New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-08

This record Of foreign prices for tends civ
to conclusion. making due allowance for the effect
act OF 1872 was added The selling price abroad with
advantage TO consumers here while tho country as
whole has paid than before for the entire stock.
The repeal OF the duty tea little reduc
ton OF prices to consumers here, but increase OF
prices abroad.
HEAVY PENALTIES FOR FRAUDS AGAINST THE
REVENUE,
The circumstances under which duties on imports are
collected such to bring into play the most power
FIJI forces OF scinercst. The contest between regular
importers for precedence In the market and therefore,
for success the hand, against failure the
other often turns upon small distinctions appa
difference the rate OF duty paid In less than
another often becomes OF tho greatest practical import
the importer II is sometimes said inter
OF the merchant to eyaie tho duty Is not great
enough TO induce the attempt; put experience
has shown that mono other than the most rigor-
enforcement OF law and tho power % lnlct
the Government and to meet the effJrss constantly
made for evasion Of the duties levied by law For
duties imposed have been uniformly and
ry declaring forfeiture and penalty the in
dlspensabe conditionlot violation
Tue history OF legislation Ia this respect in Europe Is uu
broken. series OF preventive and penal acts or the
most decisive character may be found everywhere,
whatever be the recent relaxation OF tue rates Of
duty the Increase Of the list OF articles free OF duty
In United States, the rates OF duty for years
past have been high, much higher than Imposed In
most other countries; hut the consumption OF foreign
merchandise Is large and the market eager and unds-
eliminating the quantity taken at hgh cost being
greater In proportion to the population than
foreign country importing from other countries.
At the last session OF Congress measures were pro
posed anu III part enacted looking 10 the rrllci OF
merchants aud others VINO complain OF whdt they
claimed be severity Of the revenue laws,
imposing penalty and forfeiture for violations thereof
Whatever errors may have existed In the adminstra-
ton Of these laws whatever extreme steps may have
occasoned the legislation of the last 10 Is stl
true that the penal provisions IN most patc
uars were no more strlngent tna 1nose eNstng since
ating TO duties on imports perhaps, imp Dsei the
yercst penalties known statutes and these laws
IIfns all al .
respect until the last Sc sion Of Congress, out their adj
miustraton was modified, by the power OF remission
upon the Secretary far rarely involve
forfeiture OF vessels the imposition OF the
penalties was the conspicuous character OF the PEN
altrs recently imposed that public attention
and induced Inc notifications embodied the act OF
In the light Of the experience OF this and other coun
tries IN the collection OF duties on Imports must be
considered that any material change In the policy
manner or protecting tue revenues the imposition
penalties ami oreitures /, necessarily tentative. 1t
absolutely Indispensable that Inc revenues shall be cot
eccd AMI IN their collection the interests OF Gov
require that Whatever the law to he the rate or
amount OF duty snail be equally aud nfeXlby enforced
Esasons of an apparently small proportion Of these
become the means OF injury. rum
the honest merchant business Is UNDERLINED by
such competition aud often result great lost Of
nue. WINE u Is not yet denOnstraOo that the present
tendency to decline in revenue from customs sensby
pOrtaliOns there are grave for apprehcndng
serious result from any leglsa lou deprivug Gov
fraud and power to incI the penalties IN
IL cannot be donbtod mat the legislation
belief that smuggling IL less hazardous, and Violations
cvasOns OF the law less dang ,rJus uan formerly
Is not difficult To see 10 hat Results such belief
likely 10 lead.
The sum placed at the disposal OF tho Secretary, by
;he act the last OF Congress Is uaeq
furnishing compensation for the detection VI frauds
unOn revenue The last section OF IL
the duty OF the Secretary 10 make compensation per
IONS who would under former la have been entitled
To In the distribution OF fofeltures and, under
this provision, large proportion or tine paced
the disposal OF the Secretary by that act
available for cases OF future VIOLATIONS the law
The decline OF receipts from customs suggestive OF
Importance or reducing the aggregate expenses OF
collection, ana the attention OF tho Department
Gently been gwen 10 thi3 SUBJECT way that has
already produced some favorable results. and still fur
Their reduction VIII DO accomplished. IL Il, however,
impriccable to make such reduction exactly, or even
apprO xnatey, prOpOrtOnate 10 the failing OF In re-
CENTS. cost or maintaining the minimum
at any given port Is the principal part or the
aud cannot be avoided or d ninshed with
% OF loss Of tee revenue at such port
SATISFACTORY EXHIBIT OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE
BUREAU.
Tho report OF the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue
nre.ent satisfactory exhibit OF revenues in charge
OF that bureau.
The decrease from each source OF Internal Revonue
for the year ending June go 1874 compared with the
dsc vi year 1879 appears from the following statements
1873. 1874. Decrease.
s,nt. s52OJJ37l 10 St9.l4i.OS9 IS $2655.2S
81, JSb3O3 " 81 l,ll3,iS1
Feruentrd liquors v,32i9J' 81 93OiO797 ~ 2O,2jS II
DahAs AMI BANK 30, A., -, ,,o,,
&c 5oi'o55o W .o.'tDo ~
sI1miS ''V@to'o Do Vi'o'offos i'ooo'oo- Il
baeh 'shi ,,s. $500 1900 76i 1904 bo6i 9Ol Sc