New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-07
MUCH SMUGGLING DONE.
MERCHANT TA!LORS COMPLAIN THAT
CLOTHING IS BROUGHT IN FREE.
LONDON AGENTS. RETURNING TRAVELLERS
STEAMSHIP OFFICERS AND SERVANTS
ENGAGED IN THE HLDiAL nUsI-
>cres Say - LENEYOR
lyon DOESN'T THINK so.

LYON DOESN'T THINK so.
A. ,,a time Of the recent agitation over :he IN
crease in smuggling a committee OF the Merchant
Tailors' Society was appointed 10 investigate the
records at the Custom House. They ionhd 'ha'
in the year 1892. 100000 declarations OF dutlabe
goods had been made at the port Of New-York by
incoming passengers on ocean steamers. ana tAat
the amount collected by the Government on these
100000 declarations only Eo5"O-a little over
81 each. In view OF this fact and the PROFANITY
that the Wilson bill will diminish the revenue
of the Government from import duties So"o"O
to sSON0OOo, these statistics are suggestive a
Tribune reporter yesterday inquired of John Pat
terson of John Patterson d CO.. tallOrs and I'M
porters of this city. In regard to the alleged
frauds against the Government committed by re-
turning travellers ard by petty officers Of steam
ships.
He said: Each person landing at any Of the
various ports of the United States. coming from
a foreign country. IS required to make dcclara-
ton as to the wearing apparel and other persona!
effects which. under the law, are not exempt from
du,y. Now these declarations. rule. are made
by the heads Of families representing at cas; co.
900 people. and It is safe TO place the average
amount Of articles purchased abroad by each per-
son at 500 over and above wha, is placed on the
free list by the statute. This would make goods
worth 100000 annually admitted free OF duty.
If the duty were collected these ii would yie.d
a revenue of from $1,000 90 70 100000. When to
this IS added the amour: smuegcl in over the
Canadian border. and the goods brought In by the
army Of stewards and other officers OF the various
limos Of steamships. the Joss Of revenue becomes
enormous. Nor does the abuse end mere" he added,
Many foreign manufacturers OF wearing apparel
invoice their goods Il their american customers
through their agencies at one hat the price that
the customers would pay Tor them II they were
purchasing them abroad, thus diminishing tne rev.
enue 81 per cent.
The reme4y FOR al! this Is a s,rlcter enforcement
Ut ne law said Mir. Patterson. Smuggling Is
lo 1ke'i upon not criminal in any sense but as
something, to be proud OF when successfully done
1t would seem strange for some men OF high moral
standing to boast that they had stolen 500 from
the Government bat they DO tel g.iby that they
got tns or that article In and dliE't pay any duty
on it."
,.Elwin y. Dol. president Of the Merchant Tailors
National Exchange. said yesterday TO n Tribune
reporter: 1T has been aim TO that the
laws of our country properly interpreted As
they stand to-day they are vague and It Is largely
ieft 10 the inspectors to decide who are entitled TO
have ten trunks Of wearing apparel passed. and
who are Liable TO have their baggage relied when
an extra oVercost is discovered We have a Ma
tonal committee. who, with the committee OF local
exchanges. constantly look after the agents who
come over here twice year 10 prevent. II possible.
n,esal importation OF English-Inade clothing"
Il. T!nyenort secretary OF the Merchant Tailors
National Exchange, said TO a Tribune reporter a
large number Of agents representing English tailors
have recently arrived In this country, and
in Boston Philadelphia, Washington and this city
in the price OF labor between the two countries
have found this a profitable market for dspos!ng
sweat shops OF London This fact brought
out through the committee of the House Of Com
sweating system, which made profitable
through the employment at nominal wages of the
Russian exiles who were in London"
George w. Lyon, Surveyor of the Port OF New
York under the Harrison Administration made the
smuggling Of clothing through this port that many
persons imagine. The larger portion Of visitors
abroad abr take atty, little baagass With them
ginB Is cone by way OF Canada.