The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-17
From the NJ Y. Essning = s.
THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE CUSTOM
HOISE.

A bill has passed the House of Representatives,
reducing the number of persons employed in the
New York Custom House to three hundred and
forty. Let the importatons be large or small lei
the number Of vessels arrived be few or many let
ship five hundred be waiting to discharge their
cargoes there to be three hundred and forty per-
sons, and emily three hundred and forty, employed.
man who lives at Paris, in Kentucky, Garrett Da-
Wis by name has calculated exactly how many clerks
measures, guagers, inspectors and tide waters,
shall want in this seaport, let the wind of trade blow
high blow low, and finds it to be Just three hun
dred and forty. So delighted has the House Of Rep
resenatves shown itself with the discovery that in
stany it laid aside all other business passed over all
public questions and all private claims and declining
all drberaton aud all inquiry drove the bill through
the House like weaver's shuttle.
1t is very possible-,housh we vehcmently doubt
n-that three hundred and forty persons may be As
many as are eded at the New York Custom House
just at the present moment, with prohbiory to-
riff and diminished trade But Mr.. Davis proceeds
upon the ground that city is to remain stationary
and our commer,e Is never 10 increase The present
number of persons en- poyed is about five hundred );
the time has been WI . they were all wanted all
busy, and al earning their wsges-but these times,
say Garrett Davis and his brother Legislators are ne
yer to return Rapidly settlements are spread
ing the rich soil Of the western country Of which
port the natural outlet for their abundant pro-
auctions, and the natural inlet for what they
IN exchange. New York is never according to The
Garrett Davis theory TO advance step in population
and commerce beyond her present station. Three
hundred and forty persons To perform all the du.
ties OF our custom-house in all time hereafter amid
all the nuc nations Of commerce. IL next summer
should bring an unexpected amount Of importaons
the number OF inspectors cannot be increased the
vessels must wait for their turn and if any Of their
owners become impatient at the delay and the loss OF
market they may smuggle in their cargocs if the,
can, else bride the clerks CT the custom house as
was formerly the practice, TO give them an unjust
precedence. IL II happen that our trade, in an,
season. consist OF multitude of small carcoes instead
OF moderate number Of very large ones il is evident
that more persons will be required 10 collect the same
amount OF duties and TO pass The same bulk Of mer-
chdndise; yet Mr. Davs's bill makes the number, in
both cases, three hundred and forty
The bill probably had lis origin in lauduble de.
SIRE Tor retrcnchment bat II is conceived IN The most
deplorable ignorance OF the proper remedy. w. are
no friends 10 a multitude OF public oficers-wc are
no friends 10 The cas'om-house, in any sense Yet
We sincerely hope tho members Of the Senate will
mol disgrace themselves the House Of Representa-
u'es nave done, by passing so absurd bill as ths
and putting their official incompeency and giddncss
on record IN the book Of American statutes.