, 1874-06-16
TIE MO1ETY BILL,

HEA A&&- N olety bill passed by the Hon8o has
bcaA sE1nded in tue Senate, and as passed by
tho latter body provides: That tho thirty-ninth
section Of tho net Of July 1s, 1866, and the Bac-
ond section Of tho not of March q, 1867 (the
Moioty acts), DO repealod, and all fines, pcnal-
allies, and forfoitures, or sharo theroin, paid to
informors and public officers, 10 abolished, aud
tho proceeds thereof sIa1l hereafter bo paid into
tlo Treasury. Ono hundred thousand dollars
arc appropriated from which tho 8eqrotary Of
the Treasury shall mako reasonable compensa-
tion to auy person who 8hall furnieh informa-
ton respecting smuggling. Smuggling is do
fined to DO "tho act, with intent to defraud, Of
bringing into the United States dutiablo articles
without passing the aamo through tho Custou1-
House." Tho compensation, however, is not to
excood $4,000 in my ono caso.
In all civil quits. when the attorney Of tho
United States slall moso for the production Of
any book, invoice, or other paper material aa
and the Court shall order its production. II the
person thus notified to produce tho bools or
paper shall fall to do So or satisfactorily explain
the failure the allegations in tho notice ahall bo
takon as confessed. Whom tho book or paper is
produced 1t shall be open to examination by tho
officers Of the Govcrnmont, but the same shall
remain iu the custody Of tlic owner, except pend
ing tlo examination in court.
No payment shall bo made to any informar In
any case whoroyer judicial proceedings havo been
instituted, except tho claim to compensation
ehall bo established to tho satisfaction Of the
Court.
Except in cases Of smuggling, no officer,
directly or indirectly, shall receivo any portion
Of tho money which may accrue to tho infor1ner.
No ofilcor or person furnishing information shall
thoreby be disqualified from being witness in
the suit.
Except in cases of peraonal effects, no impor-
tation exceeding 800 in dutiable value shall DO
admitted to outry without the production Of :.
DO mado without certified invoice unlosa upon
affidavit showing why 1t ia impraosicable to pro-
duce such invoice, tho affidavit III auoh caao to
aot forth the facts Of cost etc.
ANY peraon who shall attempt, with intent to
defraud the revenue, to make IN entry Of lm-
ported merchandise, by fraudulent or falao
statement, written or verbal, otc,, etc.. shall be
tlued for each oFonso not oyor ST, 600 nor 1css
than $50, or imprisoned not over two years, or
both, and such n.erchanlia6 shall bo forfeited,
tue forfeiture to be confined to tho package con-
tanning tho particular item to which the fraud
relatos. The proyisions OF law forfoiting tho
whola invoice In such cases III repealed. Mer.
cllan<tiHo entorod by any person may DO seized
aud hsld by tho Collector as security for the
payment Of any line incurred by such poraon, or
be aod under execution, to pay such llno.
That wlon tlore shall be an omission toln-
cludo in the invoice Of any goods entered the
| chargos for Inland transportation, commissions,
port dutide, cost Of PACKAGES, oto., suoh on1is-
eion, IN The absenco of intont to dofraud tho
rovonuo, shall not warrant tue forfeiture OF such
goods but In such case tho Collector IL to atld
| the sanlo. with 100 per cent additional, to tho
otherwise invoioeu dutiahlo value Of tho NOR
chandiHe.
| iWhonoyor any person is oharged with vlola-
ton Of uny Of thu customs revenue laws. and
when tho appraised value OF tho goodsls not loss
than 81, 600, auol person may, by petition to tho
District Court. pray for reiof; aud tho Court may
III asuunary u'anuor Inquire into tho facta; that
tho facts 90 nscertained shall be forwarded to
tho sooratary Of tho Treasury, who shall have
powor to mitigate or remit such line, ponalty,
oto., IT In hia opinion the sanle eliall haye beon
Incurred without wtllful negligence or in-
tent to commit frand. When goods arc
entered mud passed FREQ of duty, and
| duties on merchandise have been paid
and auoA goodu doltvoroa such eutry, etc., shall,
! atter three yoars DO aold to DO final and co1n-
plate. No huit Or action to recoyor any penalty
or forfeiture Of property uuaor the customs row