New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-18
PRICE THREE CENTS
CONGRATULATIONS SILKS,
THE APPRAISER RAISING INVOICES.

HOW FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR
AGENTS HAVE TRIED TO EvADE DUTIES.
The New York Appraisers office is having
much trouble in teaching the foreign dealers VINO are en-
deavoIing TO wrest by undervauatlons the importing
business from old American merchants the customs and
manners particularly the customs, OF the United Statcs
An importer remarked yesterday that The TRIBUNE hav-
ing begun to publish lists OF such importers. might find
long addition In The silk trade An examination revealed
abe fact that out of seventy firms importing silks and
vevets In this city, twenty have tried TO escape tho
payment OF part of the duties due total extent of
little than Sl,5OO,000 since last January Out Of
1000 invoices passed during the year 1855 than
1000 have been raised and large part of these above
the penalty line Of ten per cent Every day the APP
praser IS called upon TO adv at least five Invoices
These invoices belong TO the firms whose previous in
voice been advanced Some OF these importers learn
nothing by experience except that II is too costly 20 be-
advanced than 10 per cent, in that case they
have pay penalty OF 30 per cent In order to avoid
the 10 per cent line they voluntarily advance their in
voices from zig to 10 per cent In spite Of this regular
and generous effort to relieve the Appraiser that Ocil
is often compelled to make another raise to bring the
goods up to the market value. Every kind or trick s
resored 10 order evado the duty Only yesterday
importer tried to bring small lots in large con-
slgnment at one half of the market valie The amount
was only $780, but him addition OF $lli for the
exI eIment besides illustrating the teness OF human
nature where a few dollars concerned.
A-lonc the firms that have been voluntarily raising
invoices from ia - per cent after which thd
Appraiser in many cases has made additional raise,
are the following
c. A. AuimoNt & Co.. No. 3S Gleene-st.
NcgrOz, PORTER, Grose Il Co., No. IS Grand-s
Fletnann& Co, No. 4s9 Broome-st
Waiter H. Graef Il Co., No. y ireenest
Hardt, Won Bernuth Il Co.. Nos. G2-6t Grccne'st
HoenDghaUs Il Curtiss, No 473 BrOome st.
Isein. Neeser & CO., No. 339 Canal-st.
Luckcmeyer Sehcier, No. Az BrOOmc-st.
0btrteuiier, Abegg &,Daenlkor, Nos oO-02.9i Grand
william opennym ( Sons, 10; IA; AZ Greene-st.
Pas;ayant < Co., sos 220-22d ~; Church st.
II. IL. schwieering, stursberg Co., No 4GS Broomc-
T. Victor & Achells, Nos. G6-72 Leonard-st
Louis WeddiGen x Co, No. il3 sgrln1g st:
Dc bc6cran@ Co. CG So N5 S Grecaes
The Customs oeials reluctant to give any infor
nation to the press. They particularly refuse 70 elVe
names OF firms inyoIved. On the general subject Of
IN @ 4o%eysr TSy % are ,b Iree o to % IP5l oa
stewart IN eXiseuce We had an easier time Than al
present. Mr. stewart bought immense quantities ol
silks abroad aud had agents everywhere We coHi
always get rXact information from him as to the markell
work to secure correct market values particularly
importers resort to many schemes to prevent ogr az
& Co., remain who aid us materially. Oar main re-
lance however is or two experts abroad There are
watched our experts get samples ana values "i every
iece woven by these manufacturers, winch are sent 70
is numbered. Then in every invoice they pat tbe hum-
bers on each piece 0f the respective consgneht' "hr1
correspond 10 those the samples. Every piece 9 s5
that X ported have 6e in our sample l,i TO-
gcther with value know now much the importer
or his agent abrOli has undervalued We do not rely
the experts ely because examiners far more
experienced and often have 10 correct them. SOW
these importers know that have s Information and
80 do the manufacturers abroad Why Will they persist
In trying undrryalue. day day when experience
shoud teach them that nothing can pass the cAAInheFs
below lis true Y4llcF'
\ TRIBUNE reporter asked importer to explain the
methods 81 attempted underyaudtiOn. lie SAID: SnSa
are consigned importers here by manufacturers
abroad 10 be- sold Ostcnsiby commission. The manu-
aclror -wcars in his invoice. for instance that he has
shipped ~ worth OF goods. He pays duty on that
Then he writes the imuOrter that he Will eN-
pect 81 goods The importers IOraSry
looked this very cOml lacenty until the CUSTOM
House sWOJUed down upon them Now when they re-
crive their invoices they look at the manuacturef's
letter ascertain how mach the goods undcrNaued
Then they voluntarily add per cent sufficient to ESCAPE
"a pcualty-fOr they have TO pay the extra duty and
trust luck that the examiners Will pass the goods with
out raising invoice. Yet they often get caught Wild
pena ~ after voluntarily adding high as ID and
| even 20 per cent"