The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-25
THE STEEL TARIFF.

Evils of the System OF Secret Treasury
Aaents-The Troubles of Sheffield steel
Imp0rters-The Result.
Ever since the increase Of the tariff rates on the
import OF foreign merchandise the Treasury Depart
ment was IN the habit OF employing secret agents in
Europe to ascertain the actual market value goods
exported thence to this country. The figures re.
ported by these agents were then compared with
the invoices furnished by the importers in order
to see whether the latter were guilty OF
undervalueng the goods imported, that they may
pay less duty and thus delraud the revenue This
system has so many apparently favorable features
that 1t was continued through the several successive
administrations OF the Treasury from Judge Chase
to Secretary Boutwell,. The importers, as matter
OF course. disiiked aad opposed 1t as q source OF
fraudulent practices, blackmail, vicious chicanery
and otherwise improper interferences with the natu-
raj course OF trade. TN several occasions be-
lore the United States courts in this city
and Brooklyn this system Of espionage in
Europe by paid agents Of the Treasury was
sought to be ventilated, and enough was
shown to exhibit Its aDhOrrent features. The readers
or the HERALD will all recolect the "wine cases"
the government on the strength of OF the estlmony
OF It's agents In Europe, that owing TO the under
valuation OF the wines and silks with intent to
escape the payment OF higher rate OF duty, the
goods seized were forfeited to the Treasury under
the law. In all these cases the name OF W. b. Far.
We'll dppcdic1 COHSpiCuOuSiy uS tuc ukeuG
OF the Treasury Department abroad, and the prose
cutions mentioned were principally based upon his
reports.
STEEL RAID ON SHEFFIELD.
Lately similar proceedings have been held In re-
gard TO the importatlOn OF ''bc5t cast S.eel from
Shereld, England The investigation commenced
about nine months ago by the same Mr.. w. y. Far
well at Sheffield, assisted by the United States Con-
sui, Abbott, at that place. The result was report
from them to the effect that the manufacturers and
exporters Ut cast steel az Sheleld do regularly
they ship goods to this country state the prices
QTK "a 10 Ina
at the place OF expOrtat0n The beauties Of our
present variegated tariff law appeared In
respondent light In these cases. The graduation
OF duty according TO the difference In the value Of
steel, 1t Is said made 1t possible that by underval
ing the article exported BY half Or one cent only,
saving to the Importer and losing to the revenue
from ten to thirty per cent Of the duty which should
have been paid And tle reports of Farwell and
Consul Abbott, supported by evidence collected by
them, showed that this advantage had been largely
awaited OF by the manufacturers and exporters OF
to General Palmer, the Appraiser oil the Port, he
RAISED THE INVOICE PRICES
Of all the steel then In the Custom House ready to
be Withdrawn tor consumption by the payment Of
Abbott being the actual market value OF the goods
at Sheffield, and thus Increased the amount Of the
duty
THE IMPORTERS DE@URRED
to this action Of General Palmer claiming that their
invoices were right; that no differentiation had
PEELED pay the higher rate OF duty. Most, if not
all Of them, however, paid the increased rate under
protest. alleging it to have been Illegally eXctSl,
and appealed There were b.
FIETY-SEvEN APPEALS 4.
in all. in which the following parties were inter.