New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-09

former period and suoh the character Of the coast the
facies offered ny the many convenient. anu 10 ANAL
vessels the disposition OF the inhabitants to favor
trade and tho ndisposon OF ures as We as sV tbe
the Judges 10 convict charged with YlOhtbs
Revenue laws. even upon the most positive testnony,
that the task Of stopping this conraoand trade 10 an OK
eeedingy perplenng and arduous one. The amount o.
money received from fines, spenaitles, ana forieteS
have good reason to believe that uncomfortable
amount OF foreign merchandise is candesnely 0rouknt
% 70 OF our e ports ar OF ehy by
persons arriving from Europe strenuous emorS cs
thew have NO, been eninsntly sncecssfm rule has
been adopted II am correctly informed that such an
amount Of wearing apparel rev worn. shall be nd
mtted such, duty free, the social position OF the
owner seems to render necessary and proper That Is
and high social position he or abe shall be allowed to
bring into the country from abroad very much larger
TOO than person. not so wealthy, and whose position
In social life ID less elevated. Under this rule the n
to largo trunks, we'll packed with the most expen
sye dresses aces, ribbons ysVets gi.ves: shoes, e
Paris, oil OF which being considered appropriate 10 the
wealth and station of the Individual s allowed to pass as
while II the wife Of emigrant farmer or mechanic, or
a woman III an humble sphere OF life who comes as PAS
senger III the same ship shall have even one trunk lu Oh
ch unworn clothing she must pay duty thereon because
such apparel does not compot with her station IN ana
more contrary to Justice than practical working OF
this rulei Is right that because one has been more
favored by fortune than another, the more fortunate
should be allowed privileges which are denied to the
iess TO state the case seems 10 me rs 10 United
States who afford TO visit Paris once OF twice year
for the purpose OF purchasing stock OF wearing apparel
for the the millionaire lady may DO tnls on
the score OF economy AZ wei a. pleasure, since te
she her impOrtatiOns exceeds the cost
of the trip across the Atlantic aud residence OF few
weeks in Paris Whether this Is done or not VIII not
affirm; but know that there are those who have exuied
that they had brought from Europe rich dresses enough
to last them for years. on which they were required 10
pay nothing BY the operation Of this rule some OF those
vino most able to pay obtain large amounts OF Tor
egn goods duty free IL Is for Congress 10 say whether
this is right and Just.
The great decadence OF shipping interest, espec
ally Of vessels engaged In foreign trade Within Tour
past, subject which, II appears TO me-
deserves the Immediate consideration OF Congress The
when much the largest portion OF the carving
trade Of the world was confined TO American BOTTOMS
aud the proportion OF foreign vessels seen IN our ports
Was small Now, much the larger portions OF mereban-
disc imported into the United States, at least from Eh
gland and France comes In foreign bottoms. With the
proverba energy aud enterprise Of American nercahts
for It, The should DC removed by Con
gress. , m.
officers customs and the satisfactory manner
which duties performed; but IL is proper that
should say that this communication does not apply TO
all Wherever these officers have been retained Tor
number of years-ve six seventh Is noticeable that
the business il done with cOmmeDdable accuracy prompt
tude and fidelity accounts correctly kept ana sea
sonably returned 10 the Auditor. or 10 his office money
promptly paid, aud few no causes OF complaint gwen
but the other hand wherc the officers have been ire
uucuily changed: where some aspiring ana linuehtia
politician has determined to use and succeeds IN nslng
the CustOui-IIOusc q motive power Tor MS pontI-
cal car and causes removals made with that view
and has been succeeded by one VINO mas been
able unhOTe him, and is no less determined 10 use the
patronage OF the Cusotn-iouse TO promote MS ow per
suua iuierestn slICfcases, might Dc expected the
badly kept the business OF tho uihce Is per
formed In TN unsatisfactory manner and there Is want
vigilance aud ZEAL as well as OF knowledge ana cN
perienee the part OF All employed from the Collector
perhaps the most incompetent of all down 20 the hgh
tie interest," Of indvdua il viii not be conducted in the
interest OF the Government.