The New York herald., 1877-11-02
FREE TRADE.

LECTURE ON CHE LEGAL CURIosIrIEs OF
HIGH TAhiFF By Mr. EVERETT T. WHEELER.
An interesting lecture was delivered last night by
MI. Everets l. wheeler, OF the firm OF MacDanlel n
souther on the subject Of .Tnc Legal Curiosites OF
nign iasin' A. lhe new rooms OF The FREQ Trade
Club. In recent publication he Ind read that tho
Czar OF Russia desirous OF his govern.
ment by building up prosperous class OF merchants
In the country, gave many privileges TO them. In
short time, however, the merchants became very
wealthy, and the Car, thinking he fad
favorable chance tor raising q revenue began
to tax them heavily. They then proceeded to leave
the country and the Czar Obliged to aix tho pen.
atty OF DanishmenI to Siberia 10 stop their departure
There . similar state OF things In this country
The heavy tariff was destroying ITS own rev.
cnue, because s was placed high that all con.
sumers in the country felt tho dram, well as tho
Importers Mr. Wheeler next quoted the remark OF
Ar Webster that the history OF a country could bo
traced from It's law reports In tho act OF Congress
passed on the Attn OF July, 1889. there provision
10 establish duties between Rhode Island and North
Carolina and tho rest OF the country, those two States
not having then agreed 10 the CONSTRUCTION These
old duties nad been abolished among the States sys
tom OF ree trade had been adopted and II had worked
well, There reason why II should not extend
TO al! the world. The lecturer next spoke OF the in
justice OF placing such great discretionary powers in
the hands OF oiicials-Such power TO seize books
and papers and TO retain tnem without explanation
In the Of Hughes tho books were received
and kept Tor over thirty days; their imports
had been during the previous nve years
81 100000 1t VAS found on exanisation that
the whole amount OF differentiation would
bring perhaps S4U0 less duty than had been
paid anu tins offset by overpay mcnts OF moro
Than that amount. Nevertheless, The government
held that all the goods oil Tho 1rm, amounting 70 over
$500 900, should be forfeited But TINS opinion was
fortunately not sustained before the courts and tho
law was aitcrward moaiteda step in the right dlrec-
ton. The case OF Bollnger's champagne was also
cited. II had been invo,ced at lower ngure than
whait had been offered ut IN France by the consgnor
bu tue duty was not affected ana there was no loss 10
was held TO be conhscated An intent defraud
would forfeit; mistake without such intent would
also forfeit.
TREATMENT IMPORTERS
The importers were treated the natural enemies
OF the government ST. Louis whskey dealer who
had intended TO defraud government by using old
stamps on the barrels had nnaly given up his intent
TO delraud, paid the taxes ana sold II To innocent
third party. Yet when IL was found out that tho
dealer had had the intent to delraud although
had really been sustained by the government, tue
stock was coniiscatcd Anotner cited by the
lecturer OF Il steamer which had had collision with
another ut sea- Her repairs ut Boston $lSO32 81
Tho entire cost ol building the same vessel
four years previously sIi 0Oo. 50 900 less
her repairs IL this country. This would have the
elect OF making people that wanted to build repair
ships stay away from the United States. The rule OF
the tarin was unjust II an importer brought goods
to this country the cost abroad the basis tor auy
aud no duty was TO DO paid Tor less than cost; but II
the market should abroad he would have TO pay
the Increased price, while II II went down he could
not avail himself OF the decreased price 10 pay less
duty.
In conclusion, Mr.. Wheeler remarked that all these
grew out OF the that the laws had
TO DO very strict TO prevent smuggling. such laws
were placing IA premium on fraud. without many OF
collected. IL was taxing great many tor the benefit Of
y