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admitting to entry only those found of good quality, and prohibiting 

 the introduction of all others. 



"You say examiners instead of inspectors. To avoid a misunder- 

 standing of the term inspectors, appraisers, and examiners, will you 

 please explain the difference in the duties of each? 



"Answer, The term inspector properly applies to those custom- 

 house officers whose duty it is to take charge of vessels on their 

 arrival from foreign ports, and discharge the cargoes in accordance 

 with the directions specified in the permits or orders sent to them 

 from the collector's office. They have only to inspect the marks and 

 numbers of each package before it is discharged from the vessel, to 

 see that the same correspond with those called for on the permit or 

 order. They have nothing to do with the contents of the packages. 

 When the vessel is entirely discharged, the inspector makes his 

 return accordingly to the collector, and is then ready to be placed 

 on board of another. 



" The term examiner applies to clerks in the appraiser's depart- 

 ment, whose duty it is to examine by invoice the contents of such 

 packages of merchandise as are sent to the public store by the col- 

 lector for that purpose. If, on examination, the merchandise is found 

 to be fairly valued, a return to that effect is made upon the invoice, 

 and the examiner's check is countersigned by the appraiser ; after 

 which, the invoice goes to the collector's office, and the merchant 

 can obtain his goods by procuring an order on the storekeeper, after 

 paying the duties. 



" The term appraiser applies to the head of the appraiser's depart- 

 ment, whose duty it is to exercise a constant and general supervision 

 over the office, and countersign all returns upon invoices made by 

 the assistant appraisers and examiners. 



"Do not the present laws permit the importer to call for a reap- 

 praisement of his goods when he is dissatisfied with the return of the 

 examiner; and if so, please explain in what way? 



" Ansiver. The law allows the importer that privilege. The present 

 laws and instructions from the Treasury Department require all 

 goods to be examined and appraised, according to their fair market 

 value at the place of purchase and the time of exportation. If, on 

 examining the quality of the goods, and the price specified in the 

 invoice, it is the opinion of the examiner that they are charged 

 below the market value, he must mark them up; or, in other words, 

 add such a per centage to the invoice as will bring them up to the 

 price at which they should have been invoiced, and on which addi- 



