New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-13
THE GlsTOu.ssOUsE.

The general attention recently directed TO the
frauds in the Custom. House has brought TO
Light, among other things. the fact that lie whole
system and practical working and the delin-
qucnces oi IL officials, have been for nearly a
year the subject Of searching investigation BY
the Secretary of The Treasury. The results vi
that investigation are ~ YET only partially
known, butit is evident tina, existing abuses are
not confined to the peculotion or dishonest
receipt Of money for Illegal purposes. There
are abuse ol power as well as abuses Of trust.
The Government suffers by the one, but the
whole mercantile community suffers BY the
other.
The sie0lngs from the Government and the
systematic extor,ions from merchants may both
he traced to the systems aud customs OF Demo-
cratic Administrations. Il is impossible to say
how Ear these have formerly extended for even
their present condition cannot be wholly pene-
irated. But enough has been Discovered from
time 10 time 10 show that nothing but the most
extensive and minute reform in the administra-
tive system OF the Cu-tom-IIouse will be COM
petent to protect ut once the Government and
the merchants. Clerks discovered to be dis
honest may be- dismissed, as they have been by
the Collector during the progress oi the inquiry,
30 soon As ther rascalities we're laid open.
Some of them have also been criminally prose-
cuied, but the existence of q combination and
of y recognized code of plumber among certain
ciasse, OF the clerks rendered necessary p0-
tient aud thorough examination, such a. has
been going on for months. The laws and the
Treasury regulations will both need to be modi-
ned in order ~ complete the reform, and we
are assured that the Secretary has already ma
tured his suggestions to that end.
For many years the merchants OF Ncw-York
have complained that the system of collection
Of revenue in the New-York district is oncrous
and full Of delays, and that the Government in
it, intercourse with the mercantile classes acts
on the broad ground that all merchants arc
rogues, aud their daily occupation the study Of
how they may escape the payment Of their legal
duties.
The chief abuse springs from the delay to which
iuc meTcndnt Is subjected, anu from III hprlup =
whole class of minor wrongs which no law or
prohibition has been strong enough to reach.
We allude to the prevalent system of paying
Custom-House clerks TO perform official duties,
extending in some instances TO the payment Of
regular salaries By The merchants whose bust
ness they transacted. An open demand for eS.
ira fees. or for payment on the ground of extra
services, was formerly common when papers
were offered to clerks in the regular
course OF their duties. That it is the
practice rather than the exception, no
one, we presume, viii pretend to deny.
That if il claimed 10 be a necessary evil, il
equally true; and perhaps the business of the
Custom Iioux. conducted on the present plan,
can not be got Though with in Office hours with
the present. force VI entry clerks. But this does
not excuse the alleged practice. Il is either
right or wrong in itself-if right, il should be
openly acknowledged, and the law be made to
conform 10 it; if wrong it should ba wholly
checked.
Law and custom Gre now in direct cOntradic.
toa. Tho new clerk u Que. "a tho tbrsshold Of