New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-11
HE CUSTOM-HOUSE.

EXPERIENCE OF AN UNFORTUNATE CITIZEN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Last Fall took out TO the West Indies
a stock OF goods Of American make, 20 sell there, but
having met with coup dc soiie soon after my arr val
was incapacated for doing anything and had TO return
TO the United States bringing back win me part Of my
goods Through the nadvertancy Of the captain OF the
schooner 1 came in, my boxes were thrown into the
Custom-house. After a delay Of more than a day,
finally got my goods upon Of the Gernment trucks,
and they we're carried away the person who took posses
sion Of them assuring me that wa not allowed TO
accompany them the truck bur must hunt them up
the best way could the next day. i was, however
intimated that If / would be g little liberal" that
could 20 with the goods and see that hey stored
away rghtly-for being fluids bottles. and many OF
them corrosive acids-he cases containing them required
10 be placed with the right sides upperm or the bottles
would al be inverted and their contents likely TO act
upon the cors and leak outas proved 10 be the case
after my getting possession OF them
TIE next day called at the CustOmlouse agreeably
20 command but after dihsent inquiry could not gain
the least information REGARDING my goods In fact N
rudeness, that felt like abandoning ny goods and
leaving them ~ the possession Of the government AZ
last came into contact with one civil individual Who
informed me that would be Decessitattq TO employ
broker: and IN his Kindness OF heart ne intrOlueed
me to one who kindly consented 70 m goods through
the gauntlet OF the Custom house The brCker In the most
voube manner, proceeded 10 give me directions Lo~ 70
conduct myself Individually, in order e meet with sue
Si illusions mat found myself SO inextrcably
confused that began 10 fear should b. OF little benefit
to the learned however promised 10 90 al IA
NV Dover 10 assist him. FOR he assured my
vas vry intricate one ana would require great tact 70
get IL through. then went, according 70 lis orders In
search Of tie captain Of the schooner that had brought
unusually great be did not manifest any great inena-
tOn 20 move, but, by Gnt OF eloquent percussion ne
finally accompanied 20 the CusOul0sse TIE broker
Informed the captain who appeared 20 know Dut MITE
about ~ that 10 would be necessary 10 MAKE ou' an
official manifest.
shaiI make ont FOR you e. be asied, and receiv-
ing favorable Response, lie got plank ana l.lceea-l
10 write II but instead o. writing for boxes, two
barrels and one casE ne wrote three boxes Two DlTe'
and one ca,k 1Als ul'el'iht "a ~ Io4. ' =. ~ n
for when the goods came up before the examiner ne
declared and with rude emphasis hit as there were uut
three boxes IN the manifest ne "oula oe eoPoru 20
retain one q the boxes, and that De hOuld 10 so dCo
iugv. Besides this pleasant piece o Information also
ascertained that the eask Was missing ms 1ppeaIa
tie more nex phcable from the last thar al! goods
went 10 the warehouse upon tie same truck Bur the
missing cask was informed, in the only polite form Of
speech l had encountered since ma conyersed WIN
any Official there could easily be found ana would not
cost me any great fee 10 have il searched for az once
gave the order, and set one OF Tie men peloW to et
nine was almost constantly az the CgsOm-nOuse hop
ing that perhaps something would turn UP 70 eApellN
10 me that the most perseyerng diligence the lost
/ cask had been found TINS by Drok.r informed me,
had become lost there were seldom found again. ms
now began 10 suspect was the case Dut 1 kept uy
/ Whisper tie least word mat would dlspease
/ the little despots at the Custom-house l would
| camgrarulated me upon the favorable termina-
nm M as incident nv broker announced that be
prepared 10 proceed 10 business; and lie forthwith ex
ered himself extent 70 request me 70 can az once
upon the crusty examiner, back Oh ca 4Ill!, anu 20
ASK him send the apprasement as speedily a. possible
for" said he. If he sends 10 VIII et your goods ol
in fe, dave while III he retains IL as long he usually
does there is no telling how long VII require 70 get
them" at rushed over 10 Tie examiner, OF az
uraser-Whicheyer hIs cognomen may be-tO deliver my
message. After waiting patiently FOR several AOuIs'
during which time spOae 70 several persons Dut re-
ceiyed either insulting replies or else met with equally
insulting silence al last with somewhat courte-
Gus reply for messenger 20 take NE up stars As ts
person asked whether was personal TREND OF te
! examiner, came upon business, ana as had hau d
! little experience before IN constructing replies
promptly said that was TREND ana fequest an III
teryiew as speedily a. possible Ils Tuse gSs me mime
date entrance, and messenger was patched 70 glle
me up TIE TuQe rlcketty sttps a.. I r Ia -
performing that duty be kept mumblng IN low voice
| what sounded Ike blasphemOus expressions The
examiner declared, most hDruPuyi tnht ne CoAIu n9,
nor would not send The appraiseMeu aud that might
return and commun1ate thst pressing ln'eL.i
10 the broker. This individual iAeh declared
that he would resort 10 another method that would fetch
latng him uI.n the happy conception, left, 10 call
again the day. This day. and several subsequeu
ones, consumed by me IN running back and Iorth
pretenses and IL only after my patience had become
muuicate my CustOmhOuse experience 70 the columns
OF The TRIBUNE that ! really observed anything Ike
| officials Even the watchmen, whose duty apparently
consists III allowing people TO 60 up the dark stars 70
/ the floor above, and the messengers who lead them
| thither, are al rough in their behavior, and
ggde IN then language 80 iar as ny e4PeIehes vent
|
their concern are far beneath them as scarcely 70
inertia courteous reply was told by an oa DroKet' No
nae done business al the Custom-house or owe. eafs,
tAat he could Seldom get anything promptly done BY
any Of the officials unless he paid them Zee, and that
Il was his custom 20 90 let me inquire II broker
makes mistake IN nlliAg out manifest Dor mine was
voluntarily written 10y my broker, aud writes down
less number OF packages than 10 really exist are Inc
missing 10 be cOuhscated 90 the Government or lts
Oiclasi II this be- the law, then IS CustOmA house
IN deporabe state, aud those WHO unfortunately h4'e
| 70 do business with II sui more deporabe.
The moral Of this that order 10 ct some goods OF
American manufacture through the Cusomhou-e chat
have left shores for few monLst n requires necl
days and cost that equals about one NTH OF the cost Of
the goods! To get these four little boxes, two barrels
and barrel also written cas has cost me, adding
the expense OF my living here while the goods were
getting through the CustomhOuse, nearly Sl0J! But TINS
a. not ALL would not again encounter the insults n
/ Celyed during my half months attendance az the
CustOm-hOuse times the amount Of Tie goods
method reforming these abuses except by
getting honest 10 administer the Government
Instead OF the weak vacatng President We have now
have not only been rU supporter OF General Grant,
| but have done much any other one man toward
the success OF his election having not only eecOIeefed
Tor % but abOred upon the stump IN states for bis
interests. A. eXerted my voice, and what talents i
possessed. for the who has proved, by h- mbecy
aud mercenary course that lie Is nc4paCtated Tor the
course for the honest Horace Ggeeley-aId may the
latter If lac be elected infuse into the Newly FORK Custom
house some Of that sterling honesty that Las carac
/ tellzed lls long and useful lfe. J. n. ..
! Nee York, July O. ls-2