New-York tribune., 1878-06-03
THE IMPORTERS COMPLAINT

THE IMPOKIEHO COIfLdiNI.
Several importers of this city have recently
addressed to Secretary Sherman a memorial
of their grievances. 1t is said that these firms
pay sixth of the duties at this port. The
memorial is chiefly taken up with reasons
why goods can be brought into New-YOrk at
lower prices than into other ports. The COM
mission now sitting at the Custom House has
taken evidence in other cities to the effect
that the business of importers there has fallen
away because goods entered here do not pay full
duties. The loss to the Government is estimated
by some millions of dollars per year. 1t accrues
on goods that pay ad valorem duties. The
general evidence has been brought in by sew
eral different committees and agents of the
Treasury during three or four years past, that
the invoices of these goods state their value
below the fact. The reply of the importers
is important, as being their first attempt to
meet these charges publicly.
The strongest point made in the memorial
is that the goods are invoiced more cheaply
to this city than elsewhere because they are
in larger lots, and the business done in them
is greater. Persons wishing to buy smaller
lots of such goods IN Europe would have
to pay more for them, simply because
the makers charge more upon small
orders. This, the importers think, Will
serve to explain why their goods are invoiced
at less than they can be bought for abroad.
This Is not new argument; the only ques-
ton is whether the Treasury people have
given il fair weight. At most, 1t will scarcely
account for the missing millions of revenue.
The letter of the importers to the Secretary
goes much further. 1t asserts that the makers
of goods in this country have undue infiu-
ence at the Custom House that its officers
have "acted as if they were in the interest
"of the manufacturer" and that the slight
"est suggestion - from that source outweighs
the oath of the importer. The Secretary
Is told that interested parties" have, with
"unfounded charges, filed the ears and
"warped the Judgment Of some of his sub
"ordinates." If this does not surprise the
Secretary, it will at least be news to the
owners of the glove factories and silk mills.
They have never suspected that they had such
mighty influence. They rarely see the inside
of the Custom House, and yet they have won
away the hearts of its officials from importers
who 90 there constantly and pay there per-
haps $1O,OOO,OOO year.
The importers have some just complaints.
There is too much red tape at the
Custom House. When goods are stopped
i'm their entry on the ground that
something is wrong in the invoices, great
loss may result from delay, especially with
fabrics depending on fashion for their sale.
The officials who stop the goods may some
times be too jealous, but that is not bad
nor frequent fault with Government en-
ployGs. The notion that they are in league
with the makers of American goods is simply
absurd. Such charges as that will not help
the cause of the importers. Just year ago
our Chamber of Commerce reviewed this
whole matter, and pointed out these very
abuses yet more strongly. The report of
the Chamber regards the frauds on
the revenue, as well as the hard
ships of the importers, as results OF bad
system. The particular class of frauds that
the commission at the Custom House is now
looking into, might be swept away ut once
by q change of the system of collecting duties,
and many of the other evils would be pre-
vented. Hence the Chamber, speaking the
views of many merchants, urged this Change
from ad valorem to specific duties. It's not a
thing to be done under the hat of the chair
man of q House committee, or to be evolved
from anybOdy's inner consciousness. The
views and needs of the people who
deal III the goods, whether as importers, or
makers or buyers or sellers, must be con-
suited, to get at the right figures for such a
change that shall be fair to all. 1t cannot be
rightly done in a hurry France takes two
years to consult over a tariff change. But if
the opinion of our business men were taken
on the subject, far less difference would be
found In their views than there is among
congressman.