New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-30
and other matters with which the local governments

and other matters with which the local governments
can he cied In which taxation upon real estate
even now falls but little short OF connscaon ana N
Others where property has been put paItay pp,aS
the demands for the several classes OF taass
nearly the whole receipts derived rom Il-the oIu .h
in evsrv case becoming more and more severe WIN
every step in the direction OF appreciaion ~ ' ho
gold value Of the currency In which the taxes nus %
RAID Justice and wise policy, therefore. would seem
10 demand thar the National Government should not
now sdopt any measures calculated TO MAINTAIN or IN
crease these burdens; bat on the contrary soouu W
all in It's power TO diminish them. r-o.,v with
The Commission urge anew keciprocy aI Al. ~ 80
Canada. intimating that the Canadians VIII Impose
such duties as TO do away with smuggling.
THE YEw-YORK CUsToM.H0UsE.
A reoarls the New.York Custom. House. the cnan.
mel tbrongh which about twohirds OF the receipts OF
the whole country pass, want OF time has prefenteu
the Commission from making extensive personal IN.
ouiry. but Judging from the numerous statemsp.s
prese 20 them and from the evidence ehetee W
the Committee Public Expenditures IN VI ~
3sth Cong I'd Sess., Report No 2o-leSo toey .e es
satisfied that the necessity OF reform 10 the
doing business in this institution was never more
urgent than at present. Wi, c,s,on
House. it is believed that majority OF t1e EN-, no,s
special qualifications for their places, and little knowl
edge of the law under which they discharge tneil
duties; while the estimates presented 10 lhe Soms
sion Of the annual losses experienced oy the
ment through the frauds perpetrated IN connec'ion
vita this institution. range from si2'OVooO" "
A very large part OF these frauds arise from the
underyalnation Of invoices, coupled with negecs auo
iucon petence in the department Of the appraisers
Attention is also called to numerous cases OF irana
on the part Of importers samples OF when are e'teu
sone of these cases. 1t Is the experience OF OLD ana
enerien ced Custom. House officials that the Govern
meDt has been made to refund duties three or Tour times
In succession and that large part OF the business can
be characterized nothing less than shameiess anu
temato robbery involving IL would seem not lnire =,
Quently collision the part OF Government oeia''
FRAUDS ON THE REVENUE.
In regard to the Internal Revenue Department tne
Commission have allegation OF fraud 10 presen. gu
AT the same time are constrained 20 say that 10 point
of organization and Administrations IS very lar on
what IL should be- In proof Of this they nave ou'
cite the opinion Of the late Commissioner before re-
erred TO as concurred in by the Commission that the
law as il now stands. could be fully ana eneStuy =,
ecnted the receipts from would no, iaii soIs VI
$500 COO 600 per aDnum or. In other WORDS tnat cV
pIee administration OF the law would be equivalent 70
wipng out more than onehalf OF the excise TAX HUN
the statutebOo -, H. =,
the customs affect the character OF nearly every lndus
trial and mOneyed interest in the country anu all
experience has shown that great numbers OF desgIng
persons on the alert to take s1h atage y. In
nerfeetions in the law and Of the iDexpeTlence OF
officials to evsde the law, and deraud the 1o'ern'
ment. ..o..
But an iperfection In our whole revenue policy more
serious an RADICAL than any yet edverted TO- and when
affects alike both the customs and the excise Is tnat o
making the appointment retention and promotlon Oh
officers Of the revenue on other .bs
policy preyas--a policy never adopted BY any private
firm or corporation having due regard to ther own
interests and one entirely ignored by all the leaaiug
States Of Europea thoroughly einclent anu ecohonca
ration Of the revenue coupled with the educa
ton Of competent corps Of officials, cannot reasonably
be expected Under the present system inspectors Oh
shirts have been appointed who were entirely Ignorant
OF the hydroeer and disregarded its use and inspec
tors of tobacco who require to be instructed as 10 inc
nature Of the different varieties OF this article wien
annsactured previous to entering upon the discharge
Of their duties. ,..
removal Of competent officers have In some Instance
Undoubtedly been made for the sole reason that ~ tue
faithful discharge OF their duties they have nerered
With the private interests Of wealthy and influential in
diyiduals.
The Commission then offered suggestions for the
remedy Of these evils with comparisons from the
British system. The collection OF the Revenue they
urge should be transferred from the care OF the Secrc
tary Of the Treasury and placed upon special officer
also the appointment OF Commissioners and solicitors OF
the different departments OF the Revenue.