New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-04
REVENUE REFORM.

PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE STATUTES.
A BILL To RELIEVE IMPORTING MERCHANTS FROM
THE ABUSES PRACTICED UNDER THE EXISTING
LAWS.
IRON A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDUSE.l
WASHINGTON March 3l.-Among the measures
now pending in the WAYS and Means Committee to
relieve tho importing merchants from the abuses
practiced upon them under the present odous laws,
authorizing seizures and confscatons, is the follow
ing The most important feature OF the bill will be
fonnd in the fourth section which provides that in
case of fraudulent invoices the penalty Of forfeiture
shall apply only to the particular invoice to which
such alleged fraud relates:
regulate the entry Of inpoed msFchinde and TO pOnh
fraudulent eitrles
n, I, ,un,,,d Se That no importation exceeding 800
in value shall be admitted to entry without the produc
tion Of duIy certified invoice thereof required by
law mr. OF an affidavit made by the owner importer or
consignee before any officer authorized 10 administer
oaths showing why lie is mpracticabe 10 produce such
invoice.
SEC O. That no Entry shall be made In the absence OF
certified invoice, upon affidavit AZ Aforesaid, unless
such affidavit he accompanied by a statement. in the
form OF an invoice otherwise showing either the
octua cost OF the merchandise included in such m-
or 10 the best OF tho knowledge information
and belief Of the deponen the foreign market value
thereof which statement shall be vcrned by the owner
importer cOnsignee agent desiring To make entry Oh
the merchandise and which 0ath shai DC auulhsIereu
by the collector or his deputy.
SIC g. That before such oath If taken, 1t shall be law
ful for the Collector or deputy administering the same
20 question the deponent touching the sources OF his
tnoledpe Information or belief In the premises, and to
reou ire him 10 make oath the same and to produce
any letter paper in his possession or under MS eono
which may assist officers OF the customs IN ascertain
ing tho dutiabe value Of the importation, or any part
thereof and in default OF such production, when so re-
auested such owner, importer congnee or agent snail
| be thereafter debarred from producing any such
letter paper for toe purpose Oh aNoiuins any peh"y
| or forfeiture incurred under thus act
SEC That any owner. importer, consignee
agent or other person who shall. with intent
| TO defraud the revenue, make or attempt
! to make any entry OF Imported merohanulso
| by means OF any fraudulent or false invoice ahi
dayt letter. paper, or by means OIL any raise state
ment written or verbal or who shall be guilty OF any
willfu act or omission BY means WHEREOF the uhlteo
States shall be deprived Of the lawful duties or any
norton thereof aocrung upon the merchandise, or any
! nortion thereof embraced o referred to IN such
| invoice, affidavit, letter, paper, or statenent,
| or affected by such act or omlssion' enaii
| sevcrally forfeit and pay ine OF SLOW ior
each ofense, TO be recovered by JOINT or several
actions IN any district or circuit court OF 'ne
United States and III case such merchandise shan OK
coed 900 in value the shall be liable to forfeiture
which forfeiture shall constitute an additional penalty
for such ofense but shall apply only to the particular
merchandise to which such fraud or alleged fraud
| relates.
SEC g. That any merchandise fraudulenty entered or
ATTEMPTED to be entered aforesaid but not subject 10
forfeiture under preceding section, may be taken
OF by the Collector aud held as security Tor
the payment of any fine fines incurred az Aforesaid
| or NAV be levied upon and sold on execution to
satisfy any Judgment recovered for such fine or fines
| But nothing herein contained shall prevent any
| owner or claimant from obtaining a release OF
such merchandise OH giving security satisfactory TO the
Collector or in case of Judicial proceedings, satisfactory
TO the court for the payment OF fine or fines so In
| CURED: Propided, hOperer, That such merchandise
shall in no case be released until all accrued duties
! thereon shall have been paid or secured.
SEC G. That in ascertanng the dutiable value OF any
imported merchandise subject ad vaOTem duties, the
foreign market value thereof the principal markets
| OF the country from which such merchandise was
shjpped for expectation TO the United States, at the
| date of such expectation, shall be deemed 10 III
| clude all costs, charges, and commissions up to
date of such shipment and such market value when
ascertalned according law, shall constitute the value
| on which duties to be assessed
SEC T. That the provisions of the preceding section
shall not prevent the assessment OF duty on any cover
ing or envelope of mcrcantabe character. or having
market value independent Of its contents, or which IS
not according mercantile necessarily included
in any proper valuation OF the conents bat such cover
ing envelope in such case be Vaued shu asSesse
| As "A mIJOrtHtIOu.