New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-23
REVENUE FRA UDS.

INSPECTION OF FOREIGN sTEAMERs-IMPRovE-
MENrs IN THE SURVEYORS DEPAkIMLNr-
TIE NEW BARGE OFFICE AND GOVERNMENT
BASN-PETTY SMUGGLING BY EUROPEAN
PAssESGERs-HOw PROFESSIONAL SNUG
GLERS ARE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF 2,OOOOVO
CIGARS.
Frauds on the Revenue of the country seem
10 be the rule rather than ito exception Seizures by
Internal Revenue Inspectors daily reported by the
public press but the enormous frauds the Customs the
public seldom hear Of in consequence Of the secresy with
which the operations Of the Government officials are car
red on This secrecy rendered necessary on account
OF the peculiar nature OF the frauds-some OF them eating
up months and years before they are thoroughly
developed But tits notorious fact welknown 10 the
Custom-IIouse authorities, that since the begin
ming Of the lato Rebellion millions Of dollars, worth
of merchandise has been clandestincly imported
into the United States The eXigencles OF the
nation have demanded increased revenues and IN
order 20 attempt 20 qudate the national debt II be-
came necessary 10 greatly increase the duties on certain
CLASSES Of merchandise, particularly vines brandles ana
cigars, and silks saus, ldces, ana lcNery henVo h
greater temptation to engage IN TIE llclt business W
smuggnC especially ~ cigars, ga the duty is over 20 per
cent Recent Developments nave discovered the Ii'l la
the business u rot alone coniinea TO [he ifo',lo
OF darkness Science and labor, ana energy ana
enterprise have been prostituted IN deEsiug new
schemes wherewith to evade the payment OF
duties upon imported merchandise. Combinations
and conspracles have been formed IN which were Ia,
Guided 0pulrnt merchants veteran shipoWnors, ana
Wallet brokers' and with these were associated hordcS
of confelcraes such AS warehouse sOrckecpers, con
ductors baggarcteuders aud Sailors their operations
being carried by land well ~ by sea- In iact snug
giins under the guidance Of intelligent has became
an ,el,hed bisuess-a business OK treachcry aud de-
colt whose rauhcntOns extend 70 All parts 81 Duth
hcmlsphcres. NcwYork being the great center Of con-
ee ~ the Western Continent il the Headquarters and
here n the combinations are formed ana plane perfected
Until within late years our revenue Laws ieguias we
collection OF customs had been somewhat unperccty
carried out but on the occasion Of surveyor Nanan 70
Office, thorough fgdnLaloh OF the was
Elected Previous 10 1865 tho service OF boarding M
coming vessel, was performed win small Do4ts Duilh
the Winter season the duty Was atteut VIII Pl' a"4
a often became necessary 10 wait dag or more before
vessel could be boarded mcantIgo PORTIONS Oh tnJ.p
cGrRocs were smugHled ashore by U.ilhk staiel, io
would brave any dangers take the moot hazardous
poied by The Government Along tho Narrows from
Eobhnss Reef 90 sandy Hook wete hundreds 81 boat
Revenue Inspector had taken charge, and carry away
hight merchandise such M wines brandies' cigars aces
6c which were generally landed Somewhere uA staten
Island and from there brought ~ tine city ana throw" on
duccd by Surveyor Wukeman have almost pary zed tho
traflc ~ smuggling, compelling the persons engaged
therein 10 resort TO other Schemes IN which they are
Mr. James t. Benedict, for many years Dcputy-sur.
tie various duties connected with the inspection of YES
sr!, Accordingly, two years ago. Surveyor Wakeman
procured an order from the Secretary the Treasury
assigning tho revenue cutter Una, capt Tholnas Lay
Thee trim little yachts that are constantly
employed in utcrccpng incoming vessels aud making
seizures; beside, they have often rendered yhahe
stance 10 vessels distress Only last Winter during
the cold spell when the bay was Hooded with ce'
Capt PIcTsOn Of the Jasmine rescued three men
from terrible fate. The men had been caught
IN tho Ice, and were nearly frozen to death.
But this ~ not the only reform augntcd by the sur
ycyor lie early perceived the necessity OF direct ttc.
graphic communication with sandy looA, ana through
his earnest recommendation the Government c1lh' ed
telegraph from the Cusomliouse 10 The hooh' thus
doing away with The old ana imperfect system oI sishs
Tho advantages OF the telegraph are manifold A. soon
rs "a vessel arrives within sight OF Sandy Hook the sur
yeyor knows her name anu character. IL sue Is an Luz
TOpcan ~ havana steamer, u palch's luH hltli'dh
Consul, have previously informed Linn ~ any suspicious
movements on the part OF prominent smugels at tn1so
ports, and mis- measures Tor seizure are actually made b
iOro the vessel reaches the Narrows The adoption nf
these reforms has cost tho Government nothing the add
tlOnal expense pclnS Pun out ~ t'iu Vi no
Surveyor one OF the first actions Of tine Surveyor was
effort for the erection Of new barge Office on
tho battery Tho antiquated "man-trap" at Whitehall.
though In perfect keeping with the wharyes ana piers IN
his cXcrtOns the Government communicated with tho
State authorities and on the recommendation OF the Gov
ccdng OF portion 81 the Battery front for the building
". Government basin aud barse.ohice The ground
at the eastern end Of the Battery extension adjoining the
Staten Island Ferry slip The ground extends out to tho
feet II has width OF 215 feet nc the old Battery wall.
and Of 200 feet at the outside line This improvement
series Of docks the Liverpool pan ana the basin VIII
not be used Tor the compulsory accommodation OF any or
ports OF the features In the Improvement are That
1t VIII serve as model ,Gt Tg c wSdre Tc
Ministers and other distinguished parties can land or
embark without running tho risk ~ breaking their limbs
OF nocks being drowned ms they have 10 do ut tho
present time and that 1t will be point where boats nom
naval vessels whether native or foreign rendezvous
at all OF the Special accommodations VIII
be provided for the OF these boats, whue waiting
thereby obvatlng the inconvenience OF hanging around
aud erecting temporary shelter in stormy weather. as
they haye to DO now The basin will DO lOi feet VIDE at
the Battery ed and 100 feet wide at the opening The
depth Will be- on an average, $40 feet Proposals nave
been accepted for constructive the retaining W1 S0g
gress al s ast session. made appropriation OF fOOO
10 commence this Improvement IL Is understood that
tho Battery extension viii be completed, as iar as hs
Government wall in question, as soon as the same
is finished; hence tho whole may DO expected 70
10 done together. Tho city, Ia addition In
deciding 20 the Government the tract for basin and
revenue officers building also allows space, 10 feet
I'm width, as a right OF way 10 tins properly
There ia no branch Of the revenue service IN which
there more sagacity and intelligence required tha IN
the Inspectors Department which Is under the direction
the Surveyor of tho Port under tho personal super
Vision OF DepuySurveyor T.. ID. Webster late friVate
Secretary 10 secretary Seward The zeal with which e
inspection regulations have been carried out has resulted
IN large augmentation OF the receipts rom mes Tor
FIXTURES and PENALTIES will bo seen from the lOoWlhg
comparatye statement Of the duties collected on articles
found among the personal effects Of passengers since
1862: -.
leAu. Amount Tears
40 1868. ...-.- t2s,4oo 10
1868 ...... = g.7s5 80 1906. 5l,Oll ~