The New York herald., 1871-01-18
THE WAREHOUSE WAR
Workings Of tho General Order Business In
tho Custom House.
The Story Of the Grabbing for the Plums-EaSh
One Fighting for His Individual In
terest-Aliens Versus Citisens in
the Fight for Business.

/
| The importers Of this city and the commercial
public in general deeply interested In the labors
Of the Congressional committee who now taking
testimony with regard to the working OF the present
system Of the general order business, in order to
lay before the Senate the result Of their investga-
tions.
The merchandise that comes under the definition
OF general order goods Is that landed from tho
vessels and not claimed by the importer within
forty-eight hours after its arrival. The dispo.
stlon OF goods Of this class Is made by law tho
especial function OF the Collector. He is responsible
to the government for the duties ON this unclaimed
merchandise, and, as matter OF course, he may
place them IN such recepracles as Will insure
THE SAFETY OF THE REVENUE.
There Is no question that the Collector Is vested
with discretionary power In the choice OF such
warehouses for the storage OF unclaimed goods For
several years the Cunard line had enjoyed under tho
sanction OF former collectors the privilege
OF depositing all general order merchandise
landed from their steamers In stores situated
on their pier and owned by the company This prt-
vilege was revoked bv the late Collector. Mr. Grin
NELL The Cunard line now seeks restoration OF
Its former privilege the ground Of its benefits to
the importing public. The bills OF lading OF the
Cunard Company give them the right OF landing
merchants goods Instantly arrival before an on.
portunity is given HIM to make entry, thus insur-
Ing the merchandise being sent under general
order as
"UNCLArMED aoODs.n
The other steamship lines word their bills OF adinR
In the same manner, but when these less favored
lines find 1t convenient to discharge their vessels
wishin forty-eght hours they have to pay the gen.
eral ord er storage from their own p0ckets
Collector Murphy claims, however, that the safety
commit goods arriving by the steamship lines to the
same interests and to the control OF the same parties
who brought them here, but desires to entrus their
custody to his own CHOSEN agents. This English
company demands that the most valuable interests
OF the United States should be entrusted into its
hands. The Cunard stores are
CONTROLLED BY ALIENS
In the employ OF the company and Its agents ana
employees, almost TO the dock aborers owe allegiance
TO foreign Power Collector Murphy shows that
the present arrangement Is positive saving 10 the
order TO secure the influence Of few heavy impor-
ters for the restoration OF Its former privilege,
made special arrangements with these parties and
conceded to them several important advan-
tages. Such being the case, it Is natural
that the recipients of these 1avors should
reciprocate by supporting the claims of the Cunard
line, but their advocacy Is based selfish interest
The location Of the GanaFd stores Beyond
the limits OF the city and outside OF its police urts
FACILITIES FOR SMUGGLING
as the records OF the Custom House will show. 1t u
true, officers were placed at these stores for the
control of the interior was IN the hands Of the
superintendent and employees OF the steamship line;
admrted tnat the company did all ID their power to
discourage smuggling, 1t was easy for the steam
in aeUdna the reyenue and IN these 20
practiceS the Smugglers have been greatly enCOur.
aged and assisted by the facilities afroroed by the
general order' privilege attached to the stores OF
the steamship line.
II the same system OF collecting revenues existed
In England, and any American citizens should ask
this Concession In preference to an English sub.
ject, what would be the response Of the
order privilege the Cunard stores win be no beae
~ 10 Inc public and has been shown to be expen-
On e oher s 70 the
arrangement. all unclaimed goods landed from the
steamers OF this line are at once loaded on large
store In New York, where they are held Subject to
such disposal as the IMPORTER may elect, either by
Custom House authorities prove that tt costs the
United States on an average
FIVE CENTS MORE PER PACKAGE
to remove goods from the Cunard stores to the an
pralser5 than 1t does under the present system
while to the importer, who under the OLD arrange.
his single package from Jersey CITY, the cost was
enormously increased. Collector Murphy holds that
ance ofthe general order Jersey City can be alleged
AGAINST the present system. AT greatly reduced
expense the merchandise Is placed under the abso-
Lutte control Of the Collectors chosen agents In a
central location, and under the most favorable CIR
cumstances as regards protection from fire and
The gross receipts of the general order business
OF the entire port or New York are according to the
statement OF the Custom House authOrlties valued
az ABOUT $4,000 year, propOrtionate part OF
which could only fall to the share Of the Cunard
Company
1t is stated on good authority that Senator Fenton
was induced by the aforementioned heavy I'm.
porters 10 introduce resolution ior the appoint
ment OF committee 10 investigate the Custom
House affairs.
That this theory Is not unfounded is explained BY
the Jact That Mr.. A. 7. stewart has been In closo
conference with the Congressional Committee OF IN
vestlgatlon. Senator Patterson, who ia member Of
Ine committee is perfectly impartial In the matter
whereas ms associate, Representative Sheldon, well
known as pr'Otege OF FentOn, Is thought to favor
me claims OF the Cunard Company.
during conversation with senator Patterson a
HERALD reporter learned that the complaints against
me present working OF tho customs Service are un.
ounded, and that the testimony thus far received
,nly tends to show that every complainant is solely
nlent on promoting his own Individual interests.
The subcommittee was engaged yesterday alter
loon at the Custom House making INQUIRIES Of tho
'1clas with regard to the warehousing OF unclaimed
'oods. They have concluded taking testimony
.mong the merchants and left last evening for
Washington, but win probably return to resume the