New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-02

ton to about twelve different functi0naries'
tribute to each desk, and the patience OF JoD.
On every hand is Red Tape; the whole round
il that of tho most bewildcring CircumIocn-
ton. Ono would suppose that tho entire ma
chinery of the CustomIlOuse were designed 10
discourage import and export, and that tho
30 called Treasury regulations were crcatcd
expressly to worry business men.
| All this is not 80 much tho result OF nnln-
teligcnt legislation, however, as it is OF the
gradual incrc aso of tho trade Of the Republic
| and the consequent growth of tho machinery
which regulates importation. and expectation.
Upon tho simple statutes Of 1850 have been
laid, by slow degrees, mass of laws until.
like superimposcd geological deposits, ono
| must cut down through an immense system of
strata to roach tho original, primitive fonnda-
ton The instances where laws impossible OF
execution havO been enacted are innnmcrabc;
and it is a current joke among CustOm-l House
experts that Congress as often lcgisatcs
money ont of the receipt of customs as into
it. though working with the best intentions.
A statute of 1871, enacted in hurry AMI
without scrutiny. perhaps, when duly scanned
by the proper officials, is found, after cOmpar-
parchment, or worse. set of Congress
tyros will sometimes innOccntly work as much
mischief in the Customs laws in n single hour
~ n German bomb could carry into the fine
mechanism of the famous SLrlsbOurg clock.
This comes of too much fine-spun web, too
much intiicacy, too isle simplicity, and not
enough cOhcrcncy in the whole system. Bnt,
not only should the Customs laws and rcgn-
latiOns ~ Il whole, be simpliiicd and codirl,
bnt many naked and conspicuous abuses Should
bc Topped off without remedy. Tho entire
system of fines, penalties and fOrfciiurcs, and
their distribution, is infamous, and prolific OF
corruption. 1t has come to such pass,
ut last, chat Il violation of Customs
laws is punishable only by a iinc forfeiture or
penalty, which is divided between the officers
of the Government and The National Treasury.
And from the Collector OF the Port down to
the hnnblrst tidc-waitcr nearly every man is
intent, net on his legitimate duty, but on III"
possibility of making something Onsidc OF his
prescribed stipend. The Introduction OF tins
element has gradually dcmOralizch the whole
service, until men who are put in these p'll'lic
places TO serve the Government and facilitate
commercial operations opplcss cOnhncrcc ana
regard every man who has transactions
with Customs officials as their lawful
prey. The scheme of giving one hall the
nvais of foriciturc by convicted
law bIcakrr, with contingent rewards to III
formers, las bCrl productive of infinite
mis- iIici ana corruption, to say nothing OF the
lhIrassiny of honest Importers Government
cmployc, shonld he paid decent and fixed
wages, not stimulated to vigilance by the
promise of shares in the divisions OF the spoil
of cva,ons of tic law. That is plainly dam
gcrous system of official compensation which
iixr. u salary at sum which is only one
twentieth part of the income which tho func-
tionary derives from seizures and COntsca-
tons made under his direction. But this is
just what the Custom laws now do.
Tho legitimate fruit of all this is system
of compromises which encourage rascality and
dismay honesty. The inflactiOn of the law is
seldom punished except by giving up part
of tho plumber, which is divided among the
officers Interested in "the welfare of the pub
4" lie service" as it is ironically called. There
ore laws against smuggling on the statute
book which are never enforced, simply be-
cause they are too severe when fully executed,
but, partially enforced, yield handsome in
Illicit traffic by her captain; the offender pays
fine, but is never sent to Jail, us the law de-
mand4 and the ship is invariably released by
the Treasury Department after condemnation.
Why il such an EXPENSIVE farce maintained
Laws like these. dead and mncnforccd. are
only useless lumber, and should be wiped Olt.
The list of subjects which demand INTEL gent
examination is large; bat we cannot avoid
calling attention. in passing, to the numerous
sinecurcs and useless membranes OF TIE De-
parmcnt of Customs. One of the three officers
who share in the division of the spoils Of
illicit traders and other offenders is called Il
Naval Officer. His very title shows the anti
putty of his profitable tenure. This is q leg
acy of "thc good old colony times, when we
@ lived under king" and the king had
naval officer stationed at all the cole
NAL ports to sec that His Majesty got
the share of duties which Parliament had
granted him. The Office is an ancient
incumbrancc and should be cut off. TIE
functions of a large and expensive department
can be just as well administered by one or
two competent clerks. We have not much
faith in Civil Service Reform which stops
short of making all possible reductions in the
official force of the country, and htsilatcs at
simplification of the laws regulating its lcSit-
mate trade. We would like to see higher
standard of official usefulness adopted and
especially less cnmbrous and complicated
system of laws employed in the collection of
the national revenues.