Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-11-20
REFORM IS NEEDED.
Disadvantages of the
Revenue Department
THE SMUGGLING OF OPIUM.
How the Willy Chinaman Gets Over
the Canadian Border.

wAsHINGToN, Nov. 20-A. X. Tingle,
supervising special agent of the treasury
in his annual report shows
that during the past fiscal year the special
agents seized goods valued at s143, ,236, and
recovered s225 800 on account OF seizures,
fines, duties, etc. He gives several in
stances Of fraudulent importations and
refers to the difficulties under which the
agents conduct their operations. Mr..
Tingle says:
1.-The work of the Office has not been ac-
complished without some irritation and,
in instances, criticism in the public press,
inspired doubtless by those whose invoices
have been called I'm question as well as by
merchants of unquestioned integrity who
have unadvisably given ear TO the COM
plants Of agents of foreign manufacturers
seeking admission of their goods at ficti-
tious values to the manifest loss of rev.
enue and injury to honest trade" He de-
ylares that q special agent who should fall
in his duty because of opposition and criti-
cism would he unfit for his position. He
states that the success Of the government
in obtaining a verdict in the hat trimming
case recently tried in Philadelphia, in
volving many millions of dollars, was due
in large measure to the indefatigable ef-
forts of officers of his division.
The report dwells on the great difficulty
under present conditions Of
Enforcing the Laws Against smuggiers
who make Canada the base Of their opera
tions. There are, it says, but four collec-
tion districts upon the northern frontier
between the Lake of the Woods and the
Pacific ocean, distance of about 100
f1tt ttnt.. aatta la tnr-
ritory. The number of officers for pre-
ventive duty upon this frontier does not
exceed twenty, and the present appropria-
ton will not admit Of any material in
crease of this force. Although these Off
auent captures of opium, etc, their efforts
to prevent smuggling are, in large degree,
futile A similar condition of affairs ex-
lists upon the long boundary line between
the United States and Mexico.
The district OF Puget sound, comprising
many islands, within few miles of Brit
ish territory and long line of water
front, furnishes facilities for smuggling
and the
Clandestine introduction of Chinese.
The revenue steamer on that station has
done good work in checking smugg,
but the vessel is unfit, on account
of her size and her want of speed,
to render efficient service. 1t is be-
lieved it will be necessary to employ a
number of speedy steam launches to patrol
the waters of Puget sound in order to
break up this Illicit traffic.
The report states that during the past
year 125 900 pounds of crude opium were
imported and manufactured at Victoria,
making about 10000 pounds of the
prepared article for smoking purposes, and
nearly every pound Of it was smuggled
into the United States.
1t is more profitable, Mr.. Tingle contin-
ues, to take the risk Of an occasional cap
ture and confiscation than to pay the enor-
nous duty of $l2 pound, which Is pro-
hibitive of legitimate importations. Re
duce the duty to 81 pound and the snug
gler's occupation will be gone. The pres
ent arrangement benefits the Canadian
government, which collects 81 pound
upon the crude opium used in the manu-
facture of the prepared article Our tariff
act of 1890 admits crude opium containing
9per cent. of morphia free, but imposes a
duty of s12 pound upon opium OF lower
grade, such as is used i'm the preparation
of the drug for smoking purposes, the
sdIne hS ls IInpOsttl upOu
The effect of this is that the revenue de-
rived from imported opium is turned over
to Canada and the smugglers. 1t were
better to
Declare All Opium Free of Daty
than to leave the present laws on the
statute book. The enormous profits in
opium smuggling have induced the en-
ployment Of large capital and great
number Of bold, skilful men to engage in
the Illicit traffic.
The report further says that the acts OF
congress having for their object the exclu
sion Of Chinese laborers from the United
States are practically nullified by the
clandestine introduction Of Chinese coming
direct from China through Canada. The
steamers Of the Canadian Pacific Railway
company land Chinese at Vancouver by
thousands. The Canadian government
collects head tax Of $50 on each Chinese
person and gives him a certificate which
enables him to return TO Canada without
payment of the tax the second time.
The law provides that any Chinese per
son found unlawfully within the United
States shall be removed therefrom TO the
country from whence he came As nine
tenths OF the Cinnamon caught within ouI
lines near the Canadian frontier came di-
rect from China, they have been treated
by this department, in accordance with
the views of the attorney general, as
Liable to Deportation to China.
The courts i'm several cases have given
the statute another construction, deciding
that Canada was the country whence
these Cinnamon came. The effect OF this
Is that Chinese once returned TO Canada
again enter this country.
The report states that the necessity for a
revision of the customs laws, and for g
reorganization Of custom districts Is shown
by the fact that during the last fiscal year
in thirty one districts and ports no duties
were collected, and in forty-three the ex-
penses exceeded the receipts.
Not Much Time Lost.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20-The annual re-
port OF Fifth Auditor Hsberon shows that