The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-22
TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER %.

waiting, her luggage will be intercepted by a
highwayman, bearing the badge of Especial |
agent of the Treasury Department, who will
OF Ter the trunks to be taken off the dray and
he will hold fresh inqusiton over their con-
tents, with ardent intent to discover case of
smuggling, which, being clothed with absolute
power, hs will as likely as not find some pre-
text for doing whether there is cause for it or
not. In that event the whole paraphernalia Is
carried off to the public store, penalties are ex-
acted, and the clothing recovered in scragpy
and damaged condition some days afterwards
The inspectors who do the searching in many
instances have the grace to acknowledge that
they are heartily ashamed of the work assigned
them but allege by way of extenuaton that
they are acting under the orders Of their supe-
riors and cannot hope to retain their places
unless they do as they are hidden. The offi-
cals of higher grade who stand by consenting
aver that they have no control over the "spec-
ial agents" who roam about in quest of prey
like licensed freebooiers. The only pea on
which these brutalities are palliated is that
they are inspired by desire to enhance the
income OF the governmenG. Even this weak
excuse is of questionable validity, for these
petty dstraints cost more than they come to.
They necessitate the keeping of small army of
invaders in wait for the arrival of every steam
ship, and If the ttifling sums gathered by the
process were justly collected instead of beirg
as they generally are, boldly extorted, it would
be far better to dispense with them than to re.
sort to such means of procuring them.
Some of our most reputable citizens have
been made the objects of outrageous indignities
lately on returning from Europe. Occasionally
the particulars of these affronts have been
brought into publicity as in the cases of Will
liam Astor, Parke Goodwin aud Maturin Liv-
tngston. Mr.. Astor is reported to have taken
measures to obtain legal redress for the injuries
he suffered. But for every one whose wrongs
are brought to light, hundreds endure thes, OF
pressions in silence. The odds against the indi-
vldual fighting the government in the courts
are very heavy, no matter how strong his cause
may be. The only way to rectify these mon
strous abuses is through the amelioratng ipflu.
ences of an enlightened public opinion. The
innate sense of justice of the American people
can be trusted to remedy grievances of admins
tration when they can be made to understand
them. The country needs all the revenue it
can get honestly; the idea of raising dollar in
any other way is too abhorrent to every princi-
pie of fairness, to be entertained in any quar-
ter 1t is a wretchedly short sighted policy to
make the tax gatherer an instrument of uil-
lage. The mode of executing the revenue stat.
utes seems to be based upon the assumption
that every man is guilty unless he can prove
his innocence. Importers and travellers are
treated as suspected classes, who will cheat the
government if they can; and accordingly they
are perpetually under the surveillance of spies,
who are eager to find evidence against them.
A rumor to their discredit weighs mora tn N
their own sworn testimony can do in their fa
vor, even though it be backed up by the state
ments OF many unimpeached witnesses.
There is really imperative need of the com
plete publication of the revenue system from
these evils that have impaired its Efficiency and
tended to make it q burden and a scourge
There is no occasion to be wasting effort on i'm
aginary and fanciful subjects of administrative
reform, when something so obvious and tang
BILE demands the interposition of salutary COT
receive. If the President and Secretary of the
Treasury are ambitious of distinguishing them.
selves by improving the condition of public af
fairs, there are no better places for them tc
make beginning at than in the Custom House,
for the management of which they are SO d
rectly and clearly responsible. YARMOUTH.
SCHLIEMANN Firms THE C1Tv OF TT, x,csr,