New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-24

Mr. Morton was one Of the hrst inspectors sent
by the Government to Alaska. ana WINE ns
vice has not been continuous his experience oa'ee
hack 10 1870 when his official life there began IN
those early DAYS ne spent some eight years on ',,e
seal islands and although he does not PIeenu ob
bn a naturalist he Is a keen and intelhsehl ~
server and has made deep and compreneno on,s
study Of the seals In hi, psp01v WE Years ago with
those Of to-day. shows how the seals nave entons
shsd in num se Ghch Cannot Fail 10 be
practical value
Consul of the United States at one OF 'ne
smallest cities Of Europe who was in town re-
Gently says It is impossible for one unfamiliar
with their conduct OF business TO imagine ''ie
various ways in which dishonest importers seen u
avoid the payment Of duties ard the devices 'heE
resort 10 in order ship their goods TO TINS couh-
try at great differentiation The most popular
method 1. 10 select Consul IN some little. out-ot-
the-way place and. relying on his Ignorance o'
cupidty ask him certify to the invoices In ih's
way many fraudulent invoices are certlhed TO- anu
the goods underyalued in these invoices are SOME
times passed through the custom house III '"'s
country: but of,ener the fraud Is discovered. ana
the State Department enters into a correspondents
with the careless or corrupt Consul when not III
frequently results in his dismissal go Il,
Not very long ago" said Consul y, II was sit
ting In my office when man came IN WIN an
for Two hundred watches. valued at 80 each The
fellow. a handsome. agreeah.e chap. seemed in
once but never certify to an invoice unless
sure IL Is all right. so asked him 10 leave one OF
the watches with me and come back In the after
noon that might have time - look into the MAJ !.
ter The watch found bv consulting "A local
jeweller. would retail In this country AZ tl51 When
my importer returned IN the afternoon told him
] had fancy for the two hundred watches ma med
In his invoice and If h. would 60 over to the bank
with me | would give him s2oU In cash for Inc lOi:
lie refused my Offer promptly. and when ] accused
him OF Undertaking. his property he seemed amused
at my innocence. That was a license OF trade
he said. common TO every one In business, and
must confess the fellow argued his case rather
brilliantly. He concluded by Offering me a half
dozen watches at my own price. but finding me
obdurate went off in search OF a less difficult
official
But the merchants are not the only sinners. In
the history of the consular service there have been
cases where consus have discounted the trades
people at their tricks. II is told OF OF
them but fortunately the practice cost him his po-
sition that he refused to certify TO any invoices
unless those making them would enter into con-
tract with him to adopt and pay him for a certain
method of advertising he had invented III they
consented his terms he was willing TO sign any
character OF invoice, and when summary turned
out of Office by the Department he had aInassed
a competency. Those who are caught handed
I'm corrupt practices defend themselves by saying
that their salaries are small that l. IL Impossible
10 live on them. There IL doubtless much ruin
in this assertion and I; would be TO the advantage
OF the Government 10 look TO the reform OF TINS
service