The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-06
THE PR ESS.
TUESDAY MORNING, JAN. 6. 1874,
foundations to Fraud.

The affair of Messrs. Jordan, Marsh & Co.,
of Boston, following the still more notable
case OF Phelps, Dodge & Co., has again d.
rected public attention to the somewhat re-
cent act of Congress granting to informers
share OF the money obtained in the prosecu-
ton by the Government of irregularities on
the part of importers. II we mistake not
the law was enacted during the chaotic epoch
when the peculiar action of the late An
drew johnson was demoralizing every DEPART
ment of the public service and there was
pressing need for some device to secdre great
er efficiency in the collection of the revenues.
The fact that the system of moieties has been
in vogue to some extent in European gov
ernments with successful results, led to its
adoption to meet the emergency. 1t was the
purpose of Congress, doubtless, to make a
Javert of every revenus official by holding out
an incentive for watchfu.ness That body
did not contemplate that the system would
be little better than temptation to thou
sands of men to betray their trusts, and, as
clerks of importers, to find their nearest road
to fortune in SCI utinizng the invoices of their
EN- ,loyers for technical or other mistakes,
which the eve of the law would regard as
frauds, by reporting Will they might Sc
cure large sums of money. Congress never
contemplated that this law would biting to
the public service crowd OF self-constituted
officials samples of whom have pervaded
this State, who, without principle or char
ac,er. would bring into contempt the most
judicious of laws. The effect of the system
has not yet been general Thousands OF
Clerks will not become spies; but the inevita-
BILE tendency is in the direction of condi-
ton of decentralization in which confidential
clerks will examine their employers invoices
solely to discover infractions of that Babel
of statutes and Treasury orders which are
called revenue laws, and to make the employe
amean-sririted spy rather than faithful clerk
whose duty it is to inform the employer OF
that errors it is frequently impossible for an
extensive importer to know.
Comparatively few cases have come TO
light where firms of responsibility have been
involved and their reputation injured by this
system ofblack mail. 1t will never be known
to what extent the system has vltiated mer-
camille transactions and furnished the honor
and degraded the moral sense OF importers
and their clerks. 1t will never be known to
what extent importers have yielded to the
demands Of their confidential agents when
they have threatened to expose slight in
fraction of revenue law. On the revenue
officer its effect cannot be otherwise than per
nicious. The officer who should look to his
salary for his compensation, soon becomes
speculator-in the market, perhaps, ready to
trade with the man who desires to cheat the
revenue or compromise with the man who
has done so. AT best it is a temptation to
the official to let mistakes which in time will be
construed as frauds, go under his eve until
the opportune moment comes to strike, when
too frequently respected firms are dshon sred
if not ruined.
1t is necessary to the efficiency of the pub
lie service that the Government should have
a system of thorough inspection and even es-
pionage. Every one will applaud the greatest
faithfulness and vigilance in collecting the
revenues, but it should be done by men who
are paid a stated salary and by them alone;
and there is no doubt bat that it can be done
without the use of system of moieties which
puts the property and reputation of respecta-
BILE men at the mercy of men who will stoop
to any meanness and perjure themselves for
a minimum ofgreenbacks.
Until within few months number of
spies, calling themselves specials of the secret
service, have been travelling about Maine. vic
timizins men usually innocent, by purchasing
whisl;ey otthem protesting that they(the spies)
were i'll. In most cases the victims never in-
tended to sell liquors at all, and those who
did without securing license, would have
paid it whenever revenue officer cali
cd their. attention to their violation of the
law. These scoundrels were induced 10 fol-
low this business simply because of the share
OF the penalties which they derived from
making complaints; and to-day there are
hundreds OF such contemplate spies in the
country putting to cost and trouble men " no
are innocent or simply careless and who
should be notified by proper offici ais.
Three Secretaries OF the Treasury. McCul
loch, Boutwell, and Richardson, have each
seen the bad effects OF the system of moietes
and in their reports have urged Congress to
repeal the law. This fact alone is conclusive
proof that those who kno m ost about the col
lection OF revenues, do not consider the meas
ure necessary to the efficiency of the depart
ment. Ii it is not necessary. Congress should
at once repeal law that is at best, great
temptation to officials and gives Inscriptions
men the means of harrassing citizens as ,ies
and pimps to the detriment OF the dignity Of
the revenue service of the country in the esti-
nation of the people.