The New York herald., 1862-01-14
Affairs at the Custom House.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or sALA-
BIEs-THE SUPPLEMENTAL TARIFF AcT-srGAR,
TEA AND COFFEE MAY NOW BIZ WITHDRAWN FRoa
BOND AT THE OLD RATEs-wHo owns THE SALT
PETREt ETC., ETC.
The employees Of the Custom House were thrown into
high Of Saturday by the renewal Of
large number Of the clerks The process OF decapiia
on has been rather slow Of late the Collector not hav
ing made any considerable change his force for six
weeks or two months. Last Saturday, however, the
orders arrived from Washington dispense with the
services Of all Of that class Of employee called marers
There clerks who held inferior positions in the
public warehouses; some of them, however, had been
transferred other positions acting as mes
songers in the Custom House. In accordance with
the orders Of the Treasury Department the letters Of
missal served about eighty OF the clerks desg
mated above The removal OF these clerks was not for
any political cause but OF the steps OF retrench
ment adopted by the administration. As the clerks re-
moved received compensation Of $3.50 EACH the amount
thus saved to the treasury about s52 COO In addition
10 this step of retrenchmen another was taken in re-
duciug the salaries Of the ocals-a few of whom
had their salaries reduced u 800 10 81 200 per an
II is rumored that this is but commencement.
and that long more cerkships will be abolished
The long expected orders concerning the new duties nm
tea coffee, sugar &c have at last arrived The articles
above named can now DO withdrawn from warehouse at
the rates Of duty levied by the Of last Augus-yz
feen, four and two cents per pound respectively pro
vided they warehoused prior the 25h OF Dere
bs No decision has been rendered by which goods Of the
above classes arriving after the 2th of December can
be Withdrawn on payment of the old rates. They are
required 10 the levied by the supplemental tariff
act The importers are anxious TO obtain exemption
from these rates for their merchandise afoat before
the passage Of tho bill n last month aud would only
he In accordance ith the usual custom TO allow such
goods the benefit of entry under the former act. A
delegation or New York merchants interested In having
the OF December inter preto IN this manner are
n Washington urging their claims ami Arguments on
Fec etaTy Chase ami Congress.
The trouble and Inconvenience arising from hasty
legislation rather from the passage of bills hastily
drawn M, better exenplied than the
81 THIS supplemental Tariff act. II " folly for who
have been brought up in the country in IN
land towns who have, perhaps, q
custom house N the whole of their ne and who
are profoundly gnorantO % the OF conducting bus
ness there W egsate on the subject cf the tariff without
consultation botn With merchants engaged the i'm
porting business ami with those familiar with the odus
f~r0rft cf the Custom House. We hope therefore that
n Congress shall see NJ 70 mike further alteration in
the tariff the members of the committee which sha
present the bill for amending the present law will see an
20 consult number OF merchants aud Custom uouse q,
perts, aud thus avoid the nnumersble voxaton, vhb
hastily constructed bill is sure 10 give rlse TO-
The saltpere brought 20 this port by the etcarna, m
russa for which there Is no claimant N be taken on
prasod There two Thousand and gfteen baas IN a
sixteen aud thousand and twenty one nags ~
satretre which Will be taken Cd account Of the govern
DeDt 10 The same nauper.