CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE.
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port, made yesterday from the Com Inittee oIl Finance.

 The Committee on Finance, to which

 were referred the memorial of the lln-

 porters and dealers in teas, of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and

 Pittsb urgh, report:

 That the memorialists pray, that in case Congress shall contemplate any reduction n the dnties on teas, that snch reduction may be made 10 take effect from and af- ter the 3lst December of the present year. being :iiia same time at Ris.!. tie act of the 2oth May, 1880, entitled An act to reduce the duties on coffee, tea, and cocoa, will take effect on teas; their object being, that, whatever reduction Tn the duties on teas may be made, that It raay operate simultaneously with the said act.of May, 1920.

 The Committee deemed 1t proper to consult the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject, and particularly as to the et- feet an immediate reduction ui tine duties would have on the finances of the nation. His answer, they ask permission to sue- nit. as part of their report.

 The Committee are fully aware of the In- convenience which must arise to conner cial men, by frequent changes in the dt'- ties. They are constrained, however, to report, that 1t is ia expedient te act on the subject Of the memorials al this time.

 TaHAsuRy nErARrMENr,

 December 5fk, 1881,

 STR: l had the honor 10 receive yester- day your letter of the lath instant, accom- panied by a memorial ofsundry merchants of New York, praying that any farther contemplated reduction in the duties on tea, may take effect on the lst of Janua- ry. 1882.

 h answer 10 your request that would state the effect upon the revenue, Of q reduction e the duties on teas, to certain rates whieh have been proposed by per- sons engaged h the tea trade, to % into operation at the time above mentioned. l beg leave 10 state generally, that sncl a reduction could not be made without ma : teriails dista7biag the estimates present. s -s- .ss-a --e-se-. ssr-..s .atss ! = partment o4. the state of the finances, nor consistently with the views entertained as fo tase entire payment of the eett on or before the 3d of March, ls33.

 Without more precise information than fife Department possesses of the quantity zsf tea n. .store. # is difficult fo furnish the details you request. The quantisT, bow ever. may be supposed to be greater than ii otherwise would be. h cons ecueace Of the mutual desire. both Of the Importer and the rztail dealer. to preserve as much as possible Of the importation for the be ne1r or ti4e reduced duties which to take effect on the lst of January next.

 1t will appear from tie statement here with transmitted. tlat the proposed reduce tion would be attended with a probable diminutIon in the revenue, varying from half million downwards, according to the quantity Of tea which may be found actually iTs store os ts.c- iist of January

 Ii is believed, moreover, that the pFln- cipai benefits of the proposed reduction would be conferred on the importer rather than the consumer. If, as IS understood to be the fact, there Is small quantity Of tea in the hands Of the retail dealers, II might not follow that the prices either of that now in bond. or of that ordered for importation, would fall in proportion to the reduction; whereas, the importer can s;;EEoT neither loss nor inconvenience from the operation of a law, with a view to which his business has been regulated for more than year past.

 The department is not satished-thoGgh upon this point, dc not wish to be con- sidered as expressing positive opinion that it will be expedient at any time to reduce the duties on teas, materially low CT than the rates of January next. These duties will not be sufficiently high to af feet, in any sensible degree, the consump- tion of the article; and though diminished upon an importation equal to that Of lsSOs from S2 ,049. .342 02, to SS9S, ,974 46, yet. <f.<~ .l. | c, nue. In general revision of the tariff, Congress r,:.! find great convenience II drawing the revenue from as few articles as may hs consistent with " iitthh the interests Of the community, instead of being subject cd to the necessity of spreading it over numerous commodities; andsthere are CO.,: gent reasons why any further reduction on teas should await such general revls- ion of the existing duties as the state of the finances and public expenditure may call for. The memorial Is herewith re- turned.

 Any further reduction which 1t may then be found expedient to make, may he readily adapted, both in amount and in time, 10 the interests and convenience ot the importers.

 I have the honor to be, with great res pect, your obedient servant,

 LOUIS M'LANE.

 Secretary of the Treasury.

 The Hon. $. SMITH,

 Chm of the Committee of Finance,

 The report being read,

 MT. Webster said, that he did not rise to oppose the acceptance of the Re- port. Under all circumstances, 1t might, he thought, he as we'll to accept it. and put the matter at rest. Nevertheless,