The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-02-28
How Japanese Merchants Manage
To Underssll All Others.
SOME oFTHEIK METHODS EXPOSED
systematic Fraud PrsctIced by Japanese
Importers Fraudulent Valuations
Invoices and EDtrIes-GOOd Work OF
AppraIser FIshsI and His ASSiStAnta.

Some two or three months ago the
Executive and Advisory Councils crea-
ted the office OF appraiser. While
every Custom House OF any impor-
lance throughout the world has an
appraiser with from one TO fifty assist
ants, such an official has never been
thought necessary at Honolulu until
recently. Whether it was because
this was a missionary town and its
merchants were too honest to defraud
the Government, or whether the Gus
toms officials had too soft snap OF IL
as conducted under previous regimes,
certain IL Is that Charles j. Fishel Is
the first and only customs appraiser
appointed In Honolulu. When the
necessity for such an official beca me
apparent from the enormous Increase
of Japanese ImportatiOns and frequent
discoveries OF fraudulent entries even
under the old slipshod methods, Min
lister Damon at once urged upon the
Executive and Advisory Councils the
Necessity of creating the office Of APP
pFaieer, and through his efforts bill
to that effect was passed. In casting
about for a suitable man for the office
the Government finally preferred the
claim of Charles j. Fishel over severas
others. This gentleman Is an old and
exDerienced dFygoOds merchant OF
this CITY aud his intimate knowledge
Of that business is invaluable TO him
in his present position. That Minister
Damon and his associates made wise
selection there eau be no doubt, Tor
Mr. Fishels work Is showing for it
self. In a few months he has male
the Office more than self-sustaiDing
and so well satisfied Is the Govern
ment at the condition OF affairs now
existing In his department that II Is
now going to great expense In hitting
I'D proper quarters for him, so that he
can enlarge the sphere Of bis useful
mess.
The appraisers office consists of the
entire upper floor Of the main Custom
House building, an immense room
capable of containing Thousands Of
packages OF merchandise. The office
proper Is In one corner Of this room,
nicely partitioned off aud fitted with
shelving for the display Of samples,
desks. ratings, etc. Through the
conducted through the building yes
terday aud shown many queer things !
in the shape Of Chinese aud japanese |
drug, edibles, paintings, carvings |
and curios generally. Whereas q cou- |
pie of years ago there were only two |
or three Jspaese importers in the city, |
now there are nearly $50. The Chinese |
import trade Is In the hands Of q few |
large houses who sell to smaller ones, |
but with the Japanese 1t is different, |
every merchant IL his own importer, |
and IL he had his own way the Gus |
toms duties collected from his i'm
ports would not benefit the Hawaiian |
treasury TO any great extent.
II Is the appraisers duty to select |
from every entry of goods made at |
the Custom House u certain number |
of packages or cases. He may Ia Ike Que,
8 dozen or the whole consignment |
If he sees fit. In this he Is governed q
good deal by past experience with the |
firm making the entry, but as Mr.. |
Fishel says, they all need constant |
watching and are all the time endeav-
oring 10y some new scheme to beat |
the Government out of its just dues. |
Not so many years ago but that some |
OF us can rememberit smuggling was |
q legitimate and even |
traffic. In modern times |
the smuggling is done inside the |
Custom House Instead of out.
The mode of procedure as practiced |
at the Honolulu Custom House Is as |
AS soon as goods are landed |
from the steamer they are kept under |
the constant supervision Of inspectors, |
until carted to- the main Custom |
House warehouse which is situated |