New-York tribune., 1871-11-21
COLLECTOR MrRPHYS MALADMINISTRA-


COLLECTOR MURPHYS MALADMINISTRA-
TION.
rI1FERISG CUsTOM-HOUsE OrTICTRs-AN M
POETrR'S sTORY-A THOROUGH REFORM
URGENTLY NEEDED.
Instances of the frauds pc1petratcd by Gus
tonHousc officials under the management Of Collector
Murphy, multiply every day. The leading importers OF
the city almost unanimous in their statement that
before in their experience has such general sys
ten Of fraud and maadmnistration prevailed in the
customs department. 1t begins when vessel first ar
rvcs in the harbor and only when the goods
withdrawn from the bondcdwarehouse by the merchant
The greatest losses after the goods have passed
fully into the hands OF the Custom-Iouse authorities
The merchandise is weighed gauged, as the
be- the pier the importer is charged with the amounts
and copy Of the returns given to the
of the goods In ninetcnths Of tho cases where liquids
are concerned importer discovers the time he gets
possession of his property that tho wasages have in
creased from to g. s. and even 10 gallons Such instances
have occurred when the casks perfectly tight and
no loss could have resulted from leakage Many mcr
chants permit their goods to remain in bond from eight
fnl ten months to year. and should they complain
after they have removed them from tho warehouse OF
deficiency in which, too, they paid duties
they told that so long time has elapsed since the
goods went into bond that 1t has become impossible to
ten through whose hands the merchandise passed, and
consequence the merchant has not only to suffer the
loss OF his property and pay duties what he has never
received is without redress and unable to obtain
any drawback These deficiencies have often ranged
from to rs per cent in measurement The following is
the statement Of Mt schultz Of the firm Of Clarke g.
schultz importers Of ales. wines, condiments, &C.:
"The systcm Of corruption and robbery prevailing
among Custom House officials is carried to such an rx
trcmC that II has become question win many import
into other port. We have been vctrmzed TO such
extent that We are compelled the moment we learn of
the aIiN al of vessel with goods board to send
70 look after them and watch them until they are
unucr lock and key III the bonded warehouse. This
SnInpttu tuI0sO pS n,
expensive as it s-tIat it is much more economical to
which to where the goods are left to the
ue"cherouS care OF the cusiolSGilccrs Yet with all
tion Of dclcctnG person follow and watch the goods
in % % ia On one s @ WGere rev. oHT ' %atccp left the
rer only 20 mnGcs tb m GTd 70 arpTsr us
lie discovered on his retrn that two casks
were missing and person could give any Information
in in rSrre rSa, Of the Ie' GOV, nment oieials
nj M se Ss @ & m cuSed G to one me- case Ia te HS' OF
oob1r y the sh BrIoc :s case; r 10; Of
Custom House officers 10 select single package out OF
Ton 50 as to ascertain that the goods represented
in tn invoices on this occasion the oicer helr%e,Gd %
Sore Wltn il was returned u.s. and 10 cover up all
dchccnds that might aI" ar we found II maaRGo a hr
p@Ir. ch How NY W''n On e it Of No"emcr Civ
ticnlars, and adding that We considered onrsclycs
In@ a c fSod: TO &Sn @FTase %e ST hs '"o
few days aftcrwaId, i'll answer to or letter Custom
Urusr official called accompanied by the car
man who carried TIC goods TO the warehouse: inc latter
4oS Of h the foGG T G ay ns @
could be obtained, and we have heard no more on me
from % t @ @ %ay yyds S s Was ao5sd SSH Of eight G Uns @
on which We paid a duty Of g. per gallon
70 ,d rhe Le Gost Of the ri Height and xrese
70 about 20 cents per gallon lad d9"n ga at ns tine
see that it VIII not reqnre many gallons to
of
we have suffered severely are as follows: The ship Cor
n Gn9 from LOnhS OF orenr one @
cases into Public store rs Is customary the oiccs
w We 'tadf ad made o Of their Conduct from time to time
dcled the whole to be ovcrhaulcd and examined
Ut they to after they had been marked
brande% d. IN nad odI tsp @ MR. Ma s an" to
the stJrr room and shown number OF cases III per-
fccty sound condition bearing al ~ trc rc orsh M sps srm
then continucd one case has been 9rened ana nsed
Of aT1sn w nhs Ts the dcovey cry wrote letter to ec
Murphy narTang tho particulars, ana Ifiufmg t
tom House Official and assure you. Sir we shall keep
our word M Rey TaTad hre us With Hi 's p The
stances mentioned to you are not isolated ones
We make fair allowance for shrnkace when goods re-
main any length Of time In bond we lDvarIaDy nnd IN
while in Government charge; at least We have FOUND
during the past lS months l am Wiling at any ume
and have not objection to having my name ap
pear m print as the authority for them"
Another importer, who withholds his name Tor the
present hut states Willingness to subsantiate his
statement by affidavit when necessity calls for It, says
81 had 20 Of goods shipped me. which were taken
in charge 10y the Customs officials After they lad becn
surrendered payment of the duties discovered
that six missing / made frequent applica
on at the Custom House for dra wbacks but to the
present time have been unable to obtain any satsfac
tory result 1t has become serious question with me
whether it is not desirable that should remove to Bo
ton and obtain my merchandise through that port With
60 years experience In business, cannot recall
state of matters that at all 70 hs
present condition Of mismanaHemeDt and corruption.
fiycd 30 years In England had extensive business
nectous and feel bound to say that their conduct
The Queens Government holds Its officials responsible
for goods v lille n their possrssoD and any misappro
riatiop on the part of Customs officers visited by tho
seyerest penalties the law We must have recOnstruc
ton in this department in city, serious results to
our commerce and shippers ere Inevitable"
MURPIIYS FAREWELL FROM THE PRESS.
NOW BREAK THE CUsTOh-HOUsE RINGS
From 1Ar Bugab EYr@a