The New York herald., 1870-01-05
CUSTOM HOUSE AFFAIRS.
A Review OF What is. Being
Done,
Withdrawals and Entries in December
The Warehouse System SampIing-
The New Carriage OrganizatiOn-A
Political Reforms
Complaints What IL
Still Needed.

Of the present taril laws IL evidently matter OF
great Importance. Here centres by Tar the largest
portion OF the foregncommerce OF the United States
and hence II Is here that the largest share VI the
public revenue derived from customs Is collected.
No wonder the business transacted IL enormous in
extent. Forinstance during the month VI December
last-a season 1T which trade In foreign goods IL
generally very dull--no less than 4606 Withdrawals
from the bonded warehouses OF imported merchan-
disc were entered for consumption, on which the
amount OF duty reached the sum OF s3,l65,07s.
Another report-that or warehouse liquldatlons for
the same month--gives equally conclusive evidence
OF the immense transactions passing through the
Custom House. This report shows the following
ngures:-Entres on hand December ]. 225; entries
received during the month ls4s; total, 207a En-
tries bQuidated, l731 entries awaiting returns Of
welghers, 272; entries awaiting reports OF apprais.
crs "a; total. 2O73 Where there are TO be disposed
.Oi over 1000 Withdrawals OF goods for cOnsump-
NtlOD, and over 1900 entries OF new mpOrtati0ns
received, ana this too. during the duilest and
quietest business month Of The year, it Is evident
to all that IL requires whole army OF offcials and
o rigid adherence TO systematic order, especially
since the unusually high rate OF duty holds out
sucn strong temptations TO unscrupnious importers
10 withhold from the government u portion OF the
duty legally due.
It's well known that the general reputation OF The
Custom House ior strict morality and honest execn
-tion Of the law has for man. years past been none
oi the best Nay those who claimed 10 know the
ways and means by which employees OF the govern
men enriched themselves at the expense OF the pub
lac treasury not backward In as ertng that this
branch OF the public New York city was one
sink Of corruption. From time 10 time Con-
gressoDai investigating committees sought TO pene
trate the MYSTERY and expose the frauds and pecu-
lauons charged against parties connected with the
IN
sonaly make puolic OF the results OF their invest
RaLlons was not calculated to allay the apprehen-
sons the people. ON contrary that little which
was permitted TO see the light rather confirmed the
worst suspicious, ana nearly everybody came
10 the final conclusion that only @ Hercules could
clean these Augean stables ana that unle So com
piete reorganization took place, mere tnkerln2
here and there and partial change in the personnel
OF the corps Of officers would not avail
HOPES COLLECTOR GRINNEII-
When the appointment OF Mr.. Moses II. Grinnell
was made by the President the unblemished cnarac-
ter OF the new Collector raised the hopes OF the peo
pie tina. the moral atmosphere OF the Custom House
would at last be purified, and that those TO
whom suspicion pointed as liable 10 temp
tation and untrustworthy should be removed
from all further connection with the public
purse These hopes are still entertained by the
entire mercantile community, though 1t should
be admitted that they by far less strong and less
relied on than when Mr.. Grinnell hrst took Office.
The astounding revelations made since then, the
loOseness VI manner IN conducting business IN the
Drawback bureau the Unexpected Ienency shown
70 OF the principal officers OF the customs imp-
Gated IN these gigantic drawback frauds, all these
and many other thnss that nave happened since tne
appointment OF Mr.. Grlnnell have weakened him in
pubIc estimation as an energetic, relentless, stern
executive ouicer. still the people hope, aud have
forms which were introduced into lie Custom
House. at his insrgalon or through his active
cooperation. some OF these reforms are of suh-
ccDl magnitude 10 merit more detailed reference.
TIE WAREHOUSE SYSTEM AND SAMrLiNG.
before me invoices are al hand, and before, there
fore, regular entry eau be made III the custom
whence. on The entry being made, they are trans
fcI bonded warehouse. or the duty paid, to
the store OF tae importer or merchant riga con-
lro Is exercised over charges for storage by the
owners or lessees. OF puoIc warehouses, and the
regular mercantile rate IS sought TO be maintained.
Since tins has been lnaugurated not many CON-
pants Of exorbitant charges were received though
some have been made.
In regard TO samplng an entire new rule has been
introduced, which ~ also called reform but on
when the mercantile community look with some
regret, as causing them consideraDie incon-
yenlence. THIS change of system Is az foAows:-
Importers IN former years were In the habit
ol sending 10 the public stores, stores or the
0ise stored there ana they sold tue goods by these
samples. Now the order IS That q regular appca-
ton must be made 10 the Deputy Collector or the
Third DIVISION, Mr.. u. NJ. Williams. experimenting
the warehouse oareau, for permit to take SAMPLES
presented to the storckeeper, 10 whom again Is
receipt given Tor the quantity OF the merchandise
innr aToreaate auanlty is charged against Tie oriri
buk OF the article imported, when ii al IL 6haHy
removed rom ollclal control. Importers and lner
chaas plain or this ~ q needless increase OF
rod tapesm and an extra charge, comphcatinr
their dealings with the Custom House, intaliing
, expense ana protractIng the nnai clearance Of the
goods through the warehouse. Inc CUSTOM House
OicaIs the otner nand, aliege that they have
very good reasons Tor introducing this reform. They
the shape or samples taken out day after day, the
contents OF whole or lurs brandies, cigars,
&c aud then tney entered tins empty case for
re-export send IL out OF the country on board ship
and saved tic duty tle goods they had thus
withdrawn as samples. Then again, the oiicers
insst that this new practice ~ protection 10 the
importers against The piferlng by employees III the
warehouses winch is quite an extensive egi espe-
cialiy in the case Of Imported liquors. The receipts
snow the quanuty absrracted for samples, ana the
storekeepcr eah oe neid fespohsloie II any more oe
missing
According 70 the law, imported goods may be left
IN bonded warehouse for the period OF three years
aIer the date o the entry and II alter that time The
duty be not paid and tae goods WITHDRAWN from
warehouse The Collector is authorized 10 Sell them
To the highest bidder ut pubic auction. IL IL Inc
opinion OF Collector Grnne that this provision OF
the law does ratner nJuriouSly aIec6 the govern
ment revenues for In all these cases the government
has TO pay The storage. and in many Instances the
value oI the goods sold IS Insufficient 10 do mat An
action at law becomes then necessary FOR the amount
OF the DUTY for which the importer and his sureiies
are held on their bond. As a general rule THESE
suretles pay II was stated yesterday afternoon
for the whole Of the years past the
tire loss on tnese bonds TO the government was less
than $4,000, winch is inslgnllcant per ceDIage
considering that goods valued at from s35,o 600 70
941000,C00 were constantly in bond during That
Lime.
In regard 10 sales or unclaimed goods it IL the
Intention OF the officers III charge to give The buyers
HI possible opportunities 10 arrive at correct
knowledge OF the OF the goods offered and 10
give lair samples as possible. under the circum
stances. Win reference TO the whole system OF
warehousng II is stated tnat t is seif.supporting.
since the storekeepers pad by the owners ana
OF The buildings tie extra fees and with
sdrawal and export entries Yield more Imam the pay
al ihe rest OF the oliicals. There are now eighty
N,De bonded warehouses wsthn the collection dis
tct OF the port OF New York. including Jersey City
Ad HOboEen, and the nun.Deg is increasing yearly
Ii NproportiOo To tne annual increase Of The trade
CARTAGE AND DBAYlSG.
Ate important new regulatiGDS adopted at the
Cu WON House tho last day OF December, and pro-
mn CaLed exclusively in the columns OF the HERALD