The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-12 00:00:00

FINES AND SATISFACTIONS.

3rd Head, p. 63.—Tne officers seizing or detaining goods
shall in future have no personal or direct interest in the
fines imposed, or the profits derived from the sale of goods
undervalued ' • but such fines and profits shall be paid into a
separate fund,
partment. With respect to smugglers caught ty the coast
guard, no change is contemplated in the present system.—
See Commissioners' Report, p.B.
[Suggestion 12. Th.et the system of fines and satisfactions
to officers should be entirely abolished.]
[Suggestion 15. That all detentions, fines, and seizures
for entries or declarations referable only to statistical put,
poses, and not involving questions of revenue, should be
prohibited.]
The suggestions of the committee seem in this case to
have received careful consideration, but there certainly
should be no fund formed of fines sod seizures. The

whole of such sums should be paid to the gross account of
revenue ; and if-officers are to have rewards in addition to
their pay, let parliament Tote a sum for the purpose.

AD VALOREM DUTIES.
4th Head, p. 64.—The recommedations of the Parliamen-
tary Committee, in relation to this su!ijeet, are to be ousted
into effect as far as possiblo.—See Commissioners' Reset,
p. 11.
LSuggestion G. That ad raloren duties be converted, so be
as is at all possible, into specific duties : and that in ono
where this could not be done they should be abolished.]
Under this head it will ba necessary to go over the entire
list of article. subject to ad valorem duties, and it will Of
course be impossible to draw up the fitting suggestions un-
til the new tariff is published.
SEIZURES AND STOPPAGES, AND ADJUDICATIONS OP
THEM.
sth Head, p. Gt.—Henceforth no vessel, boat, or goods,
may be seized without a written notice, pursuant ta the
notice issued on the 23rd August, 1852.
Evidence upon oath will also betaken of the merchants or
other parties claiming the property, on the or.e side, and of
the detaining officers, on the other, before one commis-
Blotter.
Greater facilities for amending entries are to be carried
out.—See Cotnosissionew Report, p. 13,
officer -

[Suggestion S. That no ihould be competent to
seize, or detain the ships, goods, or person of a subject until
the person against whom the seizure or detention shall be
adopted has been served by him, in writing, with a fomal,
and final statement of the cause of such seizure or detention
as the case may be.]
The provisions under this head require to be more dearly
expremed. This evidence on oath before one commissioner
does not meet Suggestion 7. The matter frequently
assumes the form of a complaint in which the board is im-
plicated, and in which the commissioners are interested in
soreentag the officers. No hearing is of any value which
is sat before an independent tribunal, and with admission
et Me peen ; and without this publicity, not to be granted
er 11111111611 at the option of the board, but as a matter of
sight, to every case, a hearing can be of no value, and might
accomplish nothing further than subjecting the merchant
to insult from the commissioner.

LAW OF COSTS AND PENALTIES.
6th Head. p. 66.—The government thinks that the time
has come when the crown should be put on the same footing
as the subject; and further, that it should be imperative on
the crown, in all eases where the amount shall not exceed
100/., instead of an Exchequer trial, to resort to a lonely
court, or such local tribunal as the Treasury shall direct.—
See Commissioners' Report, p. 17.
[Suggestion 9. That the crown ought net to be exempt
from costa; and that every subject should have the right to
defend his person and property against the suit of the
crown without being called on for security for costs, fines,
or penalties.]
The intentions with regard to costa and penalties are set
expressed with sufficient clearness ; and it will be abso-
lutely necessary that something more definite than what is
now contained in the Treasury minute shall be embodied I.
the Customs Bill. For instance, how is the amount in die.
pute to be determined by the board or by the petitioner I
If by the board, what is to prevent the nominal penalties
being in any case conveniently raised above the county
court, and there is no reason that every Customs case, how-
ever vast, should not be heard in the county court, for be
the Penalties. dc., great or small, the issue to be tried
always of the same kind.
THE TRIM= STETEN.
7th Read, p. 66.—Facilities are to be extended, accord•
big to circumstances, for goods in passing in transit ; bee
caution is considered necessary.
The prohibition with respect to arms may be &teemed
with; but a Treasury order will be required is erebeese.
Bonds are now given for removal is each partkodistase ;
but it is proposed, that where merchants prefer its the,
shall be at liberty to give one single general bond is NINE
their transactioos.—See Commissioners' Report, p. 22.
[Suggestion 16. That the examination and delivery et
free goods should be simplified, and a better system should
be devised in reference to goods passing through this
country in transit.
The meaning of tte provision under this head of the
Treasury Minute is not sufficiently intelligible. What is
to be the nature of the general bond ?
FINES ON SKIPPING.
Bth Head, p. 67. My lords are of opinion that the views
of the committee are now sufficiently provided for by the
law and practice of its administration, as they exist.—See
Commissioners' Report, p. 26.
[Suggestion 10. The merchants, shipowners, and others,
should sot be made responsible for the crimes or offenses of
their servants or crews, excepting where guilty knowledge
or the most culpable negligence can be proved.]
The law and practice, as far as we can make out, are op-
pressive and vexatious to merchants and shipowners, and
the approval of them as they stand certainly goes far to
prove that neither the law narcotics arc very clearly un-
derstood at the Treasury.
BONDING SYSTEM.
_ _ •

9th Read. p. 67.—The original importer is to be held, as
at present, liable for the duty until he parts with the goods ;
he shall then cause a re-entry for the same to be made in
the name of the new proprietor, who shall thereafter be
made responsible, except as regards deficiency up to lba
time of transfer.
Stock is to be taken of all goods which shall have re-
seined in bond five years.
Special and ordinary security warehouses are, to a eesteia
extent, to be placed upon an equality.
.
Owners of the warehouses are to give bond, and the mm.
chant or importer is to be relieved of liability in this re,-
speet —See Commissionen' Report, p. 28.
[Suggestion 13. That in all eases the delivery of the
goods from bond under duty certificate should be held final
as to the claims of the crown upon the merchant or im-
porter, except in cases in which frauds could be proved.]
[Suggestion 14. That the liability of warehouse-keepers
should be limited to five years ]
The various points under this head require west careful
attention. There is great obscurity in the statement ; and
it is difficult to understand where it is intended that the
responsibility should rest, or how far the stock-taking
should go, and the whole looks like an attempt to waive the
just demands of the commercial community.
PASSENGERS' LUGGAGE.
10th Head, p.6B.—Greater facilities are to be given for
the examination of baggage, and passengers bringing only
one package may have it examined on board.—See Com-
missioners' Report, p. 30.
It is difficult to pronounce an opinion on the proposed
change, but passengers certainly would not gain much by
being let off with • part of their luggage, as few persons
would choose to leave the major part at the mercy of porters
and custom-house officers.
HOURS OF ATTENDANCE.

llth Head, p.6B.—The ezieting plans are not to be dis-
tarbed.—See Commimioners' Report, p. 33.
Great difference of opinion exists with regard to the hours
of attendance.