The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-11

of per cent. while the greatest difference in the
thirty tests did not amount to more than quarter
of per cent you will be able to judge for yourself
whether or not the use OF that instrument is diff
cult"
1T is. unless it be TO state my qualification that the
HERALD has taken up the question at moment when.
disabused of much error and informed both with
regard to the real hidden under all these charges
and the Importance OF right decision upon that
issue by the representatives of the nstion.
EVILS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF COLLECTING
THE TARIFF AND HOW TO REMOVE THEN
A MONOPOLY THAT WEIGHS UPON THE PEOPLE.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HEnAIp:-
The annual importation of sugar into the United
States aggregates about hundred thousand TONS
or. say one thousand five hundred million pounds.
The duties thereon levied and collected accord
ing to the Dutch standard"i. e.. samples of sugar
in bottles prepared in Holland by an obsolete pro-
cess. supplied by the Secretary OF tho Treasury
from time time to the different collectors. and the
sugar imported compared with these samples which
range from below No. to No. 20 in color.
1t is test by color only. If the sugar imported is
below No. in color the duty is * cents per pound
if above No. and not above No. TO- it is cents per
pound and If above No. TO- and not above No. -, it
is Ia cents per pound: and if above No. 10. and not
above No 16. it is cents per pound; and above No.
Is. and not above No. 20. ia cents per pound.
Twenty-Five per cent is added.
In every package of sugar imported there at
least two, often three grades Of sugar package
of sugar will contain No. 7and No II or No. and No.
IA, perhaps according to the general quality of the
goods-the lowest number being the 'foots." the
highest the .'heads;" the 'foots' being formed by
the 'head" sugar draining down into the bottom"
or "foots" of the package To arrive at just CLASH
fication therefore, average sample is taken from
the head middle and bottom of the PACKAGE, and
upon this average sample the duty is fixed.
OF the whole amount of raw sugar imported five
eighths are below No and three-eghths between No
and No. 10 e. the present discriminating tariff
has induced the production Of low grade Of sugar
in the producing countries which are unfit for i'm
mediate consumption In other words. every pound
sugar imported has by force to go to the refinery
to be refined before it is fit for use, and
are compelled to buy their supplies from the refiners
who control absolutely and are the arbiters of the
sugar trade.
HOW FRAUDS COMMITTED.
Frauds on the revenue can be classified under two
heads-First, by under sainpling; second, by under
weighing.
In 1877. of 56oooo tons of sugar imported into
the port of New York $4,000 tons imported by
three of our largest reners. These 900 tons
landed at the docks of the refneries and within
twenty-four hours after landing were boiled up and
all trace of them completely wiped out. The only
government officers at the reiners wharf the
sampler and wcighmaster both underpaid officials
$500 to 81 200 salary. who, it is notorious fact,
are purchased to the interests of the rener
The sampler. by taking samples from tho 'foots'
OF the packages by simply accepting such samples
the refiner may choose to give him, thus enables
the re.iner to pay only for No sugar, while three
fourths OF his importations may consist of
grade OF sugar equal to No. 10 or No. II Dutch stand
ard which subject to much higher rate of duty
The weighmaster then comes and performs his sim
pie duties with the same success. Packages weighing
from 800 to 1900 pounds are made to weigh from
400 to 1900 pounds thus enabling the defrauder to
.economize'' from sl2 to SIS on every package.
II lots of dry goods or other merchandise were
imported and went directly under the control
Of the importer and the duties thereon put under the
control, the matter would be unprecedented
and would surely cause great establishment and yet
there class Of goods imported that could not af
terward be traced out, re.exained and reappraised
easily than cargo of raw sugar can be after it
has reached the refinery where it is at once boiled up
and all trace of it effaced.
The great majority Of reiners and importers claim
that tn privilege should not be granted and there is
certainly no credtable explanation offered to sustain
it, Whether intended for fraudulent purposes
not this loose system must necessarily beget frauds.
Honest men among refners and importers have been
driven out of the trade not because they lacked egit
facilities business qualifications. but simply
because they could not compete with men whose
practices are known to be dishonest.
CHEATING PUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT.
Not content to defraud the revenue on importa-
tons they must also rob the pockets and cheat the
stomachs OF the poor consumers by admixing with
the supposed refined article such ingredients as
glucose tin. muriatic and sulphnric acids.
The consumer is powerless. Forced to use an ar
ticlc which he knows does not swecten he is now
told that the article is also injurious to health. He
has no alternative. He must buy aduterated refined
sugar must be deprived of article of prime
cessity
such is the exact condition Of sugar affairs under
the present discriminating tara tariff which suits
only the foreign producer and the American refner.
In considering the subject ofevyng and collecting
duties sugar many difficulties present themselves.
from the subject itself but from the different in
tcrests asking favorable consideration. First tho
Louisiana planter. because lie forces from IN
yielding soil, in an uncongenial climate. an
MT nf rarifn INST hSa
protected. Second-A few refners clamoring for
special legislation. simply because they manipulate
an imported article. They add nothing to the home
production nor do they add iota TO the sweeten-
ing qualities of the sugar. They simply take an i'm
ported article and by aduteratng il TO degree that
renders its dangerous to health, they demand.
authoritatyely, that the government should sustain
them in odious monopoly.
Last of all comes the weak voiced and downirodden
consumer who fails to why he should be made to
sustain Louisiana in her conflict with natural diff
cultes, again, why he should be compelled to pay
tribute to the reincr.
REMEDY.
The ad valorem system has been tried and con-
demned because opened the door TO frauds by under
invoicing. Then the Dutch standard" now in
force. adopted; but this is and very justly
condemned, because it also opened the door still
wider to fraud by undcrsamplins and underweighng.
II is clear that Congress should not mako cheating
profitable.
The only equitable system now left to be tried
tsince the needs revcnucl is that is
very generally advocated and asked for by large
jority OF importers and refners and one that will
closely ass1nlate the or the three
fictng parties than any system hitherto tried-that
il, uniform or specific rate Of duty all sugars
imported up ~ No. 16 Dutch standard and another
and higher rate OF duty on all sugars above that
Der aud on all refined.
This system will facilitate and make more certain
the collection of the revenue will reduce the possi
bilitics o. fraud TO minimum, and do away with
army Of samplers, weighmasters and appraisers,
thereby saving large expenses to the government.
Louisiana would get all the protection she claims.
the rehner would be- protected in his legitimate indus
try and tho would at least have the option
OF purchasing good and pure sugar II he wanted
10 at much less cost than he IL now forced TO to
the rencr fof article which is at best impure and
oftentimes adlitlterated to dangerous extent.
For the further protection Of honest trade the gov
eminent should to il that all iInportations of
sugar like al other goods, be landed at public bonded
warehouses; there ~ remain under the control of the
government until thoroughly examined and passed
upon.
by this simple precauton, which cannot but
mend itself 70 the honest man. the government would
save millions of money. and, operating with uniform
rate of duty would protect honest trade and finally
put stop all the troubles that have sprung up in
the collection Of the since the existing tariff
came into force. AMEN.