The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-11-28
H WEEKLY TRIBUNE
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER %. 1891.
OPICM

And now comes that promised and
a~nxiously looked for report of the super
vising agent of the treasury Mr.. A.. a.
Jingle. touching the smuggling OF opium
into this country from the other side OF
the boundary line. The first dispatches
published in these columns some time
g concerning the matter stated that
the report would be very voluminous and
that it would implicate many federal and
other officers in smuggling the narcotic,
among whom were five congressman and
two United States senators. The report
makes no mention of this branch of the
subject, but deals directly with the
smuggling of Chinese and lis inscpara-
bile companion opium.
The peculiar feature of the report and
one which will provoke more or less
comment upon the part Of the press of
the country is the recommendation OF
the agent that the excessive duty upon
manufactured opium be reduced or
taken Off altogether. He tells how the
tTutt uTllClt 10 iIdiiutdttuitu W 'u'
northern ncighbors, who exacts and re-
celves a duty upon the raw material and
then smuggles the finished product into
this country thus avoiding the payment
of the tariff tax of 81 per pound. About
10000 pounds of the prepared article
was made in Victoria last year, about all
of which was doubtless struggled into
the United States thus saving the manu-
racturers something like SSi0,Oo0. This
is a nice little plum for a few men to
make and it would excite but little won
der if impccunious parties occupying
high official stations had a finger in
the pie.
The temptation Ia smuggle the ar
ticle into the country is too great for
some men to withstand. and the effect
ual remedy, rs the treasury agent sug-
gests. is the reduction Of the duty. He
reasons with "A great deal of force and
clearly shows that it is the only practi-
cable way to check the growing Illicit
srafiic. lis logic Is 10 reduce the duty
and smuggling will cease. Turning in
another direction Mr.. Tiuglc may yet
find cause to repeat the same advice.
Other articles Wherein the duty is cX-
~ccssive or actually prohibitory may be,
If not already. struggled into the country.
The coast line from Maine TO Florida is
il long one and offers many sheltering
coves into which sharp smugglcrs may
run their crafts and unload them.
High duties breed Smuggling. That is
the record of history.
Referring to the smuggling of Chinese
the report presents nothing new. AS
the courts have decided that Chinese
coming into this country contrary to law
from Canada must be returned to that
dominion, it remains for congress to
remedy the evil by legislation. AS in
opium smuggling, Canada gets the best
of the deal with the Chinese. That
country taxes the heathens $50 a had
entrance fees. John Chinaman has
use for Canada. He pays his $50 for
the opportunity offered to enter the
States. He is willing to take the
of capture. If captured he is
returned to the Canadian line and re-
admittance into the dominion I'M
less he pay $50 more. This he can't pay
and wouldn't if he could and SO he is
sent back to the Celestial Kingdom by
the United States without charge. This |
a picnic for John. He gains a whole
ot Of experience and sees a new country {
and travels thousands of miles, all for !
lis passage money n way and fifty dol. I
ars. Congressional cnactmcnts are {
to cover both cases. I