Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-29

overcome and in fact presumably has been
overcome by lowering the duties upon i'm
ports suffcfently to compensate for such
incidental increase caused by the modified
tarin upon crates, packings, &c.
Changing the Penal Duty.
Another important amendment is that
changing the present penal duty, which
provided that if the value finally determined
by the appraisers exceeds the value entered
by the importer by more than 10 per cent,
a penal duty of per cent on the appraised
value in addition to the corrected legal
duty, is levied for every 1 per cent that
such appraised value exceeds the value de-
clared in the entry.
This provision is so severe that a mere
statement of its effect will be sufficient TO
induce its repeal
In case now pending before the Treas
ury Department an importer entered an
invoice Of photographs at Is cents The
entry should have been made at Is cents
for each photograph. There was evidently
no fraud in the transaction; ii was merely
found the value Of the photographs at
$3.50; the legal duties were $3.13, but the
penal duty under section Z of the present
act amounted to s., 100.
Section so, which provides that custom
house brokers shall be licensed and shall
give bond with such conditions and in such
penalty as the Secretary of the Treasury
may prescribe will, II is believed, protect
the government from crook ed transactions
of INSCRIPTIONS brokers and aid in securing
orderly transactions Of the custom house
business.
While the vast majority Of persons en-
gagged in this calling are reputable men
there are occasionally found some who do
not scruple to lend their aid to importers
to defraud the revenue.
One case has recently come to light where
broker to whom some goods were con-
signed on account Of his clients was the
chief instrument in the accomplishment
of a series of frauds by which the govern
ment was deprived Of a large amount Of
duties.
Although this broker is under Indictment
there is no authority Of law TO prevent
his continuing to exercise his vocation.
This section imposes no hardship on hon.
est brokers. but will enable the authorities
to keep under control and debar from prac-
tice those who dishonesty engage in or
connive at fraud.
Other Amendments Discussed.
Another amendment extends the act of
June 20. 1876. providing that the partner
may sign a bond for the payment of duties
in the name of his firm and thus bind the
other members SO that he may sign a bond
given for any purpose connected with the
general transaction Of business at a custom
house and bind his partners thereto.
There is also reported an amendment
to section 2S04, X. s., which now prescribes
that imported cigars cannot be removed
from the public stores or bonded ware
houses until inspected ana stamped with
the date of such inspection. In lieu of the
provision requiring the date of inspection
to appear it is provided that serial num-
Der shall be fixed to the box, which num-
Der shall be recorded in the custom house
This amendment was strongly urged by
many importers of cigars on the ground
that the existing provision requiring the
date OF inspection to be placed upon the
box disclosed a trade secret of cigar i'm:
porters, that is, the date of the importa ton
Of the cigars. The present change removes
this objection.
The existing law forbidding any allowance
for damage to imported goods has not been
changed, as in practice IL was found to be
SO productive of attempts to defraud the
revenue. but section 29S4 OF the Revised
Statutes is amended in the report of the
committee, so that the duty on the goods
damaged from any cause while in the custo-
dy of customs officers or in TRANSPORTATION
in bond or while within the limits OF any
port throughout the country. and, IL is be-
lieved, that the present bill, as amended
Will constitute more uniform, speedy and
equitable system of customs Administered ton
than we have hitherto enjoyed. II may be
objected that the act as amended is strin-
gent and exacting, but II is necessary that
an administrative act should be rigid In its
operations.
The Threatened Danger.
The danger which threatens the business
interests OF the country is not from the re-
duction in existing rates of duty, but from
the confusion which would ensue provided
such rates were lowered or evaded by I'M
LIBERALIZATION. thus causing. at one blow, a
falling off in the revenue to honest import
ers Unless the lower rates OF duty to be
enacted by Congress are rigidly and uni
formly collected, our people will lose sight
of the material benefits sure to follow such
a genuine measure of tarin reform for those
benefits would be swallowed up in the grave
injury caused by differentiation, to our
present business interests.
The mission OF the democratic party,
among others. is to demonstrate that tariff
reform will benefit our whole people mer-
chants, laborers and farmers
The customs administrative act, amended
on the lines laid down in the committee re-
port. insuring rigid enforcement OF the pro-
posed tariff law. will greatly assist In that
demonstration.