The New York herald., 1871-02-18
CUSTOM HOUSE AFFAIRS.
The Congressional Investigating
Committee at Work.
Visit to the Appraisers Stores-Needed Reforms
in the Customs Department Workings
at the Steamship Docks Inspected
Opinions Of the Committeeman.

present raised a, the Custom House re-
gardng the general order business the discontnuance
of the of night permits, is well known
the consideration of the Cong ressional
Investigation During conversation with HERALD
porter Senator Patterson said that frauds of the
midable nature have come under notice during
investigation He thinks radical change the system of
win be the abors of the
committee !, has be the House
officials consider
BRIBRs AZ LEGITIMATE PFRQuIsITEs.
He quite amazed the GOODNESS with which
closures made TO him by the parties concerned.
BY the manner in which such brbes given and
it quite evident that both parties that
their action constituted offence He attaches blame to
Collector Murphy still cannot be denied that legislation
the of Congress remedy the evils that
clog the wheels OF the Custom House machinery. He
agree Murphy regarding general order
business Nearly ali the importers whose testimony has
been thus far rsceved sdv9sts that as privileges Of the
Bremen Senator Patterson thinks that the importers
ought to be the best judges of the matter They do not con-
they declare that considerable saving would them
He int h hs 1
The charges and labor under the present
stores on this the amount to about u %
into as the s
houses of the steamship company The Senator thinks
bused 6y the steamship the importer fala
BOUND THEIR PROFITS,
and what they apparently the importer put on
transaction vigilant supervision Of the Gus
surtes The Senator thinks that permits ao n
measure measure facilitate frauds
theory Of the general order business steamship
option given to leave he &c goods
FOR thirty days IN ~ the oopdea warehoyss without add
from Mr. John G. Dale the agent of the nman line stating
e
store within fq5yesh hours after the entry Of the
pursued BY all the other lines Collector Murphy
se n hf G se
privilege Of the & order business granted them
S.S1rrsT sS1usTc, nc IT. TO THE o SrnIE lIsss
At.wo O'clock P. N. the Congressional Committee, con.
Benton, repaired to the Apprasers in Greenwich
special Deputy surveyor Benedict Warehouse superinsna
III. muddy streets and times immersed '
Te cs H. IN sLgs sp ~,
doorway they saw long line Of wagons hopelesy jammed.
as ns
gested itself at once TO the committee was the absence OF
one gate open for the reception Of mercbandise while
If for S % S s
cisey the closed and those whose
One day last week truck load Of silks valued $4,000
House that goods shall back to the
dock after they have been cleared The Collector has
bonded store given by contract to private individuals
government pay they could keep
employed, and consequently have more conve
niences for the examination OF goods u suggested 20
committee all the gates Greenwich should be
the reception of those 1he
Church side tor the delivery of the The delay
~ the ha; given rise 10 many on
quired 10 remedy
OF the Congressional Committee the abuses which have
grown Of the obligation undertaken by the government
TO make good the damages sustained by goods This system,
4 Enoib kvEsuE TO FRAUDS.
Goods have In this been fraudueny reappraed and
heavy amounts paid by the whore there has
been no actual damage After thorough inspection the
took them to the dock of the Inman line They
ceived by Mr.. John o. Dale,
~ The En- HANDSOME on nNp FncEIious oArTAS ToM aoSts'
The Congressional committee examined into the In
which the olcia who just engaged In discbargng
Patterson also questioned Dale regarding the general
order business TheS latter gentleman said that, would
be unjust this advantage the Cunard and
lines, which companies who had no warehouse
such unclaimed goods could ENJOY He thought that the
restoration OF this privilege TO the above mentioned lines
porter had conversation with Congressman Sheldon, who
Is entirely adverse TO Collector Murphy questions
granted and thought Collector Murphy the
PERSONAL HOSTILITY
against these lines lie said Collector Murphy Is IN
withholding night permits placing the
quick transaction o business importers and steamship
panies alike in favor OF facilitating discharge
goes without delay Collector Murphy he jses his
course bv the erer OF obsolete law, framed 1879.
which certainly cannot be dy applied to the requirements
Of the present dav He thinks report Of
mittes TO the Senate win be
ADVERSE TO COLLECTOR MURPHY,
out OF mere caprice, has raised these dicutes He
the force of the Collectors that night
permits facilitate frauds 'Let honest oncer he says,
placed to superinend the discharge of cargoesmen
cannot so easily be corrupted"