The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-10
HON. WILBUR LUNT HERE.
Some Interesting Facts About His
Duties as General Appraiser.

Hon. Wilbur f. Lunt of the United States
Board Of Customs Appraisers, was in the
city yesterday, and was cordially greeted by
many old friends. Mr.. Lunt is now living in
New York city, where the board of custom
appraisers holds its sessions. Mr.. Lunt talked
very entertainingly with PRESS reporter
about the work Of the board and the favor
with which it is meeting from merchants of
all shades of opinion who are interested in
the importing trade. 1t will be remembered
that the board of general appraisers was
created by the Mckinley Dingley customs
administrative bill, measure that has come
in for full share of abuse from the Dame
Gratis, in company with all the other useful
and valuable legislation of the last Congress.
The board OF appraisers, as we'll as the 9TH
er features of the customs administrative
bill, was created for the purpose of prevent
ing fraudulent undervaluations of imported
goods, principally at the port of New York
The differentiation of goods entered at New
YORK had been the shame and the bane of
the importing business for years. Unscru-
Iulous dealers abroad would have equally
inscriptions agents in New York. To these
oSShto booAo WOuAu NC COuoiEu6u al uNLUTl-
ously low valuation. The American agent
would get them through the custom house in
New York at the low valuation, and then
sell them In this country In competition with
merchants who got their goods by honest
consignments. The result was that the bus
mess OF honest importers was broken up,
and they were in some cases driven out of
business. The board of general appraisers
have put stop to all these frauds. AS a re-
suit, Mr.. Lunt says, merchants In Baltimore
are now able to import directly at their port
for the first time. and are so pleased with
the working of the law that the forced the
Democratic Baltimore Sun to eat its words
when 1t veatured to deliver TRADE against
the Republican measure that was giving
Baltimore importers the first fair show they
/ HAD enjoyed.
Mr.. Lunt says the board of general ap.
prafsers sits as court. and hears cases with
great care. Formerly the custom house ap-
praisers determined valuations, with the CO.
operation of the collector. The only appeal
was to the Secretary of the Treasury. who
in most cases in pro forma way affirmed
the decision Of the local appraiser and col
icCtVi' AS IeSuib unScIupul0uS importers
would often like to have the customs author
tiles make wrong valuation when it would
put up the value. For they could tuck on
more price on their goods when they sold to
the people. and then, after getting this profit
turn around and sue the government for the
excess duties. Some of the amounts re-
funded to importers as the results of these
suits were far up in the millions. This
''swag" gained from the suit would often be
shared by the European associates of the
plunderers. Both the American people and
the American government were plundered
by sharpers who were generally foreigners,
Mr.. Lunt says that this has all been stop
ped. About forty-fve per cent of all appeals
of the board of appraisers are settled In IA
vor of the importers, and there are very few
appeals to the courts. At first there were
many appeals; but importers are now COM
ing to see the justice and capacity of the
board.
Mr.. Lunt likes the work very much; bu
prefers Portland to New York as a place O
residence.