New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-11
THE CUSTOMS CARrAGE BUREAU.

Of tbe MANY reforms instituted in the New
York Custom House by Collector Grnnel, none have be-
come more beneccnt in their operations than the new
system Of carng goods to the bonded warehouses ana
public stores inaugurated less than month ago. by
comparison Of the old with the system, the import
ance of the latter may be readily determined IL Is
claimed by the officials that this reform secures
IN the Government and importer entire protection
I'm their respective rights The opposition TO the lnnoVa
ton was at first widespread and, under msappreheh
sion OF its requirements and regulations many OF our
most prominent importers encouraged and sustained ls
opponents by allowing the use OF their names,
which for time impeded its successful Inauguration
The many abuses Of the old system had received con-
siderable attention from several of Mr. GrinnelPs prede
cessors but all attempts at reform were unsuccessful
and had il not been for Collector Grnnells determined
pertnaclty the new bureau would still be IN embryo
Several delegations OF veteran carmen visited Washing
ton and reced their grievances to President Grant and
Secretary Boutwell, and ingenious and apparently
plausible their arguments iaNOiinb the continuance
of the old system that it required youmnous CORE
spondence to enghten the authorities at Washington
On the recent visit Of the Collector to Washington he
took the opportunity Of explaining the need OF the re-
form, and the fact that number Of the maeontents
we're prominent supporters Of the Administration did
not prevent him from denouncng the many evils and
serious annOyances resulting TO the Government and the
merchants from the old system The result was that the
Collector carried his point: and now mas the gratcatlon
oil
those whose trade will justify 1t have applied for aud
received special licenses for all their cartmen.
The transactions of the Bureau for the first month
quite atterng TO its management. Under the old system,
carnen OF all political compilations were allowed TO
handle imports 1t always intended that each cart
man should properly bonded aud Licensed but scarcely
one in twenty engaged In carng bonded goods had any
license whatever frem the Custom-House In short al
most any person owning cart by simply having painted
on his cart, CustomHouse License" could go to the
vessel in which the imports arrived and find ready en-
ployment on bonded goods. Numerous carts might any
day be seen in streets loaded down with valuable
merchandise which had not paid duty, with no other
assurance to the Government or badge Of authority
than that contained the cover Of soapbox attached
by string to one Of the carts rungs and marked Gus
The loose manner in which the goods belonging to the
Government, upon which 1t had lien for duties were
handled, has been OF serious complaint and
mark years II package would oftenrequre
weeks TO trace 1t up and sometimes 1t would never DO
found thus subecng the owner 10 great inconvenience
aud loss The new system Obyiates all OF the old evils
Now the Carriage Bureau keeps perfect record OF every
imported article that comes INTO this collection district
and carcd into bonded warehouse sent under gen.
eral order in short the Bureau keeps complete dree
tory OF all dutable goods arriving here so long as the
duties remain unpaid have been otherwise secured
be paid If any error exists any package Is lost or mis-
connected with the carriage. it can be readily de-
eeea on me day ioG%ns the transfer from the vessel
and inspectors arc at their posts at all proper times az
Under the new system every permit has TO be pre-
sented at this Bureau and at once the general agent
perfect copy OF to be registered in book kept
goods required TO make report at the Bureau each
day Of the work done the day previous and to
duplicate receipt marked by the Inspector with the time
OF delivery to the cartmen signed by the warehouseman
Showing the delivery of the gOods with the marks and
numbers OF the cases or packages marked thereon and
Immediately upon the discharge OF the vessel these
cepts compared with the permits ALREADY stamped
and recorded IN the office OF the General AGENT which
permits" must correspond with the invoices on file IN
the Custom House, except when the duty has been paid
the goods The Government after the payment OF
the duties. has no surveillance over the goods In
OF complaint the part OF the importer OF loss mis-
OF goods by reference TO the books OF the Cart
age Bureau lall the facts connected Herewith be
readily asceaned and the promptly corrected.
own cartmen licensed under thesame conditions and
terms the public district caTtmcn, by giving good
ana sufficient guarantee ~ the Government In bond OF
5000 for every vehicle employed The district carmen,
ployed, give general bond OF $4,000 additional
iity for the faithful performance OF all their duties and
are under the Immediate supervision OF the Bureau,
which holds them the sTicest accountability their
chants, cartmen, or others.
During the last IL days OF last month S 900
houses under the supervision OF the Bureau. During
TINS time there were but nine complaints Six OF these
were FOUND TO refer to goods carted IN the months Of No
yember aud December. The remaining three were found
10 nave Deen caused by the merchants sending their per
ns direct to the bonded warehouse instead OF sending
them TO the Bureau OF course they were " pigeon.
holed, as tbey could not be readily found The Bureau
under the Immediate supervision OF Mr. John r. Lind
say to whom was intrusted by Collector Grnnel the
work OF It's complete organization. Mr. g. r. Ia
the General Agent, who has the general direction
snaifs ~ ue once, and approves the permits BESIDES
the clerks employed IN the Office there a corps of e
clent detectives who constantly visit the pers while
vessels unloading report any DELAY that NAV he
oecasiOhed thTough nenloeney or msInanagement.