The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-11
SPECTGI CUSTOMS AGENTS.
REPoRr o y TnEIR opEn<TroNs
EOR THE LAST FIsoAL rEIR.

vsiaabns wsfL n ApprnisinE rmportea rrer.
chandise ard PreventinE sp,ugeitsg-ut
Csst = 80 rsr zach Chinaman D.por,es
Statistics ef the Pert or New Yorh.
wAsH1NgroN, Nov. 1o.-In his annual 70.
port TO Secretary Gage of the operations of
special agents IN the customs service for the
year ended June 30 last, Supervising Agent
Chance says that special attention has been
given to the correct appraiscment of imported
merchandise in the interest both OF the revenue
and of honest importers. A fair measure Of
success has boon attained in the prevention OF
undervaluations, the total amount involved in
undervnIuations and erroneous classilcations
discovered being $425, 900. In the prevention
of smuggling some valuable work has been
accomplished on the Canadian and Mexican
%'rontiers. where the smuggling OF horses, cattle,
drugs, furs and clothing has long prevailed.
The higher duties prescribed by the new Tariff
law have tended 10 increase the smuggling Of
cattle, horses, &c., from contiguous territory,
ana tho service apprehends that the powerful
combinations for the smuggling of wool which
were in existence prior to 1890 will be re
ncwcd, and that increased vigilance will he re-
quircd on tho part OF the special officers, as
well as upon the part of local customs oiicerso
on tho frontier, to prevent them from becoming
effective.
There Is now one special agent in Europe,
who has supervision over four subordinatcs.
two In Great Britain and two on the Continent.
This organization has been satisfactory and has
led to increased efficiency. These officers are
engaged in securing evidence as to correct
dutiablc values Of imported merchandise. and
in tho investigation of irregularities connected
herewith. In four cases reported by them
tho increased duties amounted to nearly $780,
900. The agents in Europe have had the cor.
dial cooperation OF consular officers ana hnve
plfnpat ilyarinhly rAt,Rtyan ypltahlp aid frntp
tncIn.
During the past six months the cost of main
tanning tho special agents service has been re-
duced to an amount representing SSH o2 per
annum, tho services of nineteen Special In
having been discontinued without detrinrent TO
the efficiency of the force. With the consent
on the lsthlnus OF Panama have undertaken to
perform the duties OF the Inspector OF Customs
s s2RffmSFii OF sPFP Po . 'h lThis to VIII siqpe aFee, ta aa 'G nddi.
During the year $3.50 chinese persons other
admitted and 4o9 refused admission. In addi,
United STATES was given to 1918, the railways
transporting them being required to give
During the same period 1851 Chinese labor:
ers departed from the United States and 1889
OF t 1hs 9aass sssnsn ef 70 this ' Fl. 1T ytb by x tresPs
was 1.oss. OF these as7 We're deported and
pending. To enforce the provision Of the
Chinese EXCLUSION acts $s9;sO7 WAS expended,
Chinese deported.
During the past fiscal year the aggregate re-
ceipts on account Of customs was $177, 533, GA.
and the expense of collecting them S6,952,s66,
the percentage being an infinite, small frac-
ton under 4. Besides, tho sum Of 1922, 507 was
expended on account of the revenue of 1895
and previous years. The expenses and sala-
ries Of special agents amounted to $92, 567.
Tho statistics OF the port Of New York accom-
panying the report include the following: