The New York herald., 1866-01-30

BILE houses OF one OF the chief cities Of Europa ono OF
tea was nearly forty Dor cent less In amount than the
other which was transmitted for the private account
FoRuaS PUBLICATIONS.
The attention Of the Commission has, furthermore,
been called to which has occurred very recently.
concerning foreign publication imported In sheets INTO
New York, for which American house offered 70
double the price which the sheets were nvoced and use
them a raw nasna os the spe Ua ree
OF duty The shees of the publication 10 question were
invoiced with their covers at three farthing could be
bound for fraction of cent each and sold In tho
American market from eighteen - twenty-five cents
The effect Of such frands is not to be measured
by the government but also includes the injury
inflicted upon the honest importer the American
who y forced 20 submit 70 'r %
protect himself And 10 undoubtedly true that u thus
way tariff enacted OF late years has fully accomplished
Another prolific source Of fraud In the customs II con-
nccted with the present systam Of refundng ousce
cases pending in the New York averages fvs hum
dred and year. sometimes running up 70 one TWO,
oven three thousand and involving millions OF doi
axs TO which must be added aggregate OF costs Of
no small Dimensions In some of thase casesi II Is the
conviction OF old and experienced custom house officials
that the has been made 70 refund duties
three or four times succession, and that large part OF
the business be characterized nothing 1ess than
shameless @ sna s s,. n woS,a
ought to be clearly understood by tho people Of the
ment OF the customs equivalent 10 increased
taxation and that every dollar taken from the revenue
sarily, bc made up by an equivalent assessment
In regard to Se Ianai T Revenue YEN as department. the
at the tme constrained 70 say that in point Of
organization and administration t 10 very FAR from what
opnon o tho LATE before ref referred n I 70 as
concurrcd Ia by the Commission, that II the law as
now stands could be fully and efectnally executed the
nts<to fol
num or, in other words that complete administra-
on Of tho law would be equivalent TO wipng out more
than onehal Of the excise TAX from the statute book
Ii We admit the truth of this statement, even In ap
proxilnato degree the Commission might hero rest
Their argument in favor Of the necessity Of rooganiza
ton They WILL however, briefly cali attention to some
OF th5leadlng lmperfections of the present system
One OF The most prominent OF these Is lack OF power
and authority in this department ITSELF espe
ciay 10 the matter OF expenditures in regard TO this
latter the law itself allows but Little discretion and what
little there is is vested in officers Of the treasury De.
pariment who although they may be tho most faithful
and vigant guardians OF tho public moneys have little
experience in connection with the collection of the
internal revenue, or practical Knowledge OF It's work
ngs It, therefore, undoubtedly often happens that in
honest desire 70 prevent the waste Of public money,
small may be saved at expense Of one Of much
greater magnitude.
Thus as Illustrations of this character brought 10 the
notice of the Commission they might cito casos whore
vigant officers, who have devised plans at slight OK
penso for simplifying returns or detecting fraud, have
been Obliged after the government has adopted their
and been beneAtod by their servces
nave no small
from their saaries-a course equivalent, in fact, TO
offering premium for continued neficicncy and
want Of method. Again, officers who have been de-
tailed special service, and have performed such
service, bringing back thousands OF dollars 10 the
Treasury, have had ther accounts for small expendi
SLOWED lori or reduced ~ the auditing ocers The Com
mission would not be understood intending 10 ccnsure
the auditing officers for tho course pursued BY them a.
IL undoubtedly In strict accordance with the Rwt
but they would say that they do not think Is for the
interest Of the government or The country 10 allow the
system 70 be curaed OF its usefulness either BY
reason of such Laws or BY any special Interpretation
placed upon them.
Another of impesctiou in the internal revenue
system Is undoubtedly due TO limitation in the number
Of highly competent and responsible oHces and 10 the
inadequacy Of the salaries paid to them Starting less
ccr the businessof the internal has increased
such extent that probably excoods In magni
nS the s 70 sSe
than tho whole annual revennc Of the government
prior TO 1890. The amount Of mailabie matter which
leaves the Office ls reported 70 average and half
tons daily. fsa af
wth all this labor and responsibility tho internal
with tho exception Of tho ComnieoAS the Deputy Com
missioner and Cashier, psovislcn his becn adc for
we: ss ss Com
misson belisss that nsn cah ~ found mentally
e. sps sss = rom s
siousr, whis tho clerk 10 saarye 81 tAe division o. &C.
counts d required 70 posssa ssigh N order
borious dfies than any empl0ye Of asy private hft g
corporation IN the eountry Tho salary q che fcfne
psr annuu, and that Of the latter a. eighteen hundred
doliarA a tIcfqo iau. ~ 1890 -
"a. se s:. q 4: s: q ssS ; &
trial end moneyed interest," In tho country and all cxpe
renck hes shown thaa sreat nambus o. designing per-
The alert 10 take advantage Of unper
fecens In the law and Of the tDexpeuenee of officials
to cvads the law aud defrsud the sovcsamest
rely Spon u The integrity faSfsiSsss csrsc,sy and er
pcrionce OF its ascns; and government 70 en-
desvor TO procure snd retain The services Of sn com
corporation, viii only, probably, Be- impossible but
The system under which drawbacks are allowed, on
products or American industry exported from the couu
"s Sssr very Uss1 and com
Gated and presenting an obstacle 20 tho resuscaton
and Development OF our trade with foreign natons i'm.
paired by the events Of the last four years
with the adoption however. Of the policy recon-
mended by the Commission viz OF removing the excise
culiies viii undoub.sdIy be obvistcd
Tho present system OF the allowance OF moiees OF for
fetures and pepaltie. 70 normos y also undoubtedly
exercising . very demorazing influence. I'M mere
pecunisry point Of view however no expenditures Of
The government probably produce large rcturn both
drpct and indirect ow from the distribution Of fthe
moctie and long tho present orgauiEaton of ths
revenue Is retained the Commission and h dcuit 10 de-
Attention should also be called 10 the fac, that the
chief business of the esca Of this Internal Revenue ai
wahingoa and tho chief dspcsitcry o lie records and
papers, located In building which In not hreproof
and that Al any moment the whole machinery Of the
Department nablo TO be thrown into grsst confusion
with the inction OF irreparnbe Losses BY reason OF
circumstances against which there h now no adequate
provision Hna
But an imperfection In whole revenue policy moro
serious and radical than any yet sdveed TO- and which
Affects alike both the customs ana The excise s that OF
making the appointment retention and promotion cf
officers OF the dependent other circumstances
than qualifications and good behavior. 80 long this
policy prevaila policy never adopted BY any prv
hm or corporation having due regard TO their own
states Of Europe-a thoroughly efficient and eco
nomIcal administration Of the revenue, coupled
ofhcials. cannot reasonably be expected. Under
tho present system inspections Of spirIis have bcen
appointed who entirely igncan OF fhe hydrometer
who require 70 be instructed The nature q the d
ersns varieties Of this article yhen panunctursd pre-