Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-28
CUsTON HOUSE REPORTS.


WASHINGTON, Nov. %. A. K. Jingle, SUI
pervising special agent of the Treasury Depart
ment has Just submitted his annual report.
This division is charged with the general in
spection of the customs districts and the pre-
yention of frauds upon customs.
Mr. Tingle says no internal Improvement
can be made in the present methods of Gus
toms business without legislation. 1t is
known that many of the lrexatious require
ments prescribed by law and used in customs
transactions, might be discarded, not only
without detriment but with positive benefit
to public service. He submits suggestions
for legislative action in the direction OF the
simpli6cation of methods and to the relief
of importers and ship owners, believing they
will meet with the hearty concurrence and
approval of experienced customs officers.
He saws no custom house has paid its way by
fees for many years. While the aggregate
amount of fees collected is about 100000
per annum the actual cost of collecting the
customs revenue is over Sc. 900, 900. These
fees are made up of aggregate number of
small and annoying exaction from importers
and ship owners are difficult to collect and
involve great and Improbable amount of
clerical work in keeping, stating and audit
ing. Then he recommends the payment of
stated salaries to the custom house officers of
all ports and says one Of the objectionable
features of the present system is the tempta-
ton to collectors at small ports to obtain 'addi-
tional compensation for storage" under
bonded warehouse system by misrepresenta-
tons and false vouchers. A number of
cases of this character have been discovered
in the examination of custom houses. An
other objection is the uncertainty of the
compensation. and in some cases the insult
ficiency of fees to adequately pay the officers.
Oaths required to be taken before collec-
tors upon the entry of any merchandise, are
as rule merely formal, and serve no pur
pose, except to cause great Inconvenience to
importers by compelling their personal at
tendance at the Custom House. They do
not deter the dishonest from making fraudu-
lent entries, nor do they add to the security
of the revenue upon entries Of merchandise
by honorable merchants. A simple declara-
tiou signed by the importer and attested by
a notary and made by statute of the SINE
binding force as an oath, would prove great
relief to the merchants and would be full as
safe as the present system. 1t recommends
the consolidation of the districts and a reduc-
ton of the number of ports of entry, and the
abolition of certain bonds required of i'm
porters, which are only an annoyance t,
merchants and are no protection to the gov
ernment. Shipping Commissioners officers
should be brought under executive control,
and there receipts and expenditures account
ed for and audited in the same manner as is
required of other offices who receive and dis
burse public moneys.
1t is believed that abroad the practice of I'M
LIBERALIZATION will continue and increase
until tariff legislation is had substi-
tuting specific for advalorem rates wherever
practicable. The report closes with extend
ed reference to sugar imports and table of
receipts and expenditures.