New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-05

10 value were rare, has become unuef pfOsO.'
tons not only ineffective but productive OF ,e
abuses. scandal and contention. and Is Injurious ala
TO the revenue and legitimate trade, r. have me,
the approval of reputable merchants thIousnou', W.
country is an increase in tho number ana an en'as y,
men OF tho functions OF general appraisers S.s,nS
dcvolve upon those Officers the sole duty OF nes, n
and dlsposlng of appeals from original apprnsemvrs
am Of the opinion that such legislation Is i"p'
tivcIy needed.
PUNISHMENT OF FRAUDS.
There is now no adequate means a1orned pS mo
laws for the punishment Of fraud In the eh''s VI
merchandise. This Is aesrcd by the reports Oh inc
secretaries of the Treasury during the last o. a.
concur IN their repeated RECOMMENDATIONS tnat no
statutes should be amended a. 10 fhaDle Ihs u ~,
eminent 10 obtain the forfeiture OF metchands OF h
value. upon proof of false entry, paclns uioI 30
claimant the burden of proof to show innocence VI
fraud In the transaction. The GoVernne t ,.a ,nIs
required TO prove arrmatvey not only that te g"o de
were falsely entered but that such entry "as s ~ ~
with fraudulent intent ard to OBTAIN suon P'''- -
rule, impossible.
DAMAGE ALLOWANCES.
The law under which rebate OF duties Is aiio"o'
on imported merchandise for damage on inc 'o'as'
of i'm portstion was passed in 1890, when water trans
poration was confined to salllns-yessels. o"lhg "
long voyages and Incidental exposure to weather ana
water merchandise liable TO damage ahu ue s
now protect himself BY marine lnsul snce, h,oo,
within recent years almost AL me'chsbuiso S,nt
to damage is Transported IN steame hw 70 actual
damage: so that the causes which led to the ena,-
OF the original law have largely @ for ,ba
The law has become convenient means i'I h .,,o
nerperaton of frauds OF the most scandaous chsr-
acter, Is dsmOrazing TO customs onlcIdls. y,
crates uniformly and largely to the advaniSee a.
manded by honest merchants throughout the oou"'''
DRAWBACKS
The manifest purpose of the law enacted I'D iooi'
which authorizes the payment of drawback Oh inc "a
portaon Of articles manufactured from imported ma
teria on which duties have been paid was 10 ioser
home manufactures. In practice. however IL mas oc'n
found I'm some cases to operate to tho disadvantage oi
domestic production. 1t often occurs that the ma
tcrias thus relieved from duty are SUCH as are 'he
completed products OF our own factories. ,.r,,Is
Vas not the law intended 10 cover crude mseI h
ONLY? congress should define more clearly the ehat
acter OF TIC materials to be exempted as wen as te
evtent 70 which such materials shall be advahceu w.
constitute manufacture. Applications are frequsn,y
made and in many cases have been allowed fOr ora"
ben dors abroad and only insignificant amount OF
labor ex pended upon the article here In ofuer 10 Gma
It's form This results practically in discr'n'nA''o"
j" The administration Of The drawback laws has been
,,s ~ gIard against the allowance of fraudulent
claims. In many cases the cher oehohcis t vi bnS.
laws foreign manufacturers ana cuS'o"' "o"''
brokers.
REFUND OF DUTIES-sUITs.
AIIusion has already been made to the great mum
her Of protests and appeals and also to the continued
accumulation Of suits in customs cases ana % INC IN
practcabiity OF satisfactory disposition OF mem WIZ,
,c rta, "f refnndinc duties exacted in excess re-
suits I'm intulerable delay and loss 10 mos @ la
legitimate claims and. before shown ios'Is Iae
I 49,, 1T,asI,rv This system also works TO the serl-
on, disadvantage of the Government Ill various ""s''
among Mn iSn m which usually elapses between the
original classified Of the merchandise aeged 3 he s
importer to be eg gal c nSs RESe ocerS is often lost
or has passed beyond control OF INC s .h lilo "
change Of oGeEs death GOES oi agans the
II carries large amounts Of interest ana COST; 20 10
paid in addition 70 the due Sreae ron in these eases
~ - g,pat that the persons interested employ all pos
she means to cav make b are business Specially
and who are stimulated by large fees us 'd' nn in
Of the amount Of ,ae methods have
been resore to to control uss an ras sc upon by
active passive aid Of the very o sre r''o "r
the However earnest and vigant the pstrictat
toey may be- he Is. oe means al their command for
advancing their cases Then 100 tne ,be freonsnt
c%snges h the office Of DstrctAttorney during inc
pendency OF suits. III, .hus insnired and
~ P are liable TO result in miscarriage OF Justice
and that Judgments thus obtained are not sSi'
for the construction of the tai1n laws
CUSTOMS TRIBUNAL.
There IS certainly imperative need for rehleu ,,
,or his condition of things. Some system shou.u
,o' ,s ,rhor,hv these questions could be finally
settled a. they arise. and In as many "a hi; eopJS
Uic before the importer has made SAFE Oh ms 800 o
The establishment Of special tribunal az. would
elusive re,iay" the Department and the courts, Dut
would prove OF ncalcuable beneht 70 ho tbe nnbIic
chants and manufacturers, as well As 10 'n0 p"'iO
at large.
co,,r,airt :. firstly made by importers in the mat
.r ~ custom house Oaths. They are compencu '"
,ake these oaths before the collector al nlu0u Pc,
sonal Inconvenience. declaration, sahc,'oneo ~
naralties atr,sted by any officer duy S bapgc
administer Oaths, "ou'u ""o' ~
l., recommended. , A. rovorus scryics are
officers and employees Of the TV eve nscia ssrvces
nHer oath in the manner provided by sections Az
ttnd 2G03 Revised statues. ,o ibis n oath is not
.VrS ogainSt the Government but must ne paio ~
.na' TrJSjduaL There are moro than oooo eu'n
yn, "" "r aftener II is suggested that these
tat,,es he repealed. and that tne,r eSseusa Ira nm
ments be embodied In the oa'h '"N'" V"
pointment to office -
;. g.. bo,,eved that the bond required on entry OF
n,orcbandlse for warehouse may safely ne ul'pe"''"
with These bonds involve great hcoNcno"'u +"
,,,s and large expense. with no corresponding
b'n"i II TIE me 'merchaTdi,c and may be further
ppoocrl hy tic bond OF the "archouse'ldil' a ~
iurther legislation As may be necessary !" P''
mcrt c oI land eoued by section 2soa Of the Rey'ei
statutes for the return o dehNerH paUdItIons sboud
full protection TO the revenue Us ~ any balance
he 50 enlarged A. to secure the payment 81 any isn.os
of ,lrly found due on liquinaUoh' OF o'"0' "e
sustained by the Government
FEES.
In the organization OF the customs service III l''o'
Il was contemplated the: its expense should o. prl
cinollv deflaycd from fees schedule OF "hlch was
,bp dyed These collections long since proved made
ouate TO the needs Of the service. and the appopi%
tirr : for rs support have been made Oy cong
These foes are now insignificant factur III con
,lnI~g The expense Of collecting the levenurItho
tnta amount collected during the fiscal year ehuihe
lime 30 loss. was only S454.5oO 30. ,a,,s
They arr gathered from various sources lor VdIlO.'
eer,.iccs and I'm aulOunts ranging nom 10 cents 70
several dollars the major portion being III SUMS VI
IN cents and less These collections impose lsDor
,bn cu-to,n. officers and constitute an annoy dnce
70 individuals IN of any public beneht; s0non.
Foes for like services vary by statute IN dl1crShI
n,;o,. ~ tLe country and the public are often lea
10 believe that they petty exactions, resulting
from the greed of the officer VINO denanus lin nm iI ~
.eIddm anv foundation for such belief; l,ut III SOME
cases when the total fees collected fAll 10 carry