New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-19
THE REVISION OF OsR REVENUE
LAWS.

We have often called the attention of tbs
Government TO The great need of codiiication
and revision of orr revenue and navigation
laws, and modification OF the system OF col
Letting duties.
A few years ago, the attention OF Congress
was called TO this subject by Mr. Guthrie, then
at the head Of the Treasury Department, and a
Committee was appointed to codify the existing
legislation. The Chamber OF Commerce was
invited 20 old the Committee, and much i'm
portant labor was devoted to the subject
We are glad 30 sec that Mr.. Chase has de-
vised a more practical method Of accomplishing
the desired result He has appointed Com
mission consisting OF the Solicitor Of the
Treasury, the Special Agent OF the Department
in New-York, Messrs. Charles 7. Kirkland, and
Grosvenor 7. Lowrey, able and respectable
members of the Ncw-York bar, and exColector
Schell, and he has invited the advice and aid Of
the Nes.York Chamber Of Commerce.
Our columns elsewhere give an account of q
special meeting held at the Chamber yesterday
to consider the communication OF the Secretary
of the Treasury. Its great importance was
acknowledged by the merchants, and a special
letter Of thanks was ordered TO be addressed TO
Mr.. Chase for biz action.
The Chamber further recognized the gravity
Of the subject By naming as It's Committee
five Of its most eminent members, Mr.. John
c. Green, Of the distinguished house of Girls
wold Mr.. A. A. Low, the President of the
Chambers Mr. A. T. Stuart, Mr.. Moses II.
Grnnell, and Mr. A. W Bradford, one of the
most honored Of our equity lawyers, and a
member Of the Comnsttee Of Arbitration Of the
ohamuer. from this Commission the commerce
of the country may anticipate the most for
tunate results.
Many of the revenue and navigation laws
are obsolete and only occasionally enforced, TO
the annoyance Of merchants and tho confusion
Of the Treasury Department, which, on appeal
from the merchant and collector in dispute. finds
the practice and the law at variance. Such I'M
certainty is always detriment to commerce.
We expect from this Commission thorough
reform Of the present system of revenue collec-
ton. If we must have lawyers to administer
the law and collect the revenue, it is at least
something to have the advice Of merchants as
10 the mode Of collection.
We have no doubt that the revenue can De
collected in this city with n very much smaller
force than that NJ present employed, and at a
great saving to the Government. We believe,
too, that one half Of the time now employed by
merchants in the entry and clearance of vessels
and in the entry and withdrawal of merchandise
can be saved.
BIT these are not the only evils. The system
Of brokerage in the transaction ofCustOm-H House
business will, We trust, be also radically
reformed. The army Of young men who are
now employed in this business may be relieved
from duty and enterfelds Of employment which
will yield greater return to the country.
The United States needs the active services
Of all her sons. Men are wanted in every de-
partment Of industry-at the pillow, in the
mines, at the workshop, labor is everywhere
wanted-not only the labor Of mind, but the
combined effort Of the active brain and the
strong hand. Men cannot be spared to dangle
about the desks Of the Custom-House, patiently
awaiting the passage Of entries, when by the
adoption Of an enlightened system their services
may be partially if not wholly dispensed with.
We commend this branch OF the subject to
the early attention Of the Commission. This
will embrace what the Secretary terms the
" reform in the administration Of the laws" and
we submit that, while their revision and codifi.
cation is work which will require study, time,
ana patient labor, speedy application Of the
knife to the numerous excresences which have
grown upon the administration of the laws may
be OF once made, to the immediate relief of the
merchant aud the permanent good of the whole
country.
We are glad to SEQ disposition on the part
OF the authorities, to call in Il their aid the SER
vices of able, intelligent, AMI, above all, of
practical men. The Sanitary Commission, The |
Frcedmens Relief Commission, have given
earnest tothe country of what good may be ef-
iected in this way They, in some measure, and
perhaps " manner better suited " the repre-