The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-18
xNroRcIsa THE REVENUE LAws.
Prsvensfen OF Smuggling and Entry Of
Chfnese-Too Many Ports.

Prsvensfen OF Smuggling and Entry OF
Chinese-Too Many Ports-
wasHrseros Crrr. Nov. 1.-THE annual
report Of Supervising Special Agent J. c.
Crowley has been submitted to the secre-
tary Of the treasury. and shows as . par
tial result of the work of the special agents
that lbs suits were brought, involving
over Sal 900 in value, for violation OF the
revenue laws There were $50 seizures, to
the value of more than $4,000, and the
amour. recovered on account of fines,
penalties and increased duties resulting
from under-vaiuation or errors in classifi-
cations discovered exceeds $323. 900. The
expenses of collecting the revenue was re-
duced nearly 500, coo. according to the re-
port made by the special agent. which
amount was largely in excess Of the cost
of maintaining the force Of agents during
the last fiscal year.
Referring to the trials at Portland dur
ing the summer and fall of 1893, Mr.. Crow
ley states that in all about forty persons
were indicted for conspiracy to illegally
import Chinese laborers and to smuggie
opium. He states that the fact was estab-
lished that more than 800 Chinese labor
ers and 5000 pounds of opium had been
smuggied into Portland from British
Columbus in period Of less than seven
teen months, and that seven Of the prin-
cipal smugglers pleaded guilty and three
others we're convicted.
The supervising agent reports that Chi
nese isundrymen who desire TO leave the
United States and to return invest small
sums in the business OF dealers in Chinese
groceries or other merchandise. thereby
IN n fnp
IS merchants. As a result of this
practice. much difficulty was ex-
perienced during the last year in
ciusion of Chinese, Of whom 6, $40 made ap-
plication for admission. and of that num-
Der ]. 24i were rejected; I, 1876 laborers were
permitted to pass In transit through the
country. their destination in most cases
being Havana. Mr.. Crowley is of the
opinion that the treaty lately entered into
with China, which provides for the return
to this country of Chinese laborsrs, WILL IL
ratified, greatly increase the work Of sps-
ciai officers, and 1t is certain that the num-
Der Of applicants for admission will exceed
that of any year since the passage Of the
first exclusion law of 1852.
In speaking of the force Of special agsnt Is
suit mad been instituted for the recovery
of SIS 600 and in another for SIS, 900, the
information In both cases being conclusive
and furnished by the agents abroad. A
seizure Of $50, 900 worth of jeweiry by one
Of the officers of the special force is cited,
and one of the most important recon-
mendations made by the supervising
special agent has reference to the reorgan-
igation of the customs service. He argues
for the abo!ishment of many of the ports,
where the expense of maintenance
greatly exceeds the receipts, and sug-
gests q plan whereby all necessary IA
cilities for the docking OF vessels and
the transaction of similar business may be
furnished without the present expense.
Mr.. Crowley recommends the adjustment
of bonds given by importers of merchan-
disc, which is entered for warehousing or
transportation in bonds. for the reason
that the goods in either case are protected
by the bonds of the warehousemen or the
common carriers.
In speaking of the territory of Alaska,
the supervising agent expresses the opin-
ion that laws similar 10 those provided by
the government for other territories should
be enacted for Alaska.