Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-10
WORK OF SPECIAL AGENTS
Smuggling on Canadian and Mexican Bor-
ders Prevented.
Regulating the Admission Of the
Chfnese-Dificulty I'm Execute
ing the Law.

Supervising Special Agent Chance Of the
Treasury Department has submitted the
annual report of the operations of his serv-
ice to Secretary Gage. The following is a
summary of the more important features:
The salaries and expenses of special
agents curing the year amounted to $92,
i0S: undervaluations and erroneous class
ifications discovered In the customs service
si24, 1851; reduction in expenses of GUS
toms administration recommended, SOD
1890
Special attention has been given to the
correct appraisement of imported merchan-
disc. in the interest both Of the revenue
and of honest importers.
Preventing Smuggling.
In the prevention of smuggling some val
liable work has been accomplished on the
Canadian and Mexican frontiers. where the
smuggling of horses, cattle, drugs, furs
and clothing has long prevailed. The
higher duties prescribed by the new tariff
law have tended to increase smuggling of
CATTLE horses, &c, from contiguous ter
ritory, and the service apprehends that the
powerful combinations for the smuggling of
WOOL, which were in existence prior to 1890
Will be renewed. and that increased vigil
lance will be required on the part of the
special officers, as well upon the part
OF local customs officers on the frontier
There is now one special agent in Eu-
rope. This officer has supervision over four
subordinates. two in Great Britain and two
on the continent. This organization has
been satisfactory and has led to increased
eHlciency- These officers are engaged in
securing evidence as to correct dutiable
values of imported merchandise and in the
investigation of irregularities connected
herewith in four cases reported by them
the increased duties amounted to nearly
100000. The agents in Europe have had
the cordial cooperation of consular of
ficers and have almost invariably received
valuable aid from them.
During the past six months the cost of
maintaining the special agents service has
been reduced to an amount representing
S1o,lU2-!D per annum. the services of nine
teen special inspectors of customs and ten
Chinese inspectors having been discontin-
ued without detriment to the efficiency of
the force. With the consent of the Secre-
tary of State the consular officers on the
1sthmuS of Panama have undertaken to
perform the duties of the inspectors of Gus
toms formerly employed there to supervise
the transshipment of goods. This will eff
feet an additional saving of So 900 per an
mum.
Admission of the Chinese.
During the year $3.50 Chinese, other than
iaborers. applied for admission to the
United States. OF this number 5,47s were
admitted and i02 were refused admission
In addition, 1.s19 were permitted the privl-
lsse of transit through the United States
the railways transporting them being re-
quired to give proof of their departure
from this country. During the same period
l,61l Chinese laborers departed from the
United States and D33 of this class re-
turned to this country by virtue of the
provisions of article of the treaty with
China. The Number of Chinese arrested
was LOSS. or these, 227 were deported and
$40 were discharged. A few cases are stall
pending. To enforce the provisions of the
Chinese exclusion acts, $50 S07.U9 was eX-
pended. an average cost of $6y.5S for cd III
OF The 22I Chinese deported.
Many difficulties have been encountered
Ill the enforcement of the Chinese exclu-
sion laws. In Vermont and northern New
York many Chinese of alleged American
birth have been admitted by the Chinese
commissioners before whom they were
taken for deportation. In such cases the
commissioners refused to hold the Chinese
until an investigation could be made as to
whether or not their testimony was, as Is
believed, fraudulent. The provisions of the
ma, executed on March II. 1894, give TO
Chinese laborers the privilege of transit
across the United States in the course oil
their journey to or from other countries.
Many Chinese persons journey through the
United States to Mexico Under this pro-
vision, and straigitway ate mpt to SNUG
gle themselves back into the United States.
1t has been found very difficult 10 prevent
this.
During the past fiscal year the aggregate
receipts account of customs was $177-
533.6I4.Gi, and the expense $500, SO. a. the
percentage Of cost of collection being 1881.