The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-20
IMPORTERS AND GROCERS.

Important Report on the MOiety Cues
tion-fsecomm g ndat ions to COngress-it
is Unwise 60 Abolish Existing Laws
Revenue Officers Should BE Better Paid
and Should BE Selected for Honesty,
Not Political Favorftismi.
special meeting or the Importers and GrOcers'
Board OF Trade took place yesterday at their
rooms in Wall street. 1t was for the purpose Of
receiving report Of the Committee ON Trade
Statistics and Publications in relation to the
moieV question pending in Congress.
The report was read and gave ground for good
deal OF discussion, Messrs. II. harrington, G. W.
Lane, X. B. Minturn, MIR. Hill and others particl-
pating. Several amendments were proposed, par
ticularly one to strike out clause referring to
"theves" and "lnformersn which was carried.
The following is the report as unanimously
Adopted
The Committee on Trade and Statistics to whom the
whole matter OF the PROPOSED revision of the revenue
recent discussion OF The subject of moeties &C. at Wash
made to CONGRESS win prevent legisalo1
tine gTsa INJURY not ony Of the but Of ne
opinion OF Your committee the Board viii DO well tS
oaay SSs SarssH se
seeking only Their individual ends While urging
sssnd he acts g
o s Which, for a.r v SsS s Sos sSes to
lay before them last January, we still take
81 sSSsn nis 1ss
frauds be detected and punished We maintain that no
il become the rule that frauds unpunIshed. and
bad as they are in SOME respects as dangerous IN the
@ we as mas aSs to The repeal all proper
Ia NE opinion oi your committee frauds must be de-
devised TO this end we propose to oner sugges
method, which seems to have escaped the atten-
ton OF aii SIDES al washington is to have honest ser
it be sad that this cannot accomplished, beg to
disagree 0the nations collecting large sums in reye
S % 90 M to Sr DC than hsy Pay the
common !, aboreT;, iair compensation for the work
to be Zone GIVE them no greater interest to
in s paGs Ons a they are au nna
may good political doctpine but as @efchants we
70 he conduct q large business Is ne collection q
Is unworthy OF 50 practical people as We are thai
this custom prevails and to Il more than any other
making TO the world;
that soorer earning but So per day takes $s or $se
poand as. Or n S ana pepper Showing Ike shrink
on ike Wages lakes sugar from parcuar hosshaas
venienty put ~ shipment for that purpose, when
hs remainder o. he lot rRe siG 500 he gets is his
Would customs officer in charge OF bonded ware.
house knowingly allow rchandIse be delivered with
DO we hear se thai il had into the
In the revision referred to we recommended that all
entries THIS Is in the estimation Of your committee
here elsewhere know that their msdeeds detected
offences tley would think cases be deferred
aG have een a the
importer who was willing to risk being detected in
las he has done even in that pay less than his
hones e negabor su in the epinoa OF your %
methods OF arbitrary character and doubtful corstitu
I'll suI ,i
of books and papers have been made without notice on
earnestly ask the repeal Of these obnoxious enactmen
Whereas this Board on the l7th OF January ls7 had
then adopted, which were as follows.
of the customs should be paid adequate ana liberal
sa!ar,es Of xed amount. and all provisions Of law
inoetes Of seizures should be Internationally abolished
against the but against every
character to be compromised by favor condoned
commercial venture which, il successful may be re.
peated UNI. the offender grown strong in HE gotten
offence, the grievous injury il not to the absolute
ruin, OF the conscientious importer who scrupnlousy
Resolved That every seizure goods made and every
Should nS b @ 70 na the
viced OF wilfu and deliberate fraud upon the
damages should also be prohibited forever pc
rod of three years. thereafter from transactng bs
States unless Congress by special act remove his dsa-
billy r,.. uro ,,., co,o.o,. anal, ,,,..,,.-
legislation be necessary to secure these desirable
objects and TO insure vigorous and eicient sdminstra
ton the laws in this behalf Tor which purpose is
by the signatures OF the President and Secretary
be forwarded TO the appropriate committee at the ma
whereas in obedience to the acts Of Congress of
competent persons this Board carefully examined
existing laws ana the changes there and sug
varied experience, which work duly placed be-
fore Congress last January and whereas recent events
action and necessity prompt legislation on the
subject; therefore, reafrmng the aforesaid resolutions
reports ana doc1ments referred to
Resolved, That is the opinion Of this Board that the
seizures lines and penalties Otherwise known as mole
ties should be abolished and that such salaries should
With IaS The prospect Of and as in
other positions OF 1ie would secure In all departments
Resolved, That ali laws which allow officers of the
government 10 compromise claims FOR duties ana penal
that persons accused should in ali cases be brought to
trial before the proper courts. -
1871 and all other enactments nndcr Which seiznre ~
us In principle niquous in practice and should be
Resolved, That this Board respectfully asks that these
ss and n In % e
the earliest practicable time IN order that they may
@ Wss ana @ so bs @
and tend to the punishment OF al wrong doors
Resolves That his report ana resoat9ns duy attested
the honorable secretary OF the Treasury and
to each Senator aud Representative in Congress-
The meeting then adjourned.