New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-18
'ers there, and the labor con

was traced to the laborers there and the labor
tractor made the loss good. ,o -,
arS vel Von conld not trace IL the individual how
would Won recover them A. don't KNOW ,nN tmy
coud recover OH the loss proved to have "ap"ed IN
Yes Sir; YOU have heard of losses there nave you
O. Have Won heard OF any payments for those losses
A. Except this one. Sir. don't recoect OF any o Une
where was proved that the goods were taken ny th
Of the aborers, or 1t was proved, at ieaS 'n"' ''
could not have been taken by anybody Else. D., r,or
O. Is t. or il IL not very difficult thlng TOT mc.
chant who loses goods either by who carts
from the dock TO the General order store, OF az |
Order store or oy me c stnre or NJ the public
storels It not very difficult for HIM TO recover a. ~
very very difficult; therefore, it would be very dncu
q What is the difficulty what is the obstacle in the
way A. Well Sir there are many places where the
loss have occurred goods never may nave oe I'm
taken out when board the steamer; they may nave
been stolen while the dock the risk there Is very
@ Greater there than anywhere else : A. think
greater there than anywhere else; think the FISK
while the goods opened in the public stores
O. Suppose goods go from the dock aud the carman re-
ceps for them being in good order and they cQpe %
the General order and marked there as III pau
order, and 1t should be found, one mOhIh, Vi thco
months aferward that Of the goods were missing
from case where should you think the loss had oc
CURED A. II would be difficult then 10 say "heIe TIC
loss occurred.
O. Would there be no guard between " good order" on
the receipt and bad ORDER the receipt nc the Gen
eral Order store A. Well, there would be presumption
O. That is ALI A. That is all.
g DO YOU know what their rule IS in marking goods at
the General Order stOrei A. No, sir. do NOS
O. Is it as well for the Appraiser VI wei ior me Gov
should have direction OF the labor would be II the
Appraiser should layei A. Well SIR, my theory would
be that there should he but one head there III orr
O. You would then retain that under the direction OF
the Collector A. l certainly should, sir.
O. Doyou not think II could be done more in accord,
with the convenience OF the Appraiser If he could
control it A. As say, would prefer having the APP
praiser have entire control OF the business to havlngt
il IL; think 1t would be better for the Government
Mr. Bayard then cross-eXamined the witness at some
length in regard to his business experience &c lie es
titled that he had never been in any way connected with
the Importing business before ne Was appSntou oOi
lector III regard 10 the ponds gwen Oy warehousehe
he knew more than he had told Mr. Buckingham.
The following is sample Of his replies ON this subject:
O. This Is matter OF very large Importance, lnasmuch
the custody OF the vast mass OF the goods brought
into the port of NewYOrk is withheld from the owners
their agents. 10 therefore becomes important to know
what the remedies to the owner OF the goods in case
bis goods are lost OF injured "hlle they are III Govern
ment custody these bonds as understand we're gwen
further the object for the protection OI the owner or
the goods, and nave asked you II you khO" "h5lner
the bonds gwen are practically efficient 10 guard Tue
merchant to the extent That he may sue upon them IN
he has met with loss "hle tue goods were N Coy!
eminent custody; can you answer that question: A
NV impression is that he cannot on the bOnd that
the Collector would be the only person that would hoid
the man responsible on that bond.
O. Would The mere liant have right OF action against
the Collectors a. presume the Collector s sued every
day,
O. DO you consider, then, under the law, as i was
dining administration. that 4 man A Interrupt
ing) Now II such question To come up here IN the
Custom house, should send FOR the law Ocels ana ACT
entirely upon each case, IL came up and decide IT,
O. Are YOU then, unable TO answer the question WIN
out reference your subOrdlnatesf A. l should say
that the could commence suit against the car
man. but DO Mt thi TX he could under that bond
O. Then what Is the use ~ the bond To the nerclaI
A. Tie Collector protects the merchant as understand
II. -,
O. II the Collector protects the merchant, Why docs
the merchant sue the carInan \. lie UOth,
can't he
O. Can he 2 A. suppose he could
O. As Collector of the Port you Know am asking yOu
because upon your in degree would depend
a possible reformation OF the law. We have had wit
usses who have told OF LOSSES and OF their inability To
find responsible party in law 10 pay for them want
to know from you the condition OF the law L. be-
cause YOU have administering for some ~ months
Do they do that by commencing suit against the Coec-
tor 4 | presume 50, that is the general course.
O. What action would the Collector have On that point
aglnst the caTman A. Have the right 10 recover the
loss II he abe ~ pay IT,
O. Then You regard the bonds as simply cdutJltiy Tor
the Collectors A. do, Sin
O. And moi for the merchant A. do, >lr.
q, Then tnc bond h. Tor the Collector Official and per
so.ld tdItl Oily, ana not iOT tLc merchant at al A.
Taat j. the nay Understand II.