New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-22

Iohr ID waters az Tho firm of Berteaux Radon occu-
MED the chair d. McKecyer OF H. Herman g. Co. stated
the object Of the meeting and said that Though no such
sweeping reform as the total prevention OF smuggling
was at present contempatedand could not be without
free trade-yet 1t was hoped by interchange Of ideas to
arrive at some conclusion and to adopt some means by
which the existing evils might at least be lessened or
mitigated He spoke OF the various devices esorted
to for defrauding the Government ny Ese
invoices mixing hosiery, tissue paper, and silks
in the same cases; also OF the loose practice
of inspection for which, he said our Consuls are
notorious OF the neglect to send cases, where rea
sonabe doubt exists the Appraisers office for proper
examination II o proper mode OF inspection had been
adopted such cases as that Of Lands would Immediately
have been discovered The laxity among American Con
sus is one Of great roots Of the present evil and for
this the selfish and INSCRIPTIONS politicians are the per
sons TO blame.
The Chairman then delivered the following address,
more fully explanatory Of the object of the meeting,
pointing the evils Of the smuggling system and It's va
rious causes, and suggesting remedy:
Whatever reforms may arrived at in mitigation OF
the difficulties which beset some honestly Inclined I'M
will never be attained until the country fully recognizes
the impocy having departmental officials superseded
i'm their appointment for political reasons so long as any
particular office is necessary to the working OF the admin
istration the person filling IL ought never TO be dis
system Of awarding the spells, to the 'victors
is subyersive OF all eiLcloncy anu intSiy. NEIL
se that there should not be among the oce-hoiders
many unscrupnous men, who, knowing Their liability to
be cast on their at the next PRESIDENTIAL
election or even earlier If they have any political falling
off, wrepuler has 10 be provided FOR deter
foresee the time when they will have TO step down and
out, with the probable disadvantage OF finding their
former business connections dispersed or even annlhl-
lated and they provide accordingly accepting large
brides assist in defraudng the nation or to eonniye at
act outside Of fraudulent consideration III opposition TO
the strict carrying out of their duties rom the to pro-
t;at.
soliciting later Collateral with this reform stringent
laws must be enacted for tie vigorous criminal prosecu
any common macfactor. as wei as or tc punishment Oh
their superors in office WIENER rnese oecoc access S
crimnally indicng them. AT present the dishonest
of dismissal And what is that to hin if he has full
swing for year twol With honest and Jealous
Il sS mS1s es
its party 10 insist on such just tenure OF Office 1t IL use
less to expect any e , TINS ffeGn at Pf Ssa for
ad valorem duties hut this would not heip us n me
would be move in the right direction, however, and
does not involve injustice to the consumer ci my one
else as ignorant persons contend Bui We cannot
alter The laws they stand and until the advent OF these
reforms, of free trade: we are entirely AT me mercy
enco that the Government is the nonopolss nurse and
looks upon importers a. II: subjects to be har.seu es
seems idle therefore To look for help from
at ought TO take its proper source; but
is SERIOUS, Wcintenioncd man With the interests Of
the revenue 1T heart and it might be worth While 10
form committee of leading importers TO point ont TO
him the deficiencies the working OF the customs ue
partmcnt, and to suggest means for their correction
For instance the way Customhouse entry Is made Is
entirely absurd. The importer broker ought not 10 be
allowed into personal connection with host OF
officials There is why an entry sIolld NOS be
drOppcd in box, put through its course IN inc9sed
Offices and handed out again 10 the importer Inc Whoie
the Malst CilsOnlO is eminentI} uIJUh
ness-lkc and imperfect. committee such ~ nave
mentioned could point out 10 the Secretary thousand
checks dishonesty, oven i'll the face OF the present
prcpostcIOs laws party usagcs, ana TIE rocccd hS'
and reports OF the committee should be regularly pup
lshed the newspapers, so as to be subject TO pubic
criticism.
Messrs. Erlenger of Arnold Co., Brett, ODerteufer
and others made short speeches in harmony with the
views advanced by the Chairman Some Of the speakers
were particularly severe the auconeers Of clothing
asserting the goods sold by these parties prn
cpaly smuggled. c. +. Daubman expressed the opinion
that the scheme for prevention OF smuggling proposed
by the Chairman not very practicable, aleg
ing that if the smuggling stopped at this port it
would be continued through California and Canada,
and the persons who dealt in struggled goods would be
supplied in Ncw-YOrk lie had little hopes OF re-
lief without the Interference OF Congress- and thorough
change in tho laws relating to the subject
1t was finally resolved that the following committee
wait upon other importers OF the city for the purpose
OF soliciting their aid in forming organization to seek
redress: VIM. Taylor of Fred. Butterfeld & Co; Mr..
Obereufer of Kefer ~ Co.. Mr. SuzDachcr of suz5acher
Co: d. McKcever of ii. Herman Co.; Mr. ROsenblatt
Of Dreyfus, Kohn Co.. Mr. FoDana OF Person, llarri
man a Co.