond, to inland custom houses, in order to evade just valuation.

After a sharp discussion the resolution was re-considered and then defeated as there was not a full attendance of members present, however, it is not unlikely that a second attempt will be made to operate on Congress, through the New York Chamber of Commerce, in order to procure a modification of the law, which will confine entries of imported goods to the great sea-port custom houses. This would undoubtedly be a very fine thing for the New York importers as it would tend to materially lessen competition from country merchants; but it would not be a good thing for country importers. We have no doubt, whatever, that the New York importers as a class, can give country merchants "points" on us on getting goods through the customs at a low valuation; and that the country custom house officers are quite as honest as the New York officials and generally more careful. It would undoubtedly be a serious inconvenience and injury to the business of many country merchants to have the present method abrogated, and it is to be hoped that they will take measures to properly guard their interests in the matter.