The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-21
RsfrenchmeDt tn the New York Custom
House.


House.
The recent recommendation Of Mr.. Secretary
Cobb TO reduce the number Of employees In the
New York Custom House, one-third, and the
salaries of those retained in the same ratio, is
deserving of careful consideration.
The standard of numbers like the standard OF
pay, in the various departments of the New
York Custom House is ubstantially-exceptng
as it relates to merely clerical force on the one
hand, and physical force on the other-where it
was fixed by law in $780,
In 1880 the entire importations of the country
were less than 81 900 900. In 1856 they were
more than 1924, 100000, of which New York
alone received $2l973 1861 In 1880 the force
was literally large, while in 1856 it was illibe-
rally small; indeed, it fell so far behind the ne
cessities of commerce that its deficiency was the
subject of continued and unwearied complaint
on the part of importers. In 1880 merchandise
was all received by sailing vessels. In 1856
nearly all that part of it which requires care
and despatch in its examination was received by
steam Four men could facilitate the business
when the arrivals were by sailing vessels as fast
as six men can when they arrive by steam; then,
too, the system of entering goods was simple
now it is complicated; then merchandise was
purchased long in advance Of the demand now
it comes but to meet the demand; then import
ers monopolized the trade-competition now
spurs them to activity. In one word, imports in
1880 at New York were but $3S, $50, 064, while
the duties in 1856 were $45 1920 49,
The importations of 1859 will, it is believed,
exceed the importations oflS56 The ad valorem
system of valuations requires the revenue on
the one hand and honest importers on the other,
are to be protected careful examination. Care
full examination cannot be had where the force for
examining goods is not equal to a fair examina-
ton of samples, as is indisputably the case at
New York. In 1856, importers frequently were
obliged to wait weeks to obtain their merchan-
disc, owing to the lack of Custom House en-
ploy Is; and even then were obliged to fee sub
ordinates to work out of business hours. The
want of force is greatly aggravated by the vexa-
tious checks to which every entry is subjected
checks which neither add to the.security nor pro-
mote the convenience of the government or the
importer, and which became so oner0us to the
importers that petition, signed by Rowland &
Aspinwall, S. B. Chittenden & Co., F. Cottenet &
Anterior, and two hundred and fifty of the prin.
cipal importers in New York, for their abroga-
ton, was sent to Mr.. Cobb. What, then, will the
commercial interests of New York say to this
recommendation of Mr.. Cobb? Will they not
point him to the fact that New York collects
more than two-thirds. of the revenue from GUS
toms for less than one-third what it costs to col
lect the other third? Let figures demonstrates
In 1885, New York received s2e ses Of merchandise
1856, All other ports..... 1O-9O2,O 74
Expenses Of collecting at New York 81 082 l78
other ports........... 2,2S3,66S
Will they not say to him, New York is the
great focus for the foreign trade Of this continent
and that New York has not the convenience nor
force to do the business as it should be done !?
And saying this, will they not point to Philadel-
phia, and tell him that the force at that port is
twelve to one greater, in proportion to the bust
ness, than at New York?-that the expense of
collecting the revenue there is nine per cent
Will they not point to Boston, and tell him that
the force there is four to one greater than at New
York, in proportion to the business that it
costs seven per cent there to cOllect?-that at
Baltimore it costs twelve per cent; at San
Francisco, twenty-five per cent; while it
costs but two and half per cent at New York?
And will they not demand of him that before a
step is taken towards a reduction Of the force
at New York, the force shall be reduced at
those ports to the standard at New York land
that then, If further reduction is made the same
ratio of reduction shall be made at all ports
alike?
But, says Mr.. Cobb to Congress, you must not
only reduce the force at New York one third but
you must reduce the pay of those retained in the
same ratio. With this reduction, the character
and ability of the remaining twothirds will be
reduced in efficiency in the exact ratio of the re-
duction of the pay. Competent men will be paid,
and the standard of competency will always be
regulated by the standard Of pay.
The compensation established in 1880 was
fixed on the basis of expenses in 1880. The ex-
penses in 1859 are double what they were in
1880. Congress recognized this fact and in
creased the pay of the Cabinet thirty-three per
cent, ana It's own pay In the same ratio. In fact,
there is no order of employment where the pay
has not been largely increased since 1880, ex-
cepting custom house officers, nor any where the
expenses Of living do not demand the increase
To reduce the number one-third in the Custom
House at New York would be to render it wholly
unable to do the business of the port. To reduce
the pay one-third would be to drive the most
competent Of the public officers from the public
service, and substitute incompetent men in their
place. Had not Congress and the Cabinet better
look to the reduction Of the annual thousands
paid them than to the annual hundreds paid the
employees Of the Custom House in this city,
where the revenue is collected at lower rate
than at any other port in the world? We leave
it for our members of Congress to decide