The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-24
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

OuStOm HOUSE 1te1OrmS-HepOrt OF q
Committee of Investigation-A Lively
Debate-Thc Committees Recommends.
lions.
The Chamber of Commerce met yesterday after
noon, William E. Dodge in the chair.
The business Of the meeting was to receive and
take action on the report of the committee ap-
pointed at previous meeting to investigate the
reforms In the Custom House system
Colonel CONKLIN moved that the report be ac-
cepted, and it was so. He then read an amendment
to certain section of it, and explained that
though he was chairman Of the committee and
drew up the report yet he was In the minority In
regard to certain points.
lively debate ensued as to whether or not it
was in order that the report, as presented,
conld now 20 amended Some members
could not see why Mr.. oonkiin could could
Der of the Chamber. The discussion on this point
was lengthy and exciting, and was participated in
by Messrs. orion, Tousey, Grnith and others.
The amendment alluded to was in effect
hard knocking at the Custom House, on account of
the large patronage the Executive has assumed in
providing for political partsans. 1t called the Custom
House "the reward and prey of the triumphant
party of the country at large" and explained
politicians getting salaries of from 81 900 to a. 600
year exceeded their expenses in the hope of still
further favors from patrons, and then had to be
"
1t recommended that officers In the Custom House
should be employed as employees in merchants
Offices were namely, on account of the services
they would render and for as long time they
were faithful.
On vote being taken the amendment was lost.
Then 1t was moved that all that part of the re-
port referring to the Appraisers Department and
to the manner OF working 1t be stricken out. This
motion was made by Mr. Darling the Appraiser OF
the Port, who said that an error had been commit
ted by the committee, for 1t not true that the
contract system had any merits in it, and that the
DpDartmpnt w "a IN mn
all government officers, who should be subject to
common head.
the Treasurer OF the United States In favor OF
contract system and 1t had been proved to have
Mr.. ORION did not believe that any advantage
would arise from putting the department in charge
OF government officers. No government official
but II contract were entered into for the honest
'G Iaox a 00ssS f a make s %s1eG an losses E
taken proper interest in the politics Of the city caS
there would be fewer complaints for fraud now
and that corruption would continue until the moral
tone Of the community had been raised to o stand
ard so high as to prevent It,
vote being taken the motion to strike out was
lost.
The report was then put before the Chamber as a
whole and was unanimously adopted.
The report refers lav0rably to the recent action
OF the Collector Of the port of New York. 1t recon-
mends that the reform already inaugurated be
made definite and final 1t also recommends that
the law regarding warehouse bonds be so amended
TO no longer require merchants to give them;
that more officers might advantageously be en-
ployed in the Collectors and Appraisers depart
mcnts, while in other departments many names
might be dropped from the roll; that the extra
charge ften per cent In warehousing with the priv
lege Of export should be removed and the privileges
for three or five years be granted that the claim for
duties on deter0raed goods that must be destroyed
be RENTED; that the unading of cargoes OF steam
ships be done at night time when necessary; that
fines instead OF forfeures, be the penalty In cases
Of any act OF any PERSONS smuggling on board ship;
that the fine OF $500 for omission OF general clear
ance be reduced and two days grace given to get
clearanccs; that the taking OF ''custom house
oaths' be discontinued and simple declaration
substituted
The report will be soon forwarded to the United
States Senate Committee on Investigation and Re-
trenchmcnt.