The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-15


heartily endorse.
The Custom House ind Tariff system BE.
hind the Age.
A great deal of the trouble about the Gus
tom House in New York-and there has been
no period and no administration of late years
when there has not been trouble-arises from
the old and imperfect system of doing the
business and of raising revenue, which does
not meet the circumstances OF the present
time. While the country has made extraordi-
nary progress in ideas. wealth, commerce, and
even in political reform, it has made no adj
vance in the system and management Of this
important branch of the public service. We
mention particularly the Custom House Of New
York, because the commerce OF the country is
centred here and because nearly all the GUS
toms revenue is collected here, but our remarks
apply to the whole system. Most OF the great
commercial nations have of late years been
making improvements, in accordance with the
growth of trade and changes that have taken
place in the world. England, especially, has
simplifed her tariff, mode Of collecting reve-
nue. and official machinery of the Custom
Houses. She collects an enormous income
from few articles with comparatively small
force of employees and at much less cost than
we do. This republic is behind the age in
revenue reform.
Our public men, for the. most part, know
little of the true principles Of political economy
Or of the advanced ideas in this science which
modern progress has developed. They cling
to the exploded fallacy of protection and
raise a much larger revenue than is necessary
with a view to foster certain local In
terests. They do not consider that
this is imposing an unequal and un-
just taxation upon the rest Of the
community, and, as consequence, retarding
the development Of other and greater inter-
ests. 1t is this vicious legislation to carry out
the principle Of protection in detail for one inter-
est here and another interest there, to accom-
modate the different States and sections of the
country, or different industries, that gives us
a most complex tariff and costly system Of col
lection. The tariff acts of Congress are lite
rally bewildering. They lead, necessarily, to
frauds, litigation, bribery, grievous complaints
Of the merchants, tyranny on the part of gov
ernment officials, and to the employment of
an army OF otlcc-holders. All this arises from
admitting the principle of protection at first
and then from eudeavoring to make COM
promise with the different sections and parties
who clamor for protection. Sound principles
of political economy and the interests Of the
mass of the people are not considered.
The enormous and unnecessary revenue thus
raised affords at the same time fund upon
which Congressman and politicians can draw
| for all sorts of schemes. 1t has been since
| the war and is now fruitful source Of cor
ruption and extravagance. 1t furnishes
places for host Of partisan supporters and
rich jobs for political leaders and their friends
| We see in this the cause of the everlasting
war about the Offices in the Custom House and
of the vast jobs that are from time 10 time
exposed. The Custom Houses are regarded
by the politicians as their legitimate spoils
and are kept up on their present expensive
| basis for political objects and to- furnish
rewards 10 partisans General Grants ad-
ministration has been severely censured fos
evils connected with the Custom HOUSE; but
these evils are inherent in The system. The
President may and will, doubtless do what
he can to correct them; but neither his or
any other administration can hope to make
thorough reform while the present system
remains in existence.
There is no way Of reaching the evil but by
abandoning the principle of protection, re-
ducIng the revenue to the lowest & cure posi-
BILE that the strict necessities o. the government
will admit by raising an income from few
articles and abolishing our present complicated
tariff, and thus bringing about q reduction or
the enormous force Of government employees 10
one-third or less the preseiE number. ~ the
same time all the snecurcs and profitable JOBS
now held in connection with the Custom House
as q reward for prominent politicians OF tne'r
friends should be abolished. lhese are 'ue
reforms needed. With them we sho"'d near
little more of gigantic frauds or OF Tue neces-
sity for investigation committees. Tue work
must begin with Congress, ana 'hat ny a
thorough change OF the tar'h systr" ana
revenue laws.