Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-13
ABOLITION OF MOIETIES.

The abolition Of the moiety system BY
Congress is assured. The House severa
days ago passed bin repeating it, which
with some amendments has also passed
the Senate, and now awaits the action o.
the House upon the amendments. There
was some debate in the Senate upon the
amendments offered and some points in
the bill. but when the vote was taken only
three senators voted against it. So COM
plete and convincing was the result Of the
investigation into the workings of the sys'
tenn, as it was unfolded before the com
mittee, that there could be but one opinion
in relation to it. 1t has been an instru'
ment for robbing and extortion, and
though sanctioned by venerable origin
and long usage it was time for it to die
It came into existence long before the re-
publican party, and it is to the credit OF
that party that a republican Congress took
the matter of correction in hand when the
abuses connected with moieties were
brought to its notice and wiped out the
system with strong hand. The bill as it
has passed the Senate repeats all provis-
ions Of the law under which moieties or
other share Of fines, penalties, or forfeit
ures have been paid to informers or Fed
eral officers, and it directs that in future
the proceeds of all seizures, fines, &C.,
shall be paid into the Treasury of the
United States. The Secretary of the
Treasury is vested with the discretion OF
determining within certain limits what
shall be considered Suitable compensa-
ton" for the detection Of smuggling by
Custom-house officers, and for information
given by outside parties, which may lead
to the discovery or prevention of frauds
upon the revenue. In the case of seiz-
ures Of goods in the act Of being Struggled,
the reward is not to exceed one-half OF
their net proceeds. Compensation to in
formers is not, in any case, to exceed 3d.
600. In making the award to informers,
the Secretary Of the Treasury is to be
guided by the certificate of the court hay
ing cognizance of the proceedings conse-
quent upon the information which is to be
paid for. 1t is made misdemeanor for
Custom-house officers to participate in the
gains of informers. A specified business
book or paper, moved for by the Prose
cutting Attorney and ordered by the Judge,
must be produced in court under penalty
of the allegations on which the motion is
based being taken as confessed. Such
book or paper will not, however, be al
lowed to pass from the custody OF the
owner, except in SO far as may be neces
sary for its examination in court.
In addition to these provisions, intended
for the protection of importers, the bill
contains the following among other safe
guards against fraud. Every clearly
proved attempt to evade the payment o.
duties is punishable by fine Of not less
than $50, and not more than 1000, or By
a term Of imprisonment not exceeding
two years, or by both fine and imprison
ment. The case or package containing
the merchandise to which the fraud re
lated is alone to be forfeited, instead O
the entire invoice. as heretofore. The
manner of giving affidavits in regard te
the correctness of any invoice or valua
tion is carefully defined, and the proceed
ings to be taken in cases of alleged fraud
are made as expeditions as possible. The
period of three years is made the statu
tory limit within which all proceedings
must be taken for the recovery of duties
&C., except the absence of the accused
person from the country should interpose
delays to the process Of law.