New-York tribune., 1874-03-19
CUsTOM-HOUSE EXTORTIONS
WHY MERCHANTS CONSENT TO COM
PROMISE.

spIRAcIEs OF THE INfORMERs AGAINST I'M
poRrPRs - THE PROCESS OF vICTIMIziNG
uRRcHANT-THE TREASURY AGENTS REsPoNslBLh
FOR THE CONFUSION THE LAWS.
The question has been often asked, why
40 the importers who charged by Treasury agents
with violations Of the revenue laws pay large sums o
money by way Of compromise when they oiain '
they are Justly chareeable with any Vo'a"on " ~
or other improperly in their dealings win 'ne
housei A brief history of the legs"'ion upon
branch OF the Revenue laws VIII SNo
answer 20 this inquiry. 49,,
The basis and foundation Of the charges Against i
porters 10 all the recent cases has been tne ciai' " ~
mart Of the revenue AGENTS that the invoice OF o s
presepted for entry did not correctly state 'ner ou
alo hnt II. whereby less amount OF uue
os Maid than should have heen paid by law ana tho
a., ,p io the conspiraces against those importers mas
oeen 10 procure evidence OF such underValuatoh US
certainly duty OF the Government elther ny Ia" vi
regulation TO point out plainly to the merchant tne rue
nv which his goods should be invOieed but he law on
that subject present time is In such state Oh con
fusion and complication that IT is impossible for an
honest importer present an invoice which ne Is sure
will show the correct duabe value OF his goods Itl
This confusion which has placed the importers OF ths
city practically at the mercy of moiey hunters and
revenue agents.
untl within n recent period. the law was plain and
merchants had no difficulty. Previous to the year 1872
the importer who nvoced his goods at their aetua cost
20 him IN tho nrhot "aa'~s to such cost he
.ctnal expenses between the time or purchase auu
pacne the goods on shipboard. certain that he had
eomped with the law and that his invoice would pass
,he Cnstor house Under law as IL then Stood no
question upon an honest invoice Inc Jaw s"ps
Yoouired that the invoice should state "heh boous
were purchased. the actual cost on shipboard'
spd IA cases OF goods procured other"lse than
nv purchase their actu. value on shipboard'
The hrst departure from this plain and
simple rule Py the act passed on the So'h OF
August in that year the rule was changed ana lhs'eau
of accepting the actual cost as the dutiabie Vaae te
collector was required have the goods appraised at
the actual market value wholesale price thereon AT
tbe time when purchased" at the places where pur
chased buu "in the principal markets Of the country
which the were imported any invoice 10 the
contrary Notwithstanding This law authorized the ap-
praIsers and agents to disregard ana throw
asde the OF the importer and to exercise the
own INDICTMENT as 10 the actual value wholesale price
of these goods in the principal markets OF the
country. 1t the beginning OF dncuty'
II made the number OF appraiserstneees
sary and It largely increased their duties and powers
But law did make their decisions upon dutiabie
value nal II stn gave the importer the right OF ap
peal TO the Secretary OF the Treasury and in some cases
the night to recover duties If he thought they were
assessed too high. But it placed the merchant com
pletely in respect within the appraisng power
The merchant was sn bound TO invoice his goods at
cost with the charges added, and if the appraisers ad
his invoice than ten per cent he was sub
Iecled the payment of fifty cent additional duties
and other penalties.
CONFUSION WORSE COMPOUNDED
To me, this defect on the 3Oth July, 1876, Congress
authorized importer 10 make such addition IN the
entry 70 the given in the invoice in his
opinion may raise the the market value in
principal markets." etc. In order to his goods
forfeiture and himself from the payment Of addi
tontl duties, the importer frequently did avail himself
of t. law.and paid duties upon the amount to which he
himself raised his invoice insure the
passage Of his goods through the Custom house
On the 81 Of March ls5l an act passed which sl
further extended the discretion and powers of the ap
pasers and largely increased the difficulties OF the
importer. Under all previous laws the value OF the
goods at ne tHle of purchase procurement the
dutiable value. By the amendment Of all this
changed ana dutiaOlu Naluo declared TO be the
actual market vaue and wholesale price at The period OF
erportahon the United States an he principal markets
Of ne country from uhch me shan hare been i'm
tortd" 10 he asceraincd by the appraisers with the
addition of all costs and charges, except III
suraDce. Under this act 1t was no longer
safe for the importer 20 invoice his goods
either at market value at the time
OF purchase for this might below above the value
at the period OF expectation whether such difference
IN prce existed whether the price higher lower
a. one time than the other. and how much higher or
lower were questions decided by the appraisers,
and this made decision conclusive, the right of
appeal to the Secretary being taken away.
TIE RULE OF APTRAIsENENT AGAIN CHANGED.
dutiablc value again changed. That act provided
that the actual Of such goods shpboard at
The last place OF shipment TO the United States
shall bc deemed the dutiable value" This value
o. he ascertaincd however, by adding TO the value
Of the goods at the place of growth, production, or
manufacture. all the charges and expenses intervening
between that place and the ship, this value be
certaIned by the appraisers whose decision in like
manner conclusive. this act passed neither
the cost OF the goods the market value at the place
where purchased the period OF expectation, any
longer afforded safe rule for invoicing but the im
porter was bound at his peril to invoice these goods
their value on shipbOard This act furnished the law
of the case 10 the importer for about year.
on the 81 Of March, 1865 the law again changed,
ana dutiable declared TO be the actual
lot value OF wholesale price thereof at the period of
exporaton 70 the United States in the principal mar
Lets Of the country from which the same shall have
been imported into the United States" and the act OF
1894 was repealed This act substantially restored the
law Of 1851. except that il repealed all acts requiring
duties assessed upon chargcs such cost of trans
portatiou, shipment, etc
on the 2sth OF jay 1866, the law again changed,
and dutable value declared to be "tbe cost
actual wholesale price general market value the
time Of expectation, in the principal markets of the
country from whence the shall have been im- !
ported INTO the United States rih ne addition OF the
cost Of transportation shipment and transhipment |
with al the expenses included. from the place OF |
growth production or manufacture, whether by land or
water 70 the vessel IN which shipment made TO the
United States" Tie provided for various oher ad-
dtOns, such as boxing, commissions (Which in
were TO De less than y per cent? brokerage export
cues, and all other actual usual charges for putting
mp and preparing for transportation shipment. This
act II supposed 20 be the law under which dutabe |
value Il now ascertained at the CustOm-house.
THE GOVERNMENTS OBSTACLES TO IMPORTERS.
II Will thus he that each one OF these separate