The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-15
Custom House Reform.

with beneficial results. We have had from
time to time the courts investigating
these frauds and kindred populations in the
warehousing, weighers', and other depart
ments of the customs. Congressional investi-
eating and retrenchment committees have sat
and taken evidence, and reported, and mag
ined that they had thrown such light upon tho
whole subject as could not but lead to the sup
preston Of all imposition and fraud In the
future. But the evil would break out again
and again, often in most unexpected quarters,
and once more the public would be treated to
the farce of prosecution in the courts, ending,
as usual, in nothing. The Custom House has
been big placer of late years for the sons.
nephews, cousins, and so forth, of government
officials, of representatives in Congress, and Of
that ilk generally; and of course whenever an
exposure of fraud or populations on the part of
the youthful scions was threatened or immi-
nent the combined influence of all the worthy
elders was, like an mgis, extended over the
heads Of the delinquents to screen them from
trial and punishment.
But what law courts and Congressional COM
mittees failed to suppress is likely to be
brought about by the exposure-not of frauds
against the government-but by eradication OF
the pernicious system Of conducting the bust
ness Of the customs which has 80 long pre-
vailed and which has not only tended to the
decentralization of all who have ever come
within its baneful influence as employees, but
which has very seriously interfered with the
revenue returns Of the port The "draw-
back" and ''warehousing" systems, adopted
years ago to meet the requirements
of the times then, have become posi-
lively obsolete and stand as actual obstruc-
tons to the increasing business and commerce
Of the port of New York. In vain for years
past have our experienced merchants-tha
most enterprising Of our commercial and busi-
ness men-pointed ont to Congress the evil
and the remedy for this state of affairs. The
rapid succession Of collectors Of the port, the
majority of them appointed rather through
political influence, or for Individual services to
the administration, than for any capacity or
fitness for the Office, rendered change based
upon the experience Of the evil and the known
effect of proposed remedy simply impossible.
The consequence has been that, to avoid harass-
ing delays and official circumlocution, i'm
porters and merchants Of sterling honesty and
purest patriotism have been tempted 10 tam
per with the fidelity Of Custom House officials
in fact, to corrupt them by standing brides to
pass their goods in. or outof the department, as
the case might be. But besides the evil of
these two systems the whole general manner
Of transacting the business Of the customs for
years back has been wrong in principle and
deplorable in its results, corrupting and
depraving the officials, retarding the business
and commerce of the port, and subverting the
object for which the whole Custom House
machinery was established-the increase and
faithful collection Of the revenue.
The remedy for these evils will no doubt
be found in General Merritt's (Naval OfIicer)
report, made by him at the request of the
Committee of Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives, and in the suggestions he
therein submits for consideration for change
in the customs revenue laws. General Mer-
rift takes up the two most prominent and
important questions that present themselves
for consideration in this connection
the ''warehousing system" and the
drawback system'-both of which he not
only condemns, but submits strong and sub
stantial reasons therefor. He has evidently
treated the whole subject with great care and
attention, and his deductions and the sugges-
tons he submits are worthy of the fullest con-
sideration of Congress It must be gratifying
to the mercantile community that is under the
9Sgime of one of the most respected members
Of their own body, Collector Grinne, that
this first great and important move has been
made towards remodelling the principal ma
chinery Of the customs department of the port,
and in removing the fruitful source Of all the
corruption and fraud that SO long found
local habitaton and name there.
Let Congress at once take up General Mer-
ritts report for consideration, and, acting upon
his suggestions, empower the Secretary Of the
Treasury and Collector Grinnell TO abolish the
twin relics of customs fraud-the warehouse
ing and drawback systems. With their exit
from the scene will disappear all the opportu-
mites for fraud that have led to such frequent
exposures and degradations, if not punishment
Of Custom House officials in our criminal
courts and the serious barrier and obstruc-
tions to all honest and faithful collections Of
the customs revenue Of this and tho other
ports Of the country. The shippers, merchants,
traders, and the whole business community, in
fact, will look for short, sharp and decisive ac-
ton on the part of Congress in this matt er,
now that both the bane and the antidote are
before it.
THE REAL CAsE-JUDeE CARDozo. Judge
| Cardozo believes that Real ought to have
new trial, and his main reason Ia that on the