The New York herald., 1871-02-15
CUSTOM HOUSE AFFAIRS.

'rao gaTenou5o War Ccneinucl.-No Moro
Right Permits fsr the Discharge 0f General
Crs'er Goods Collector nsG-rhy's Course
.Jcstisicd By Law.
The question whether night permits for tho DIS
change OF unclaimed goods are warranted by law
has been discussed at great length AMI definitely
Settled by Collector aurphy. After close cxamlna
ton OF The acts passed by Congress at dIneranS
perlois on inis subject he has come 70 the conclu-
sion that tho law does not sanction the practice OF
permitting general order goods to bc landed after
sunset.
The nfile.h section OF tho act OF March 2, 17s9
bearing upon this subject reads 90 follows:-
That soods, merchandise brought sny sh.p
S @ sy so e gss 81 asS s sns 30
n opsn dny ha. Is to boweon the rising ani setting Of
port a1vas oass Inc sns, sasso ssrs % 20 one os
sas garpss m nor 3 sy s wsaa pan ~ ss, se col
This section or Tie statute aas Daea alosoa In Jus.
tdcltion OF rlc
USAGE or GIVING NIGHT PIsRurrs;
but, says Coi!ector Murpny, the aforesaid act has
no rsiero1ce Whatever 70 unoaliaed goods. 1t
{ Ssa naa ,ass goos Sysa a wssa ts aay ass u
trc coector be iandeA a'tcc sunset. In consulting
the wofoing0f mo lay the Custom Eouse autnori-
ties have come 10 tho Ees.led conclusion that Il
docs nos sanction the landing OF goods On when
tne revenue hss lien Ior duty after the
hour OF sunset. Taey arEao tnGs:-ihc Issuing Of
niaht porlnts for general order goods BY the pro-
CetiHg collectors has prevailed under erroneous
impression esyariins Ihc acs o Augus, y ls5.; but
Is sinply say, t.t IL gllal bo iaYiI Tor tha cuec.
Tor 70 ssko possession cl such merchandise which,
however, Gtes ny 10 means imply that he is bound
to no The act OF Hasch 2, 1851 says In reference
70 ls subject taS the collector may take charge OF
eUen geue1ni order or unclaimed gocas alter one
Gay'5 nct.ca
iho aca OF August 3 1885,: simply says that 1t shall
be laval of tbs collector 10 take possession OF suc
ne!cba n0iGe, WHICH, however, does not imply thar
IL re.eTenca 10 thia subject tat the collector may
taAo possession ei snsa unclaimed goods after one
days n3sice. wbcn IL c0istgn0d 70 mean iortyel
hours altar the eniry or the vessel Collector Aqr-
Eny VII therefore Issue Eo more night permits for
the lana'i,g cf me-chsndise uader general order.
Berhcr n1E no sanction tiie landing aud delivery Of
unclaimed gooAs unali forty-egdt hours aitor the
vessel sppiSi ms ioT II shsn have made cue entry.
Goods may 90 landed after DARK, II the duty has
bcsn paid ny the naporteT, on his apploatlon be-
then tne has further len on them.
ros 50 with general order goods upon wnlch tho
governments haB ci aims. These are SIMPLY con.
sidefea ~ uncisined merchandise left on the hands
OF the collector, who s bound by law 10 dispose Of
the revenue.
THE srsAsiJHIP ccsPAErEs
keep tnelr vessels sh0rs time possible IN port
IL oTasf TO reduce eS Spense Ihey rapidly discharge
the goods and send them once 10 the general or.
Ger stores. Rather thaa have the steamer detained
they reimburse tho Inspector for al ine charges
which accTGe within tho first fortg-eight hours,
wAicn glyss, however, TO lhe latter the opllon Of
without incurrins any iurthcr expense. fhe Coz
lecior holds tnas Iaad discharge ayeiyes. however,
selions s diiiostlei ihe goods which are landed
VITA tbo.e cischarsina under general orier,
niaht gives opportunities for ,radd watch the
greatest vigilance caIao5 prevent. Night permits
Mero Formerly obtained with the greatest facility,
tui Collector Murphy has required 6iiat all suc6 at.
pDcasion DO made personally to INN. PERMITS an
tepaton for discharge OF cargo were obtained under
precSaing c0iicGtora even before the steamer had
been slgna!ed ar sandy Aook. Tie result Was two
three cargeeS were oftea pile,i t0eat2er on one
dock. Collector Murphy has never issued any per-
Iaits un.ii satisfied by The evidence that the wnar
was cleared OF the preceding cargo.