Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-20
Judge Poland and the Revised Statutes.

Hon. Luke P. POLAND was interviewed.
at ST Albans. on Monday, by a Messenger
man concerning the revision of the United
States Statutes, and a recent article attack
ing him for his alleged ''blunders" therein,
which appeared in the Boston Post. Toe
Judge said that there are IN the cities
large number Of men known as customs
brokers, who ply between importers and the
Treasury Department. and have for many
years enjoyed lucrative business. Previous
to the revision the statutes on the tariff were
in hopeless muddle. having been annually
patched and tinkered since loi3, without
specially repeating anything but using the
general clause, " All acts and parts OF acts
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
From time % time great many questions
had arisen as to what WAS really the law
and these had been passed upon by the Com
missioner of Customs and the law officers OF
the government until the department was
encountered with rulings, many OF which
we're discovered TO be in actual conflict with
some of the unrepealed portions OF the law.
OF course such complicated mass OF law
and authority, upon subject which atsct-
ed the entire commerce OF the country and
involved untold millions Ot capital, was
rich placer for these customs brokers' to
delye in. But, unfortunately iCr them, the
revision swept i; al away. Ihey awoSe
one morning and found their occupation
gone. That WAS when Congress had passed
the condensed statutes. doing away with
everything else, rulings, enactnents ana
muddle, and given the country law that IS
SO plain that a wsyiaring man, though
fool, need not err therein and that even
the merchants and editors OF New YORK ana
Boston can understand ii they will only get
a copy and dispense with the services OF the
men whose interest it is 70 prey npon their
credulty and To deceive the public through
the press.
He alluded to a mention which he saw IN
the dispatches Of another paper lew days
apo. tina, Collector Simmons had gone To
Washington TO obtain instructions IN re-
gard to the law. It was made prominent
ia head lines that the revision was wroog
and a section had bsen inserted which was
contrary to the common understanding.
rulings and practice Tor years Having toe
revision aud the annual statutes AT hand.
the Judge had the curiosity u look the nss-
ter up and, id-t as he expected, he iouno .
statute nearly thirty wears old, but never
reoealed. which was word for word the Sec
tian complainesi Ut One great cause, ne
said of the criticism which Is beng tossed
about. is the facs that under the REVISION
the governmenr will probably collect some
thing like s. 600 600 more revenue eacn
wear than it di before. Ot course tne III
porters are not especially pleased Win .ni
and would be glad TO create cIsmor WIG.
might result in repeal or modlilcsuon. cas
with that he had nothing 10 do wne.c.r %
the revision yields more or less revanas .usn
v.s collected before was no more MS COLI
,r ,h.r mat of any other citizen % ouy
80. 49, ,h.s he and his committee had cod,
a. The law. and nothing bas the law sae
hv that work be was willing 70 stand