The New York herald., 1862-01-30
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Report OF the Committee i'm II elatfon tC
tho Appointment OF a Solicitor Of Gus
toms-Dinerence OF Opinion i'm Regard
the Same, sc.
A special meeting Of the Chamber Of Commerce was
held at two O'Clock yesterday afternoon for the purpose
hearing the reportof the committee designated the
last session Of the Chamber to inquire into and report
upon the proposed appointment OF Solicitor Of Customs
at this port. Pelatah Pert Esq, occupied The chair.
MrA. A. Low chairman Of the Special Committee
offered the majority report, which read By the So
cre;ary, follows
Tie committee whom referred the draft Of bin
before Congress entitled IA li TO expedite the final dis
city Of New York. and for other purposes" beg respectfully
That they have given attentive consideration TO the provi.
sions Of said bill affecting as they DO in an important man
they have read with much care the "memorandunn in
Tesad 70 new bureau IN The 'oeepn district ri Of New
and the letter from the Honorable Secretary OF the re.
miit,e on Commerce the House Of Ropresentiyes
IRON ,c squire ps ds eneg 20 SO 80 9e % rePe
'at a; TIC psrt New York. whercio large proportion Of
prese ned arising under those laws vital importance
The pa6 rqry and to G the Interests OF the
solution, high order Of legal ability and thorough
Toas code Of laws Treasury instructions aud judicial dec
on e. SSr Grsn ana domestic trade and the coll
The letter q The honorble secrstsr goes on to that
ssns aDnf m W s Of gs T 1sIom
legal aqnrements whose duty @ hs be to aid the Collector
questions arising under the saIons laws regulating com
cond in the courts the and suits arising under
defence OF Collector in suits brough, against HIM
done in his official capacity"
ry says business this district arising Of the
,a Of hs % 1Sd 20 H. 20 E as 9 e
the customs. This Is done in regard every
good why should exception general
The memorandum proceeds of the three classes
OF suits that arise out OF the enforcement of the
the Collector and always hand confer with all tho on
be lar better able to and Control these suits an
the District Attorney who remote from the Of in
and mulorIn duties Of another character"
am, Is equally true in respect to suits asans Collectors il,
Their oca capacity; and The same may be said concerning
proposed appointment sus,aiped these grounds
l. On account Of its convenience.
2 For caution and certainty.
For pEouptness and sincerity
volvins 100000 70 $4,000 are now pendns ii the Courts
some o. them Of siS,ysa.s sanding, E.,
bonde some q the property is deerioatng In value and
About $50 pending against collectors involving
$5ODo0o 10 S7sOc0 some OF which were brought ten or
There are some fifty suits pending, involving large
The tn submitted to your committee for their examination
na | Character Ms om na
embodied in the memorandum Of the Collector OF this
Port and the letter Of the honorable the Secretary Of the
Treasury.
recital Of different sections therefore, deemed
necessary.
Your ommee satisfied accept the above
quoted without further Inquiry into tie nature or magnitude
of the issues involved In the suits pending between the
merchants Of the city Of New York the sde and the
government Of the United Sstes o the other.
The mere mention Of the number Of suits now pending
renders comment the ardy workings
of the law felt frequently and too severely BY the
Before reaching the concuson-that the appointment of
soicr Of ne Cus,ons ny she v,ec'o NTH ne powers
for the evils complained Of your committee however,
Tie considerations advanced spring entirely from officers
Of the govtrnmcnthe careful guardians of Its interests
DUTY enforce wei interpret laws and
In doing consult the public safety
against fraud well ~ 10 shield the Treasury
There danger 70 merchant II the Interpretation OF
the laws Ia c entirely officers trained the decision Of
familiarity with commercial usage familiarity
which gained and only can be gained through the
ton Of tile merchant
Nor Is danger sufficiently provided for in remedy
for decisions, which recourse TO the allows
sufficiently manifest in the accumulation OF
calendar against the Collector, admitted to be 4o
Your committee therefore, hesitate yield their assen
the propriety OF appointment by the Collector
will be transferred the duties that devolve
Attorney, who derives his appointment the
sden Of the United States whose salary Is xed by law aud
who s independent OF an connection with the Custom
Yonr committee especially reluctant counsel or an
prove admission the Custom House any officer
collectors because Of this order OF talent herc i already
enough Custom House. and mercantile knowledge has
been little regarded IN the appointments m herto made
mntarous code Of laws treasury Instruction.
cial decisions rssuatpg foreign trade the merchant has
subjected 70 Zines penalties and forfeituss" that