The New York herald., 1876-12-06

fcred great loss by excessive allowances for damages
to imported merchandise occurring ON tho voyage,
which allowances made under section 2,v27 Of
tho Revised Statues Fraud on the revenue by tho
coilusion Of dishonest subordinatcs IN tho CLston
House easily be practised under this system, but
even honest officers liable to be deceived through
inadvcrtence and the intrinsic difficulty OF estimating
the alleged damage BY any practicable examinations
The fact that many importers seriously object TO hxv
ing mercnandisc which such allowance has been
made marked damaged" somewhat sug-
Why why damage ' of a ,h,s charastcr M should nos
be made tho subject OF insurance, well as
other risks which readily assumed by underwriters
The attention oil Congress Is invited 10 the ''Bil
III. II. No. l,7l2) TO simplify the Gppraisement Of
goods. wares, merchandise imported into tho
United States and subject TO nd valorcm duties" Tho
questions arising under the provisions of tho statute
relating to Charges aud COMMISSIONS becu and
must over be numerous and difficult and u IS certainly
desirable to AVOID them, u 20 ssbie 10 prevent loss
10 tho revenue BY the total repeal o tho provisions
ferrcu to u IS recommended the provisions o the
bill DO SO changed provide Tor addrng III lieu Of
all such charges aud commissions provided tor
by section 1907 OF the Revised Statues, uniform
charge ol nvc per cent Tor commissions
Ever since tho beginning of the government until
the revision of the statutes the law, wnilc liking
maximum rate has lett the OF inspectors
o the customs discretionary with the Secretary oi the
Treasury In the revision tho words conicrring the
discretion repealed. and S3 per day made the
absolute rate OF compensation with pcrnss on TO IN
il 10 81 per day such 20 the Secretary
might think advisable. CONSIDERING that there
many collection districts where IRON tho TACT that tho
vigilance vi inspectors Is elective, but little service IN
DONE and where all the duty required Dy the govern
mcnt ~ mol Incompatible with other occupa
ton, u seems dcsiraDic thnt tho discretion
gwen In the earlier laws should be restored
Whiie - day Is not nn excessive
compensation Tor customs officers employed IN the
larger ports, aud giving their whole time 10 active oi
cai sofvlces less than 81 day would be sufficient Tor
officers IN small ports who required To watch
against violations of tho revenue. ana who might
without detrincnt To the service have other occupa-
tiUns.
REDUCTION SALARIES.
ln compliance with the provisions OF section of tho
Legislative, Executive anu Judicial Appropriation act
approved august 10, 1876, carefu scrutiny has been
made oil the force employed the collection OF tho
revenue from customs, with view oi reducing tEc
number OF the same" Reports of SPECIAL agents as
signed 70 tho duty, received from cOiicc-
ton dstrcts rccoinncnd mn aggregate reduction of
~ employees, ihvosing decrease IN the annual sx-
Pensc $-4-oos
II Is proposed to make a reduction OF ten per
cent IN salaries IN certain districts, which
viii amount tO. <UvVVo
There are twenty eight districts from which
reports have not yet been received. / hcso
u IS estimated will add 10 tho reduction
Making a total reduction in annual expenses
oil collecting tho revenue OFF,. ....... sa01, s3I
be made.
INTERNAL RKvKxUE
Tho report OF tho Commissioner OF Internal Revenue