Arizona citizen., 1878-09-21
Evans and PIumb's Report.

Tucson people will distinctly remem-
 Der the official visit in July last of
 treasury agents Evans and Plumb.
 They looked into the Custom.house
 business here, examined the funds and
 condition of the Dcpositary, held a
 meeting with the leading merchants of
 Tucson regarding their liability to
 taxation and bankers, and proceeded
 eastward. Agent Evans seemed to be
 the principal and the report referred to
 below was probably written by him.
 The people in Arizona as we'll as in Texas, must be interested in this
 agents observations and consequent
 recommendations Should Congress
 happen to adopt his views, trade would
 be largely affected along the frontier | from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific
 Ocean. Here is telegraphic synopsis
 of the report as sent to the New York
 papers:
 WASHINGTON, August BOA Treas ury official, who was sent to examine the Fl PasO Customs district on the Rio Grande, has made a general report on the condition of affairs on the Mex ican border which will attract atIen- ton. This officer maintains that snug gling Is the prevailing system of trad ing among the inhabitants along both sides Ot the border, whether Texans orI MeXlcans; that it is impossible to en- force the existing tariff laws of either country, and that the only real solu- tion of existing complications is to be- found Ill aTeciprOclly treaty with Mex leo, if not Tn absolute free trade. This agent has travelled from the Colorado river to the Rio Grande He thinks the presence of the army there is prac- hcally useless, as it cannot be used as d posse cnmitalus, or participate in quelling local disturbances. The coun- try, he reports, is smugglers' para disc. Smuggling is the business of the | people. There k no public sentiment opposed to 1t. Merchants openly sell goods that they know are to be dellv- cred by pack-mules in Mexico, and they arrange 10 receive goods knowing that they have been smuggled into Texas. The Customs authorities upon either side appear to have no con- ! science as 10 the international wrong of smuggling, and countenance it by their silence. The agent c, Insiders that this condition of affairs shows the neces- sary dependence of the two countries upon each other; that products must be mutually interchanged, and that the existing tariff caD never be enforced. The burdens of the Mexican tariff, he says, are particularly oppressive against this country The agent says that the Mexican stIll blows with stick, and still drives the ancient Roman chariots with heavy wooden wheels; yet their tariff upon American carriages and wagons is from $66 to $396 each. The MeNicans export quantities of hides, Vet the tax on boots and shoes Is rom S7 to 1850 per dozen. Vast quantities of ammunition and arms are imported from the United States, yet the duty on powder is from so cents to B per pound, and the Mexican tax upon American cotton goods is in many cases more than the original cost, be- ing from II cents to 34 cents per square yard.
 We have made some inquiry regard ing Agent Evans, verbally expressed views when here, and learn that he declared smuggling could not be stop ped on SO long line of uninhabited border, and that if the trial were allow able, the whole army of the United States could not prevent smuggling even if it's powers were energetically and cnnscientiOusly exerted, and for these reasons he should recommend substantially free trade or reciprocity with Mexico.