The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-20
PAYS ITS WAY NOW
OPIUM SMUGGLING Is ON TIE
DECLINE.
Treasury Agent reports Upon the Good
Besstiy Drus-But Diamond Smuggling
Has Increased. as Was Natural, Under
an Advance In Eut.es, Whence He
Advocates q Lowering of Duties There
on Abont Merchandise Passing
Through for Canada.

Washington, Nov. ID. j. Crowley,
supervising special agent of the treas
ury. in his annual report deyotes consid-
cradle attention to smuggling. Opium
finuggling, the report says, has decreas-
ed largely during the last year, as the
result, principally, of the reduction of
the rate of duty from s12 to Sc per pound.
The amount OF smoking opium imported
at San Francisco during the year 1895
was 13S,s50 pounds, upon which 1913, 404
was paid in duties. Last year, the
amount was 9S,12s pounds. upon which
duty aggregating s5SS,75S was paid.
The report shows that there has been
q noticeable increase in the smuggling
of diamonds since the duty on precious
stones was increased by the tariff act of
1891. A return to the rate of duty pro-
vided in the act of 1890, Mr.. Crowley
Gays, would be in the interest OF revenue
and of the legitimate trade.
During the past year, 5,446 Chinese
persons applied for admission to this
country. OF this number 1121 were in
transit to other countries, AS were re-
number of Chinese arrested for viola
ton OF the exclusion laws was 1913 and
the number deported 40. Under the
treaty between the United States and
China providing for the departure from
and return to this country of Chinese
laborers, 1856 laborers left the United
States and log returned during the past
year.
MEXICO AND CANADA.
The joint resolution OF congress ap-
proved March /, 1895, prohibiting the
transportation through the United
States of merchandise destined for places
IN the free zone in Mexico, Mr.. Crowley
says. has been nullified by the practice
which now obtains, of shipping goods to
the zone Kbre via Mexican seaports and
the only apparent result accomplished
by the legislation referred TO has been a
less business to American railway CON-
panies. 1t is suggested that the removal
of the restrictions imposed. at least to
the extent of allowing the transportation
Of goods consigned to places in Mexico,
from the seaboard to the Mexican 'front.'
Ter, under the usual transportation en-
tries, would involve no danger of loss to
the revenues of our government"
Attention is called TO the shipments Of
Canadian goods in transit through the
United States to points in Canada and
to the transportation of free and dutia-
biz merchandise in bond between ports
in the United States through Canada.
New lines of travel have been opened
which require constant care and sur
VIGILANCE. The report shows that during
the last calendar year, loaded cars to the
number of 430,67S were sent over Cana
dian railway lines from one point in the
United States to another.
SAMPLING WORKS.
Referring to the act of congress direct
ing iae erection and equipment of build
jngs for sampling works at places where
lead-bearing ores are imported. Mr..
Crowley shows that the execution OF the
law would involve the expediture of a
very large sum of money. and be at
tended by many serious difficulties. He
suggests that paragraph 165 of the tariff
act CT 1854 be amended so as to allow
importations Of lead-beaTing ores to go
forward from the port OF entry ulier
and transportation bond TO
Properly equipped smelling esta blish-
rents. p DIVISION could then be made by
the government for the assignment to
thu smelling works of competent officers
whose duty IL would be TO supervise per
scnally the samplng of the ores accord
Ing &c commercial methods, after which
= regularly appointed government as
saver could ascertain the dutiabla GUAM
tity OF lead contained therein. The same
results. equitable alike to the govern
ment and to the importer. Mr.. Crowley
says, would be obtained by this proceed
ure with far less expense TO the govern
ment than in the erection, equipment
and running Of independent sampling
works.