New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-10
LOSS OF REVENUE AND RUIN OF INDUS
TRY.

LOSS OF REVENUE AND RUIN OF INDUS
TRY.
We recur again to the excellent oppor-
tunity which is afforded the committee of
investigation to aid in the protection Of the
federal revenues The committee should
proceed to the duty Of inquiring how far
these penniless inspectors may have been
bribed by the dealers in imported goods
to wink at struggled packages and to
waive the collection of revenue taxes.
Our reason for insisting upon this line Of
inquiry is twofold. The credit and interest
of the government must depend upon the
collection of the customs as well as of the
internal revenue taxes. The capital and
industry invested in the wholesale and
retail business of our city depend for
legitimate profit upon the equal payment
of all of the taxes imposed for the pur-
suit of such business.
We have shown the course and conse-
quences of such revenue evasions in the
port of New York. Merchants, without
respect to party, have assembled to de-
mand from the government Just such in
qulries as it is within the duty of the COM
mittee to make here. This nefarious prac-
tice implicated the large firms Of Claflin
& Co., and Lawrence, and even the house
of the president of the New York Cham
Der of Commerce was embarrassed by
similar charges. Now, we may ask why
may not the embarrassments of our deal
ers in silks, sugars, crockeryware, wines,
and other foreign products, subject to
tariff duty, have been due in greater or
less extent to the surreptitious introduce
ton of these goods at lower than tariff
rates?
We have tho industries of sugar REIN
ing, of confectionery, and other prepare
tions Of sugar and syrup, which may be
injuriously affected by such revenue eva
sions. We have one industry especially
which occupies several thousands of man
ufacturers and operatives. It is the man
ufacture Of cigars and other fabrics CT
tobacco. This industry depends greatly
for its prosperity upon the rigid enforce
ment of the protective duties. These
amount, we believe, to eighty per cent
ad valorem. We have the published
authority of Treasury Agent Kinsella that
smuggling always would go on so long as
the duty on cigars was SO high, and this,
we take it, amounts to an admission that
cigar smuggling does go on at present.
We have sometimes seen dark complex
Toned men, with gold rings in their
ears and speaking foreign tongue,
offer cigars for sale in the shops
and offices Of the city. This seems
q probable evasion of revenue tariff and
city license. The home vendor or manu-
facterer must pay both or be seized and
shut up. Now We would suggest to any
merchants who may suspect that their
sale Of goods has been injured by the
Introduction of similar goods on fraudu-
lent invoices or by direct smuggling,
that the committee of investigation would
readily afford them any assistance in
'uppressing such practices if they exist,
and subjecting such persons as may be
in such practices to prosecution
md to punishment. For we are not
disposed to adopt the despairing theory
IF Mr.. Kinsella, nor are we prepared to
that the smuggler shall fix the
ariff. We believe even Havana snug
cling may be arrested, though the theory
If LATTE may still prevail that it is not
wrong to beat the government out of its
'evenue. We may give an instance of
uch success as we deem possible.
The sale. of lottery tickets in this mar
zet is carried on under protective mo-
'opoly. This has led to smuggling Ha-
ANA Lottery tickets into this market, and |
his again to the protection of the lottery |
evenue by the pursuit and prosecution
# the ticket smugglers. At least the |
anne protection should be afforded the |
obacco vendors and manufacturers, and !
Ve suggest to that interest. also public
Meeting. of the leading manufacturers
nd operatives, with the appointment Of
ommittee charged with the duty of wait
ng on the committee of investigation and
equesting that they inquire: l. Whether
be smuggling of cigars and tobacco
trough or around the Customhouse exists
, an extent explanatory of the depression
4 the trade and manufacture of domestic
igars, and, secondly, whether any addi-
onal revenue or legislative vigilance will
e necessary to arrest such practice, if it
xist, and assure to the manufacturers,
endors and operatives Of cigars and other