New-York tribune., 1877-07-10
.SNTGGLING DETECTkD.

inst now. either the Custom House detectives
are uncommonly sharp and particular, or the
eyadcrs of duties are careless, or out OF luck
Several large operations have recently been
frustrated. The proprietors of the National
line of steamers are negotiating with the Gov
ernment regarding the recent smuggling Of silks
from the boats. In Boston curious discovery
has been made Capt. Tayler, master of bark
bringing salt from Turks Island, has also been
bringing bay-Oi and Jamaica rum carefully
hidden III the hold. 1t is a remarkable fact
that for II years past but one entry of bay
oil has been made at the Boston Custom House,
while the annual consumption in New England
alone amounts to several thousand bottles
The duty on the oil is SS gold per
pound and each bottle contains about one
mound and q half, while the oil may be pur-
chased at any drug shop at from so to S13
per pound. The rum which Capt. Tayler
sought to smugele was about 155 proof, and the
duty is 50 per gallon for single proof, and 2
cents for each degree above. The amount of
duty which the goods seized would have paid
is estimated at y, 900. Boston has also been
excited by large seizure of diamonds found
in the wcll-known jewelry establishment of
Messrs Palmer Bachclder & Co. The value
of the property thus forfeited is estimated at
$4,000, but when it was imported, two years
ago, 1t would have been worth from $2O, 900
to 5000. 1t is claimed, on the part of the
Governments that these precious stones were
brought into Boston about two years ago by
a passenger on an ocean steamer, but that no
duties on them have ever been paid. MesSrs.
Palmer, Bachelor & Co. had innocently re-
ceiyed them for sale on commission, and no
criminality is attributed to that house.
If must be admitted that the functionares of
the Custom House have rather a hard time of
it. Men and women, who would not dream of
doing any other dishonest act do not scruple
TO defraud the revenue, and, when it seems
necessary. to resort to pretty dark-colored per-
Jury. Our readers will remember the mis-
fortunes which sometime ago overlook some
of the most respectable firms in Boston, en-
gagged in the importation of wines. There
have been, however, unfOunded accusa-
sations brought against importers of the first
class, and not seldom the mistake has been on
the part Of the Custom House itself. Unques-
tionably, its own errors and blunders have oc-
casionally worked great hardships; for 1t has
the advantage of almost unlimited power, and
facts provide no lawful occasion; while it is
equally true that the revenue laws are some
times difficult accurately to construe, so
that an honest difference of opinion
may arise between the revenue au-
thoritcs and the importer. In transactng n
large and intricate business with the Customs.
the importer may often make venal or innocent
mistakes, for which it would he despotc to
| hold him to "a strict accountability. But about
some eases there can be no mistake. The
fraud is patent, and incapable of extenuation.
The dead merchant, concerning whose obse-
qucs Southey wrote his "Town Ecloguc," is
| said in that poem "never to have sworn any
"fase oaths, except at the Custom House."
The satirists must have their say, and the
innocent of class must suffer for the sins of
their fellows who are INSCRIPTIONS; but we
believe the morals Of trade better than they
| are reputed. Commerce cannot be the cheat