The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-14

AcPooocoS WIG PkOPcxty VIII PkoOSsJ $500
be sanctioned. Here there is abundant
cause for friction between the government,
which must keep its hand on the goods till
all duties are paid, and the importer, who
seeks to get his property in his own hand to
sell and deliver as quickly as possible. Five
things are to be done:-First, . taking pos
session by the Collector second, an exam
nation by the Appraiser third, an assess
mcnt of duty by the Collector on the report
of the Appraiser fourth, payment of duty
by the importer, and, finally, delivery by
the Collector.
Under our existing plan the Collector is
the chief legal authority for the port, as his
name implies. The Naval Officer is simply
an independent revising and checking
officer to whom the law gives power to ar
rest the delivery of merchandise if he finds
an error of assessment OF duties. The Sur
veyor furnishes the outdoor eyes, ears,
hands and legs Of the Collector The APP
praiser is neutrality-suspicious. judge, au-
thorized by law to examine and tell to the
Collector and Naval Officer what is the de-
scription, quality and quantity of the things
imported and entered into the Custom
House. With the discretion of this apprais-
ing judge no power-not President or Cab
inet-ca interfere, if the Appraiser follows
the law in coming to conclusion and max
ing his report. All this seems to be simple
enough in general outline, but is it in pos
sible execution? Is the actual system as
defined in the statute book defective, or is
the administration Of it faulty or is there a
little of both? Let the commission dis
criminate between the two in its examine
ton and report.
The taking possession Of ones property
by the executive branch Of the government,
excluding the owner therefrom and refus-
ing to deliver 1t to him till certain sums Of
money are paid is tremendous power. 1t
is higher exercise Of power than the levy
of q tax on ones house or land and selling
the same if it be not paid. Both are to be
exercised by the Executive in obedience to
q Inv requiring and justifying it. No sys-
tenn of law does or will in free country
give to the Executive in that matter absolute
control, but requires the Executive to al
ways submit his acts to the examination
and Judgment Of the judicial branch of the
government as to whether the authority
conferred by the legislative branch has been
strictly followed. This the commission will,
Of course, not fail to keep constantly in
mind and to remember that the fewest pos
sible Prescriptions are in favor OF tax gath
erers where the lawmaker has spoken am
biruously or in doubtful terms
The Country and the. City Mouse.
1t is natural that the letter Of our CORE
spondent. "Audrey," urging the young men
of this city to marry country girls, as likely
to m Ike the best wives, should excite the
indignation of our own unwedded bellies.
They protest against the assumption that
New York bachelor whose income is mod
crate must 60 into the country to find an
economical wife, and insist that plenty of
unextravagant girls, who do not demand
silk dresses, operas and carriages, can be
found in town. They IRE evidently alarmed
by the proposition that our young bache-
lors shall pass their summer vacation in
fishing for wives instead Of trout, and will
not consent to see the percentage of old
maids in New York increased by this raid
from the rural districts upon their pres
ent beaus and probable husbands in
the future. This rivalry is to be deeply
regretted for many reasons, but it
may increase the matrimonial value of
the average metropolitan bachelor. He
is put up, as it were, at auction, and the
cheaper he is bought the better for himself :
Happily it is not leap year, for if it were he
would be exceedingly embarrassed. The
pretty girl from the country would plead
her skill in household affairs and how she
could tell unadulterated milk from swill
milk and real butter from the all prevalent
oleo-margarine. The city girl would claim
her superior knowledge Of city ways and
her ability to buy the best dry goods at the
lowest rates. Placed between two such sup
plicants the eligible young bachelor might
find it hard to choose and could find it in his
heart to try to be happy with either. 1t is rare
for young man to be placed in the position
of the wooed instead Of the wooer, and it is
to be hoped he will not be too proud of the
distinction Audrey of the fields and Rosa
lind of the court are both suitors for his
smiles, and we trust he will display his
magnanmity by marrying one or the other.
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Operations ON the Danube.
The reported concentration of the Russian
forces near Giurgevo seems to indicate an