El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-01

ready DYED, at the same nSure you
name for the undyed fabrics
This was an extraordinary PROPOSE
| ton, since it involved the added ex-
| pense of dyeing and finishing, besides
the material increase of duty imposed
| upon dyed as contrasted with undyed
goods.
How is it possible to do this
at a profit" asked the local mer-
chant.
Never mind the how" was the
reply of the foreign agent. ASK me
no questions and I'll tell you no lies.
know how to do it, isn't that
enough?'
1t was enough, and the order was
placed and the goods delivered as spe
Gifted. OF course, there could be but
one explanation as to the "how." To
deliver goods dyed and finished at the
same price as that asked by a rival
concern for goods lin the gray" meant
that the competing agent enjoyed es-
pecial facilities for getting his goods
through the custom house at figure
SO far below a fair valuation as to
cover the added cost of dyeing and fin
ishing and still leave margin OF
profit. There was no other way. Re-
suit, the government robbed by its rev.
enues, the American workingman
robbed of his opportu ity to dye and
finish the goods in this country, and
every honest importer robbed of the
chance of fair and honorable cOmpeti-
ton.
All this is now changed. The atmos-
phere of go-as-you-piease, protection
is-robbery, tariff-is-a-tax. free trade
and unobstructed competition which
permeated the customs service in New
York during four years of Cleveland
ism has given place to the wholesome
air of sincere endeavor to enforce the
law as it is. and to collect the revenues
to which the government IS legally en-
titled. differentiation frauds are not
more frequent now than formerly; on
the contrary, they are far less preva-
lent. The difference in their treatment
has a marked tendency to discourage
the nefarious practice. If we hear
more about this class of revenue eva
sion now than during the period OF
the Wilson law it is because merchants
and manufacturers suffering from the
unfair competition of unGarvalued con-
signments are now certain of being &C
corded respectful hearing and having
their just grievances promptly and en-
ersetically attended to-
Not only is the differentiation evil
being effectively dealt with. but the
crime of smuggling, which was never
so rampant as under the Wilson law
has been minified in a marked degree
and in the matter of precious stones
heretofore its chief field of operations
has almost entirely disappeared. Much
of the success of the local customs Off
Gals in bringing about these desirable
reforms is doubtless due to the CO.
operation Of reputable business men
whose assistance in this re~ard is now
welcomed and valued, whe"e formerly
1t was discouraged and dis,iked. The |
radical change in policy is not pleas I
ing to free traders, who see in it an
obstruction to competition, as the Phil |
adelphia Record puts it, which was not |
so before. The American people may
be trusted to take different view OF
the matter. The Dingley law is theil
law, and they expect that it will be
effectively, honestly and fairly en-
forced, to the end that the government
shall not be cheated of its rightful rev
enues, and that fair competition in
business shall not be obstructed as the
result of dishonest and unlawful prac-
tees. If there be in the wheels OF
governmental administration any cogs
which fail to work in harmony with
this general plan of operation it is
natural and inevitable that such cogs
should be replaced by those that will
perform their functions in a more sat-
sfactory manner. Such a change can
not fail to improve the efficiency of the
lew apparatus. even though it NAV
seem to reflect to the disadvantage of
he former machine. This is an age OF
Improvement.