The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-09


Island, while the government collected for him tins
income NJ an annual cost, as above stated, with the
addition Of the salaries oil three stoiekeepers al
Brooklyn and Staten Island, and stationery AT the
latter place, CT S29,29i -.
Old P0ins on Fire IL, Front street Great Bur-
gains after he FWe-OM Poins nose becomes red -
Ga the night of the fire in Front street. by which
the public store situated in that street was consumed
WIN It's contents, the custom-house officers who
were designated by the Collector to take possession
OF the remnant OF goods saved from the coniIagra-
ton, had express orders 10 admit no person 10 ex-
anime the goods; so that IKE claimants were de-
pyed OF opportunity of selecting such parcels as
they could identity and claim as part of their i'm
porta,tons and separate them from The general mass
thrown together by the officers of the customs who
had charge Of them On the same night or the
following morning, the goods were removed 10 an
open lot, used rs coal yard, where they were pre-
pared M heaps or lots for sale, by certain officers of
the customs selected by the Cole tor for that pur-
pose. From tli!s lot all persons were excluded, and
especially the claimants of the goods, who applied
for PERMISSION 70 examine the parcels, and designate
snch as might belong TO them: which was refused
ana during the preparation of the goods for sale
only one or two persons We're admitted within the
enclosure, and they by the special permission Of the
collector, who were also allowed carry of part
OF The goods. on u mere allegation that they were
the owners of the goods so carried off These par-
sons appear TO have been iavorites OF the collector
as all other claimants Were strictly prohibited from
entering the enclosure. Thus the goods were Sc
cretiy arranged tor auction, without the knowledge
o any other person or persons than those EMPLOYED
IN the business, so that il became impossible for bid
ders TO know the good from the bad lots: many of
the pieces beng sound or nearly so, while the
largest portion were damaged to an extent which
rendered them entirely worthless. II appears in
evidence, that some individuals, during the time
the laborers were engaged in making up the heaps,
preparatory to the auction, took position in the
third story OF an adjoining building, from which
they could observe the manner in which the heans
NH oil
the enclosure, finding that they were observed and
the manner of putting NJ the heaps or lots was dis
covered, so that no advantage could be taken the
sales by Themselves and their friends from the ey-
elusive knowledge they possessed Of the value of
the different heaps or lots, set 10 work forthwith in
the night time, and rearranyed the goods in man
ner well calculated to deceive the persons who had
detected them, and Others to whom their informa-
ton might be communicated.
old Poins' On. Auciion Sals--.!essce Hoyt iaIi,i q
care ~ himsef-Cld Poias only deals III tic's-Gsf-
ting i1loasropsy fN Of figures 1T appears that 1
the year iSio, the goods remaining in store over
average of $1,000 in the two preceding wears. to
the sum Of SIt6Ti Gan increase which can only
be accounted for by knowledge on the part Of the
importers. that any attempt to enter their goods at
the cusoni-house wond, under the general practice
of Mr. !ioyt. subject them seizure either before
after the duties had been paid. In many instances
the invoices were not of sufficient amount in value
TO justly The enormous expense attending trial Of
condemnation hns usually gone by default, and d
total oss to the claimant, however innocent of any
design 20 de.raud the revenue, has been the cons,-
quence such claimants, therefore, have preferred
10 take the risk OF nine months sale, rather thap
incur the expense of claiming their goods after
seizure, forfeiture for the wan, Of deferre
The sales OF TIE three years included in the above
estimate resulted IN loss to the owners OF the goods
taking them 1T the appraised value, with the adi-
ton otthe duties, of i5,Ii3 IS. lihcse goods had
passed the custom-house in the usual way, thew
would have brought, in the New York market. at
least ~ per cent. above their appraised value in
cudlug the duties which, being added to
the Ioss on the sales at auction would bring the
amount ofactul loss 10 the owners up TO the SUM of
Sls,c99 i3 The biiis paid by the collector for ex-
pcnscs charged on the7e goods are extrayagant in
degree winch inlparts 10 them the idea OF fction
rather than of fact Take for example the item for
advertising which is fixed in the account at 81, 7Go
rs, being above Y pc cent? the appraised value
OF the goods, for advertising alone. Mr.. ioyt, it
seems, did rot neglect himself in the charges o.,
these goods, having reserved for his own use 50 05s
20. being per cent the appraised value OF the
goods, for storage.
Old Poi1is Oh Frauds on TEE Rcrenus-F Frauds al
feage--None Erisfs--O Old 'oirsiua affv B,cak-
fast ant tegihs to tell The hmfh--In search oI
these frauds, aud the manner in which they have
been or might be perpetrated, the commissioners
have examined the most intelligent and experienced
merchants engaged In the Importation Of foreign
goods and IN domestic manufactures. both in New
York and Boston. The inicnoeatories put 10 these
merchants covered the whole ground of their know
ledge Of frauds or evasions CT the revenue laws /:
their beIlei IN the existence OF such frauds the
information which they had received from others,
and clrcums .ances which might lead to the conclu-
sion that such frauds end cvasons had been prdc-
used 10 the injury OF the revenue Of the honest
importer. OF their own knowledge. not single
witness called has testified TO any fact which esla-
blshed, IN any particular case, or any number of
cases, the existence of frauds eyaions of the re-
venue laws From rumoss and various circnni-
stances relaii9s to the Discrepancy IN price between
importers Ct the same description Of goods, (so,le
OF these selling at price far below what could be
afforded by others at reasonable profit and spcc-
ative opinions all agree that frauds have been rac-
fused on the revenue. ut different times, to cors-
derablc extent. They also speak Of the devices by
which these frauds have been successfully perps-
irated, and by which ;hey may be again; bat of
their own knowledge they do not profess to know
any thlng, resting iheiropnions entirely on general
reputation and tho course Of trade, as IL has exist
ed under their own observation. MANY Of the wit
nessrs examined on these points are domestic man
uiacures or thelr agents, or merchants referred to
3y spch manufacturers 70 establish the eSistencc Of
frauds on the revenue IN order TO place foreign com
merce under the most Tlgid restrictions, TO cx-
cludc the foreign abrc. for the benefit of domestic
goods CT the sam, description. 1t may therefore be
falrly presumed, that II any positive evidence could
be adduccd 10 fix the charge of fraud on any num-
Der Of foreign importers, it would have been a the
door was widely thrown open, by the commission
crs, TO the introduction OF such evidence. None
such, however, was suluceI, ana IL Is presumed,
therefore, that none such existed.
OLD Poins nthc Con pbwcy JesTFIoW iriih theNcw
En- grind paGtfrct,tTs 10 dcsToy Forcig.i COMMERCE
and ,ala Ns,c York. old Poins tcling U,oyr Truth
FGrst. That frequent and confidential commune
cations were held between Jesse IIoyt collector of
the port of New York, and Messrs. Lawrence and
stone, on the subjec; OF the standard OF value 10 be
fixed al the appraisers department on foreign wool
len and seizures of goods then made, and about TO
be made, of imported wooens
Secon3. That Mr. iioyt promised Mr.. Lawrence
that he would appoint any domestic manufacturer Of
soo..er- goods who might be recommended by
him, as an appraiser in wooIlens loft at the New
York custom-house.
THIRD. That MIR. lawrence made considerable
coed f
Fourth. That the offer of Mr. EIoyt became
known, through some channel, TO the manufacturers
of woolIens in Boston.
run. That, after consultation with some OF thcsc