New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-02
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
TARIFF on BOOKS By NAIL.
A PLEA FOR ITS ENTIRE ABOLITION.


TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIT: In letter published in The Tribune OF March
IL drew attention to our bcraI and harmfpl tax
on knowledge. showed that this Is the only country
III Inc world that imposes protective duty on books
what wish TO speak Of moro particularly at this time
is books by mall In other countries these pass free
under the International Postal treaties. and they did
80 here until the United states Customs officials found
an excuse for taxing them whcn at instieation
new treaties had be negotiated especially TO III OR
case.
The most remarkable thing about our system of col
Letting duties books by mail IS that the work was
begun not 10 obtain money for the Government but IN
order To give employment to some persons ior
whom at the time no other occupation could be- found
happen 70 be I'm possession of a bit of secret history
which ought to be made public. not for the credit q"
the Government or OF the actors concerned but because
It Is a spot which the sunlight should be turned
Tor sanitary reasons The statement IS so extraordinary
that would not dare to repeat it If did not nave
direct from the person most convcr,lnt with the facts
few years ago certain person IN New iorN
made the discovery that under the law and practice
then in force all books exceeding 81 in valIc were
imported by mail without payment Of duty Benz
ont Of employment at the time. but willing to MAKE
himself useful his country. th- person sought an
interview with the collector Of thi' port and proposed
that a bureau should be established by means OF
which tribute might be eXactcl every hook imported
10y mail. no matter how small the value 1he 'o
ccor promptly rejected the suggestion on tie grorh
that would he disorcditabc for the Government 10
engage in palry a business, and alp Tor Inc T'''
tina. the receipts would pay the coi oi coHcrt'h
lat the inventor Of the scheme was persistent ana III
submitted his plan 10 the Secretary Of the Treasury
Offering 10 take charge Of the business himself H. '
own risk and to receive the duties collected for h'
sole condensation. The offer Wa at last accept"
and the cutcrpri-rc promoter placed at the h'io
Of the bureau whe n had been anticipated. he Ioln
himself ont Of pocket. but Dee nhalN secuted c'aE'
On The IS stem and the loss now fan, "u ie Govern
mcut Thl- the origin q the hure'u FOR inc col
lection ~ duties ON books 10y mail.
In the year i~-p there received by foreign
mail, Al the Ncy York postonAce 1900 packages
containing @2212O books. The dates collected
amounted 10 exactly 40 2o4 % being i cents per
package or a trnc over 10 cents for each hooN' 10
collect TINS required force Of nineteen "'n'
some II them receiving salaries a. heh n T-oV''
since the average duty WAS only 10 cents on e''"
book. IL 3, safe ~ say that on 10000 "i th"ni "'7
duties vcrc Jess tAan cents each.
Tho labor expended In this work is enormous. ti'l
pacb,-c IN opened. examined, appraised ana d'-'N
again Two entries a, least. and often m"r' are MADE
A quarter Of million letters are written ana sent III"
which tho postage alone would be more tnh F''"""
account, are KEEP with every po,torcc n TIE ht"i
state, 10 which pachosc, arr addressed. COLLECTIONS
ere made. examined and credited stationery r'"'
forms. account books. rent. fuel hfh'e ara o'.'E o'
rcre. Az. paid aud All this q" cutol" ihc '.t'. 'l,
10 collect .-Df - lu sums oi DE- cents '-''"
IL o.p individuals. Ihe statement .cen- h'fc''i'
o'' '' me isrcss is done A. Jos cannot De que,
ronci have boon informed M per IN I'''',
ru.u among tho mth.-' - TIE "'N,@'' 81.
80. Of ne worn tnt uio ''' " 'h.-
iur,.lu. an c.pen-c, inc.-ari. t' i,r' WEN .
100000. tlr u.s. 10 -iy. u ''.'- ~ '.,.
appear cNfrtva.nnt. luf Do .- giN' o4 ,H, ,',t -.
,lihor'. and whom u u.s. con. , ,..i MEM n u.
cyicuf th,' fhc figures ore Dot "',i ', a. "