The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-20
OUR COMMERCE.


iho" custom House Regime.
Yesterday, at 1 o'clock, by invitation of
Colonel John w. Forney, the Collector OF the
port a number of merchants and distinguished
citizens of Philadelphia met at Augusuns, on
Walnut street. above Eleventh, for the purpose
of having an informal conversation as to the
best method of advancing the interests OF this
city as a commercial centre, and OF taxing some
action in reference to the operations OF the new
law of July IA, 1870, with special reference 10
the i'm nortation of goods into this city.
- 80 $50. rIl-tSa for the meeting was one
the parlors Colonel John w. Forney, Collector
of the Port; j. e Kingsley, of the Continental
Hotel; g. b. Lobdel special agent of the United
States Treasury Department; Hons; Leonard
Harmer, Congressman from Philadelphia;
John Price Wetherill, Henry c. Carey the
distinguished writer on political Economy"
T; Reed William Cohen, of Cohen & Sons;
William A. Brown, w. j. P. Ingraham,
J. J. Buchey, E. H. Bailey Joshua B.
Lippincott, Joseph 9: Grubb, Howard Wilson,
Hiestand, Naval Officer; George H. Boxer
Secretary of the Union League; Lewis G. Cas-
sidy, Esq, General Robert Patterson, Colonel
William B.; Fordney and General James L. Rey-
Fitzgerald, of the city Item; Colonel E. w. G.
Greene, of the Sunday Transcript; William "
Mexican, of the LeGger; Colonel j. H. Taggart
of the Sunday Times; John ID. Watson, of the
. y,
ing Herald; w. w. Nevin of the Press; DIR. r.
Shelton Mackenzie, of the Press; Dr.. E. Nor
witt, of the German Democrat; j. 8. Walter
of the DeIaaoare. County Republican; Charles
w. w. Harding, of the Inquirer; Colonel Ste
pben Winslow, of the Commercial List; DR..
William Elder, Henry Perkins, Secretary of
the Philadelphia Board of Trade; Benjamin
Huckel, Deputy Collector of the Port; Lorin
Blodgett, of the Treasury Department.; Charles
s. Close, Superintendent of Appraisers Stores;
j. L. Ringwalt, A. Fleish, General George Cad
walader, Captain Huston, Deputy Collector,
and many others whose names we could not
ascertain.
short time was spent in social converse as
to the business which had led the Collector to
call them together, after which the company was
escorted to the dining room, where bounteous
collation. had been spread for the delectation of
the guests, and at which Colonel John w. Forney
presided. Full justice was done 10 the viands
provided, and upon the'removal of the cloth the
regular business of the day was introduced by
Colonel John w. Forney.
The Collector referred to statute intended
to facilitate the transportation of imported goods
between New York and Philadelphia, which, on
coming into Office he had found practically
nullity Merchants of this city were exposed to
great inconvenience, resulting from delay in
the delivery of their goods. Aided by Messrs.
Kelley Myers, and O'Neill, he had been laboring
to remedy the evil. The beginning of reform
promised well, and he hoped that Philadelphia
would resume her commercial supremacy.
agent of the United States Treasury Depart
ment, who after referring to the complaints
made by merchants and echoed by the press of
Philadelphia, concluded by SAYING
''And now, in respect to all intimations and
charges, from whatever source, that the Trea-
sury Department either is or has been throwing
obstacles or impediments unnecessarily in the
way of business under the transportation laws,
with intent to embarrass or prevent fair, honest
business transactions with the Government
under those laws, L have to say, and speak
that which know when do'say, that all such
insinuatons, imputations and charges are
wrong and entirely unfounded being based only
on misapprehenson OF the facts of the case.
81 should certainly be glad to see the foreign
commerce of this city increased to such extent
as to require the use of that entire building for
its accommodation. l do expect to see 1t
largely increased from the trade the merchants
in this city are opening with Europe via New
York, under the new law authorizing transit in
bond, Notwithstanding the present seeming diff
culties, which are regarded by many as lions in
the path or by the wayside. My official duties
have been such as to afford perhaps as correct
knowledge of the operations under the law
and regulations for the transportation of mer-
chandise without appraisement, as the nature
of the case will permit.
\ "Tbanking you one and all for your kind at
tention to what have felt myself called on tC
say, will only add my best wishes for the sue
cess of all well directed efforts to increase the
business prosperity of the port of Philadelphia.
AS a further elucidation of the subject Colo
mel Forney presented the following statistics =
The following duties were paid by Philadel-
phia merchants at New York during the yea
1S70:-
McCallum, Crease e. Sloan ......... $55, ,OO
Four other carpet firms ........,. 1855 500
Cohen & Son. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1880
Estimates on laces, iewelry, etc .. 10000
Estimate on silk goods-12 firms ...,. 10000
Estimate on woollen goods-l5 firms. 200 90
Estimate on drugs-b firms. ........ $4,000
Estimate on fancy goods-l2 firms. .. 10000
Estimate on cotton andlinens-12 firms $4,000
Total. Pt, cSosOO
The next extract read by the Collector was
Communication addressed to him by Reube
Wnnder. Inspector of Bonded Goods, date
NAV 49, 1871, which, after referring to the fl
cilitv of despatch under the operation of the a.
of July IA, 1870, says;-
Merchandise for Philadelphia was first r.
eeiyed by car, via Camden and Amooy kailroa
May 8. shipments have been received aal
xTitbont unavoidable delays; whereas under
workipgs of the old system goods were detaln'
in New York as long as a monlh oeiofe 'n'