The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-07

Mr.. SCHEIL AND THE MPoRTERs-NEw
CUsTOM House WANTED-There is conside-
rable amount of grumbling done and dissatifac-
ton expressed by the merchants who import
goods into this port, on account of delays and
difficulties in obtaining their goods, which they
say they have experienced within the last few
weeks. A meeting Of such importers was held
in the rotunda Of the Exchange few days
since, when committee was appointed TO wait
upon and confer with the Collector as To the best
mode Of obvisting the difficulty; ard there is no
doubt that whatever ought to be or can be done
by Mir. Schell to give facilities to the mercantile
community will be cheerfully and effectually done
by him.
Alter ali, even If there be sny serious cause
tor erumbliDg, it ought to be satisfactory to the
importers to know that the cause is but tempo
rMy. They ought to be also consoled by the
reflection tsst tue difficulty arises out of the i'm
meDsely increasing business of this port. The
gentleman who presided at the meeting to
which we have reference, gave himself
an additional reason, and suggested further
excuse for tue officials of the Custom House.
BE reminded the dissatisfied merchants that Mr..
Schell had been only thirty days in Office, and
that he had found sucha quantity Of goods stored
and packed away that it was impossible for him
to have done much better than he had done. He
also ntimated that it was to be regretted that the
vacancy in the Office of the Collector had not &C.
CURED at an earlier day.
We have nothing now TO do with this last inti-
nation. 1t is nothing to us now whether Mr..
Schell's predecessor was or was not an efficient
officer. All we have 10 do with, and all that the
merchants have to do with, is the present incum-
bent. We believe that no better selection could
have been made by Mr.. Buchanan for the Office of
Collector Of this port than that which he has
made. We are not alone in that belief II Is
universal in the business and mercantile circles of
difficulties experienced by importers they must
be aware that thoec were transient and unayoida-
BILE, and will be removed as quickly as possible.
The fact Is, as Mr.. Brewer suggested, that 1t
was impossible for the Collector to do better than
he bad done. He went into Office just as the
new tariff went into operation. The bonded
warehouses were filed with goods which mer.
chants declined Withdrawing until they could
withdraw them at diminished rates of duty In
portations were retarded so that goods might
be subject only to the reduced rates The cen
sequence was an unparalleled entering OF i'm.
ports during the past month, for which no ade-
quate accommodations had been made. The
monthly receipt Of packages Of goods at the
bonded warehouses Of the city has for the last
year or two averaged IL 900 packages. The
number received last month was IL 900 packages
II was this enormous increase of business
coupled with the facts Of the bonded warehouses
being glutted with goods, and the necessary Issue
Of a set Of new customs instructions, that gave
rise to the temporary inconvenience experienced.
But, after all, anything that Mr.. schcll or his
subordinate officers can do viii not obviate the
chief difficulty that lies In the way. That diff
Guilty Is the utter inadequacy of the present Gus
tom House building to supply the wants Of our
commerce II was built TO suit the business OF
this port II was ten or fifteen years ago; but II
day. Its size Is not one.hfth Of wha. Il should be
in view of the commerce of the port in 1867, aud
OF one tenth Of what IL should he In view Of the
commerce Of New York twenty, thirty or forty
years hence. Until Custom House suitable 10
our immense trade is provided by the general 90
vtrnment, importers must be content to put up
with Inconvenience. The real difficulty lies
there The remedy Is plain enough. Let the
city deed TO the United States the bastery-which
Is now lounging place for loafers and improper
characters as cite for Custom House building
commensurate with our present aud future
greatness ms the commercial emporium OF
this continent. COMPRESS viii not refuse to this
port from which thc general government derives
tho largest share Of lie rcvcnaea liberal appro-