New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-18
OFFJCy4LS no BE SUSTAINED.

To expose and break up a nest of wrong
doors is usually task of difficulty Men VINO
have been robbing the Government for years
through undervaluations of imports, whether
they are to be found in Berlin, in importers
offices here, or in official positions, may be eX-
pected to fight as long as they have chance
left. After years of false invoicing, perfumes
and violations of official oaths, wrOngdOers are
not likely to sickle at little plain lying IN
denial when accused. But the country wants
and means to have strict and even handed JUS
tice in the enforcement of its tariff, and VIII
not shrink from pushing investigation in every
direction until abuses and frauds have been
uncovered and stopped so far as possible
1t is not to be hastily assumed that every
suspicion or charge is well founded, or that
every accused importer or official is IN 1ault.
The country wants no injustice or OPPRESSION
But it is going to have square dealing and to
that end will push investigations to the bot
tom. If Consul-General Edwards has evidence
to present showing that German manufact-
urers and merchants have been able Tor years
through collision with officials III this country
to eyade or defy American laws the state De
partment will sustain him and do its utmost
to uncover past and prevent future fraud ii
worsted goods from Bradford have been i'm
ported in vastly increased quantities, and the
Appraiser here holds that they have been so
imported because Systematically ndervalued.
the angIy denial of importers is to be expected
but will not stop further investigation. II
1,4O0 pounds Of wool, imported by single
firm. are claimed to be carpet wool OF the low
est grade but are found by appraisers to be
mixed with fine meIino WOOL the plea of the
importer that the mixture was obtained by
breeding will be examined and weighed as 1t
deserves.
The new Administration has already stopped
fraudulent evasion of the law in many cases.
II is irving to attain faithful and honest en-
forcement of the law in every case, and in that
effort has right to the support OF all good
citizens. Business men and newspapers are
net doing their duty, but are simply helping
lawbreakers, when they rush into abuse OF the
Administration because it scrutinizes imports
closely and applies the law strictly. 1t is
neither patriotic nor decent for them to take it
for granted that the importers are in every case
in the right and the Government always in the
wrong. Patriotic citizens will uphold the
officers of the Government in their difficult task
of uncovering and preventing long-practised
frauds, and will not hastily assume that an APP
praiser has disregarded his oath because an
importer says his decision is an outrage.
The work done already has been of conse-
quence. The official returns furnish many
illustrations of It's effectiveness. For instance
the imports of wO0llen goods "not elsewhere
specfiedD at Is and "a cents per pound besides
the 80 per cent ad valOrem duty were in the
month of July only 81 100000, against $1,000
600 year ago. But the imports of woollen
cloths, at 30 cents per pound and 80 per cent
were 81. 900, 900, against S1,500,00o year
ago and the imports Of dress goods at va
duty. or 80 cents per pound and 80 per cent
were g., 900 600, against S27OO,OOO last
wear. The total value for the two months was
about the same but the change in classification
of $500, 600 worth of goods made large
difference in the duties paid, and a greater
difference in the resulting defence of home
manufacturers. What the country wants and
will have is a faithful and honest enforcement
of it's laws and to that end it will earnestly up
hold officials in trying to break up fraud