The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-13
HONEST COLLECTION or CUSTOMS.
Some Effects Of Impartial and Rigid Endorsement
cf Law by fppraIssr al New Yut.

! Especial spOndence of the News)
New York, May 12-An honest coll
lection Of the revenues from customs is
OF vital interest TO every citizen of the
United States. The government must
raise money for It's running expenses
either by tariff on imported goods or
by Internal taxation. Even though the
details Of tarif taxation may not be
approved by everybody there Is no di-
vision Of sentiment as 10 the necessity
for an exact and impartial enforcement
of the tariff after it becomes a law.
Justice TO the taXpaying supporters OF
the government demands that each per-
son affected by the provisions of the
tariff shall be treated exactly in the
manner that the law defines and In no
other way.
Hence it Is that widespread public
attention has been drawn TO the admin
istration OF affairs In the Office of the
appraiser or New York. Importers and
merchants, from Bangor, Me, TO Port
land. ore, and from st. Paul To New
Orleans know that three-fOurths OF all
the merchandise imported into this
country Is entered at the port of New
York ana consequently must be APP
praised for the payment OF duties there.
Upon the completeness and correctness
OF the valuations placed upon the goods
landed in New York depends the hon
est collection OF three -fourths of the
customs duties and the effects of any
negligence, favoritism or fraud are felt
by the business communities through
out the land. III
The commercial disease OF underval-
uations has existed a the port OF New
York since American tariffs were
known. IL existed when Gen Grant
was president and under the Inform
err system that then prevailed. one of
The largest and most eminently re-
spectacle importing firms in New York
was forced 10 make restitution of sew
eral hundreds OF thousands Of dollars
alleged 20 have been fllched from the
government by undervaluations.
The disease IL appears was only
checked temporarily then. It's germs
remained and they have been insidi-
ously spreading ever since. SO COM
mon have certain methods of under
valuations become that some business
houses that claim 20 be highly respect
able have come TO regard the enjoy
ment Of unlawful privilege as their
legitimate right. When. therefore.
United States Appraiser Wakeman un-
dertook to report the evil OF undervalu-
atlons these business houses resented
his action as an impertinent and un-
warrantable interference with their
business.
A searching and resolute onslaught
has been made on this evil within the
past two years. Without fear or favor
the appraiser set out 10 secure TO the
government its just dues. In spite of
resistance. evasion and personal abuse
he secured convincing proofs and COM
PEELED old time offenders 10 obey the
law. Leading importers and merchants
i'm different parts OF the country rallied
TO his support because they desired that
honest methods should prevail. 1t was
clearly shown that the government had
been losing millions of dollars each year
through undcrvaluatiOns. Expert treas
ury officials and we'll posted foreign
consus expressed appreciation OF the
work that the appraiser at New York
was doing and when final adjudication
came i'm the widely discussed ST. Gall
embroidery undervaluation cases the
people generally saw that practical
headway had been made against this
lOng-standing commercial disease.
Still the firms which had proflted and
stil hoped 20 profit, by undervaluations
kept up the fight. They accused the
resofute representative OF the govern
ment of having caused serious delays
In the handling Of imported goods. To
be sure he had refused 20 let them have
their goods until they had paid the du-
ties on an honest valuation. But the
band of men who declared that they
were lighting for the old methods"
did not care TO stick TO that point. They
dragged i'm various other matters and
sought 10 overslaw the real issue by
charges regarding civil service rules.
The appraiser cordially welcomed the
investigation they demanded and IL re-
mains to be seen how far The old
method" advocates will be able to OBJ
scure their original sin by kicking up
eXtraneous dust