The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-26
REVENUE REFORM.

EXPOSURES BEING MADE BY THE NEW YORK
MERcHANTs-How THE REVENUE LAWS ARE
MuT1LATED IN THE INTEREST OF PH1LA-
DELPHIA PgoTEcTIoNIaTs.
Yesterday Mr. John G. Hopper, OF the Revenue
Reform Association, No. 407 Broadway, said to a
HERALD reporter that the HERALD had done him
an injustice III the report OF the importers meet
ing, ned asst Thursday, al the st. Nicholas Hotel,
by the remark that ne was supposed to De lin the
interest OF the Custom House Ring.n Mr.. Hopper
appears as the manager OF an association formed
py leading merchants, whose object Is TO prevent
nauds upon the revenue and TO aid the govern
Eent In collecting the revenue while protecting
the interests OF reputable merchants. He
wanted the reporter TO examine the work
OF his office, and showed him
markable discoveries that the association
has made that clearly implicate some
body In an attempt, not only TO CHEAT
the government but TO benefit Pennsylvania
manufacturer ana dealers at the expense OF New
York interests. When Secretary Brstow came
INTO ONCE Mr.. Hopper reports he discovered that
serious errors, particularly those relating to the
Revenue laws, had been made in the compilation
OF the Revised Statutes. These errors, whether
Intentionally by accident, ali seemed to be in
the interest OF protection. one OF the Secretary's
nrst works vas to cause TO be prepared COM
ptlation IN two volumes OF digest OF the Reve-
nue. laws taken rom the Revised Statutes. This
compilation was ordered and made with view
OF discovering all the errors, alterations and
OMISSIONS and the two volumes so published
were supplied with hy leaves for the noting OF
corrections. When the volumes had been pre-
pared Mr.. Brstow issued circular letter 10 the
heads OF all divisions OF the treasury service, in
winch, under date OF September 20, 1874, ne
said -
In any principal officer Of this department shall
my material provision Of law force december |, 1879
w ND ee ms eaty am ne Is merely eJoned orhwn
n9n or difficulty arising from such oniss on or ON the
whole or IN part Affecting in any way Or manner the
apply the department in writing for instructions
subordinate officers will unuer like circumstances
In ONCE = "pp''"uon = ie'
Mr.. Hopper called the writer's attention to the
examinations being made III the interest OF the
New YORK merchants and importers and estab
shed the TACT tnat IN toe Revised Statutes as COM
made which ne declares 1t as his opinion were
made by Mr.. Budget, an agent Of The Pennsylya-
MIA protectionsts. 'for instance" SAID ne, ION
iron bars Tor railroads inclined planes the Re-
vlsed Statutes make them pay seventy cents per
100 pounds, while the law makes them pay out
siXty cents. steel in any form, not otherwise pro-
uoed for pays thirty per cent ad yaiorem.
provlso mas 0een added In the statutes, not lound
In the law, eXemptng steel from damage ALLOW
ances, while the Jaw provides that damage allow
ances small affect all imported mercnandse.'
Manufacturers Of paper on December l, 1873, were
entitled to ten per cent reduction except
other pTated ma1ter Anosner exception as Is
added IN the Revised statutes not found
In the law-of sized paper o. glued paper suitable
only fol- printing paper.p This last alteration, lie
declares was made IN the interest OF a large Pail
adeiphia manufac iurer oil sized paper Mr. Hopper
called the writer's attention 70 number OF otner
lni erpolations or OMISSIONS IN the Revised Stat
utes ali in the interest al the PENNSYLVANIA urotec
tonlsts, and he repOrts mat his labOrs and those
OF the mercnan's VINO are preparing exposures Of
the fraudulent tamperlng with the law Will be
brought before the secretary OF the Treasury aud
the next Congress. III the examples yesterday
given TO a represe tatlve or the HERALD be lair
samples OF the manner IN which the Revised
sta utes have been cooked IN the interest or
certain manufacturers ana importers there Ger.
tainly necessity Tor exposing the attempted
swtDdles upon the government that Mr., Hopper
charges are Oelng attempted by those In whose in.
lereets laws have been mutlaIed.