Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-05-27
lror tho HERALD of Tho Times.
MR. EDIroR:

following COMMUNICATIVE" w OUT P"PeT,
il is at your service. for the bene6; OF
my fellow citizens Of this town.
Being about to enter into navigation,
aud having resigned my situation as
Inspector Of tho customs, feel at lib
erty to state some Of the transactions Of
that department which came Immediately
under my own know ledge.
The Inspectors arc under the orders
and direction Of the Surveyor, who has
allowed some to remain on board Of
whale ships for 10 or 90 days, or until
they discharge all their cargo ; and
others to remain on board whale ships
for only 48 and "a hours. He has also
allowed some inspectors to remain on
board of vessels from foreign ports and
which put in here through stress Of
weather, during the whole time they
lay here, be it more or less; and other
inspectors he has discharged from duty,
or taken out Of such vessels rs soon as
they came to an entry, within 46 hours
after their arrival, which vessels have
remained several days afterward with
no officer on board, and could, if so
inclined, smugglo whatthey pleased with
impunity.
Whether all this was done under
mistaken idea of cconomising for GO
vernmont or through a specious favor
itism, l know not; or whether his power
and judgment is left discretionary to
discharge an Inspector when he pleased,
he being the judge whether the vessel
had amy thing on board to smugglc or
not but this can say, and every other
Inspector in this place can soy, that
his custom Of keeping them on board of
vessels has by no means been uniform,
and that NO have been ordered ashore
from vessels from foreign ports repeat
cdly, which have been left afierward
for several days in port, with no Custom
House officer to watch them. IL this
is not giving them good chance to
smuggle, know not what is. have
no personal controversy with any Of the
heads Of our Custom House, on the
contrary they have always treated me
TO my face with great kindness and ur-
banily, and l only mention the above
in the hope that government may cor
rect this abuse Of power, if it is found
10 be such, for the benefit Of my late
fellow inspectors and those who may
hereafter be appointed to that office;
and that they may know how lucrative it
is, will here state what received for
services the last year: for the quarter
ending March 81, 1910, 500; June 30,
Sl5; September 80, Sl8; Dccember3l,
$50. Total, SILL. out Of which l
paid sS5 to point boats for taking me off
in the night TO different vessels that
came ia, and it. costs from So to $40,
yearly, out Of our own pockets TO pay
boat hire, notwithstanding there is
man and two boats kept by the Custom
House for that purpose yet when a
vessel sails, they arc obliged to delay
time to land us in their own boats, as
the Custom House boats seldom come
off to take US out. Masters Of vessels
complain greatly about this also, being
often detained for an hour in the morn
ing to lower their boat and put the Off
Ger OH shore, and hoist her in again be-
fore they can get under weigh.
The Inspector also has to do much
atty for which he is allowed to make no
charge, such as being often taken off to
vessels which prove to DC coasters, for
which he gets nothing but wet jacket,
being allowed TO pay only when actually
employed on board of vessels from for
cign ports, and that often cut short by
the Surveyor, ordering him ashore be-
fore the vessel sails, or discharges her
cargo. think a permanent salary,
however small, would be q much better
mode of paying the inspectors than this
uncertain method, as the inspector would
then consider his whole time MS belong
ing to tho Government. While on this
subject, I will mention ono other prac-
tice or custom, which, as it is utterly
useless, und tax upon the merchant,
and operates to the injury Of this town,
calls loudly for reform, that is the
practice Of compelling overy vessel from
foreign port, which puts in here for a
- harbor through stress of weather, or
want of supplies, TO enter at the Gus
tom House aud bond the duties on her
cargo within iorty-eiaht hours after she