New-York tribune., 1871-01-10
TIE CUSTOIf-HOUSE.
our stage.

! TIE NEW TApIFF--GOODs IN BOYD-COiPLA ANTS
| OF MERCuANTs-FRAUDs UPON THE CUSTOMS.
Tho rcadiustmcnts rendered necessary 10y
the notifications Of the Tariff taking effect at the
beginning OF the year have been generally effected at
the Custom House, and business goes smoothly again.
Tho Appraisers Department appears, however, TO be
somewhat behndhand, account Of lack OF clerks,
so that some delays caused. An effort has been
made 10 induce the Treasury Department TO modify or
repeal certain lopgstandDg regulation with reference
to transfers Of goods in bond. Tho subject comes
into speeIal nrominence IN connection with the
very material reduction OF duty on many Fuch
articles OF impolt as tea, conee' if al@ | suer i
that the reduction should affect all goods imported atcr
Dec 81 1870 and should also apply on any quantities o
naming in bond on which the duty had not been PAID
II the duty had been paid and the goods were sun re-
manning i'm bonded stores the excess 0f what WIS pau
under the old tariff over the amount rSqurcd u e Paq
under the now 10 be refunded TO the person entitled
to receive it. The Customs officials are represented as
ave take the bond Of the original importer; he may
transfer the title TO the goods but II the duties Gre pGt @
bond, Wei as the goods, for security IL GIer nc M,
transferred the title TO the goods ana even hter m SDn
transfer duly made me tier or record by US hy
shall, by fraud and connvalfe Wth ousto.i & S %
waTebonse In which tRey arr stored VIC shall sa look TO
the original importer to pay the duties le ,iel "
eTred GOODS in bond and tie buyer ps assumed the
sponsiby Tor the payment OF inc duties a. pIt o eo
conditions of tine SALE and has been accepted as surety
6y Tie Customs ofci1s that then the original importer
shall 10 regarded absoyed nom further accouHtF
bility the htih II iu''ti VI
House acshO7ties 20 act IN accordance win ths view
has led 10 several bitter complaints from trct, eim
rr0p0sjtion has even been made that importers sali
organize for determined ehoit " s"''P""'9 'i' 'V
The position Of the Treasury Department by i1stTpS
tlons from which the officers of tie Customs are ol oo
guided in this matter is understood TO be about ~ iO-
lows: The Government can know only the orlglnal nl-
noTter il holds his goods simply for security for pay
nent OF duty, but for vercation AS u the amount 1e
goods while they are in bond, any more than it eou i9
low up any subsequent selling and Ieselg OF me m, IN
geDce and to facilitate business, it records suc trans
ers o the goods the importer may see btt ineo out
of cfyen Gautity Of goods in bonded wefehOuse tne
importer may dispose Of lots to any number OF dlefehe
| uCfsons, and the Government, TO afford we we
necf.sary & v aSTSeos recoSnSs ifc '0 ranacto making
suitable Endorsements upon the original bond the ufV
crnment holds the goods for three years II tine lppIe
chooses TO defer long the payment OF detns put IL ~
sse@s s9 s stealing 81 5aS
him tdecincs 70 allow ore ae etuo @ hnoS m @ f oTe
| may be allowed, any number may also be made, and
officers of the Customs would lie speedily overwhelmed
Win business not growing out Of the necessities Oi com
mere and operating simply to rotard for an mreoson
Goods in bond are continually effected through the Gus
ionl.uonse but the buyer is regarded EluPy US the
writer IN an evening paper day or two ago, gave
somewhat vehement expire sion to the grievances ol
Tie sPclf net Win d.irn AMI Is treated at ever s,er b
@ were 10 .sST S T' trut o he rae sio
gses in a te me- ial ige,S & LS poi reno Il E "a" in
voice sn e oa then e Importer has 70 give bonis T.
r. 50
ia m tl be Il fellow and not Que wilt u tn " o
to h. tLese days. The merchants a. ht""- "' nave
an. o. amer Ged sud oblrstcl llom she Code 4, -
4 singular commentary upon tu'n coNIlaHit8 Is o.
fnrled by reference the result Of the "or or the d
tectiye officers employed by tho Treasury Department
drc st year In urIcfing ont frauds upon the Cus c
revenue over s55lSss 94is officially stated to have bttI
turned into the Treasury fines aud iGretules iu!nt
$50 Many suits have been begun wiich WA uhuou
edy rcsult in ycrdcts in favor Oi tho Government 70 nv
amount OF about 81 100000 IN the inpora.ion or Io
haccO LIST year, frauds were discovered when req I.
tbe paving into the Treasury Of sh5J05 as me,
and foffci.u~.s; by importers OF tea, sugar, ana
coffee slOsi7 paid. In rasins Tor example u W
fonud that frauds were very generally perpet7od, and
fomc prOiueut importers suffered forfeiture 0 invoices
shortly aerward there an increase OF 20 Ter cent y
the revenue upon the article, and thus many thOis'1
| OF dollars were saved to the Treasury. flauuS az
almost invariably peTpetTatcd by coilusiOn win Govern
mcnt officials. The Secretary Of the Treasury Is nhuef
stood tn ave adopted new policy IN rcteohce 70 ds
covered cases fraudulent cOlinsion BtfctOiCic b'
clngbo officer has been very stcrnly sometimes saF
! accly dealt WITH while tbs importers WHO nav,
corrupted him, proiited ~ his c0rupnon nave teei
trcatSd with comparative leIleDcy. Iho Secretary, u Il
stated has now determined that the ncayy Lahd OF tn'
law shan fall equally upon all parties found guilty q
dcsrauding the reycuue, ana th"t cfiai prosecutor
shall wherever practicable, DO brought alike against h
| ul!bur and the DrIhed