New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-22
THE CUSTOMS SERVICE.


dressed tie United States Senate on the
thirteenth instant, Ill an able manner,
upon the subject OF the custom, service
in this country. He denounced It. as At
present regulated by law, aS insufficient
| to protect the interests of the government
! and as inurlou, to honest importers.
| The law, as now framed, encourages fraud
| by offering Inducements for thu commits
sion of crime. ludcr the present system
the collector. naval officer and surveyor
of each port enjoy powers, pnvi-
leges and benefits which. while pecuni-
arilv advantageous to them, the Senator
thinks. tend directly to draw money
from the treasury that belongs legitimatclv
to the government The seizure of goods
attempted to be Struggled into New York
alone, amount annually, for the last ten
wears, to the large average of three hun
bred thousand dollars. And in addition
to this it is shown that full five hundred
thousand dollars have been collected
from fines and penalties for
revenue frauds. In reference to this class
of impostors. who have, by false invoices
or fraud and collision, detrauded the
revenue, it is found they are mainly those
who have no real interest in the govern
ment or its credit. but are aliens and
agencies representing foreign houses
The forms of fraud and mismanagement
under the present customs regulations
are classed by the Senator as follows:
FIRST The rendering false weights by
untaithtul or corrupt government weigh
ers, or the substitution by lil,Idating
officers of false for correct returns of
weights, whereby the duty is levied on
much less than the actual amount of .ner-
chandise imported.
Second The Presentation OF false in
voices, in which, either by deception or
collision with cuatomhouse officers, the
importer succeeds in getting particular
cases ordered for examination. which DO
not represent the balance OF the goods
Third The entry of invoices which DO
not specify the quantity of goods con
tanned in each case, and getting an order
for examination, and atterward falsely
inserting such particulars in the invoice
entries.
1t is shown that when frauds Of this
l.
up which clearly establish liability of the
importer to a certain amount, a compro-
mise may be effected on some basis
deemed satisfactory, with or without pro
ceeding 20 prosecution and Judgment
In that case instead of the government
receiving the amount of the duties to
which it is entitled under the law. the
whole amount is treated as fine and is
divided up accordingly between the col
individuals styled informers, with but a
small portion left for the government
after the division has been made
Senator Fenton has introduced bill to
remedy the evils of the customs service
as at present constituted, and, by unani-
mou, consent of the Senate, he was
awarded the floor when the bill was
called up. 1t looks to a thorough re-
of the Customhouse De-
partment under such regulations and
as will. in the opinion of the
Senator, give greater efficiency to the
revenue service He does not hesitate to
say that those who hold positions under
the government should be faithful to the
republic, and is inclined to reward them
with position, during good behavior
rather than favor the principle Of rota-
ton in office Without desiring to enter
upon the merits and dement's of this
principle at this time, We will express
satisfaction at the prospect Of having a
more efficient customs service when the
new bill has become a law