New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-13
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS.

The Chairman, at the beginning OF The sea
sou laid before the Committee letter from II. j.
Clafin Co.. complaining of the loss Of certain hosiery
taken from the while in charge OF the officers OF the
Customhouse and stating that in their experience while
such losses goods frequent they occurred
on board the vessel, but only after they had been
marked up. s." public Sores.) The Serccant-atArms
was ordered to subpoena Mr.. Cla1in for Monday next.
Senator Cassery read article from The Dd''y
Buctn stating that ninetenths Of the importing mer-
officers order to obtain necessary facilities there and
on his motion It ordered That the editor OF The
After some discussion between Mr.. Bayard and Mr..
Howe, Charles p Clinch. Assistant Collector IN tho
CustOm-house was called and sworn.
TESTIMONY OF CHARLES p. CLINCH.
Mr.. Clinch testified that he resided In Richmond
County staten Island had been assigned to duty in tho
General Order store by Collector HOyt in 1853, and
at present Assistant Collector with supervision Of tho
correspondence OF several OF the departments.
The Charman-Is there not opportunity for
fraud by collision between the Deputy Collector and the
importer by designating cases OF goods to he examined
and appraised which may or may not be perfect repre-
senaton OF the entire A. The history Of the Custom
house tells that story there have been several such
cases nothing lately, but years ago.
tice A. really cannot say; the main safeguard OF
course. must he the integrity OF the employe.
tegrity of the Deputy Colectori A While the law re-
O. what want to get at is the change in the law that
is necessary A. believe the English system pIeyens
Government takes possession or all
moment they and puts them in their own store;
| believe they examine the whole; do not speak from
O. As You have been familiar with the business for
many years. do you find many cases Of colison between
the importer and the Custonhouse employees A. No,
sir very seldom find nything OF the kind that be-
| distinctly traced to a previous UNDERSTANDING
THE GENERAL ORDER SYSTEM THIRTY YEARS AGO.
Senator Stewart--Sate what were known as General
order goods IN 1881 A. At that time the unclaimed
oos were taken possession OF after 10 days succeeding
the entry Of vessel that the original 1885,
with the addition that II the importer. eonsigee or
te the goods might be taken possession Of by him ~,
end Of that period OF five days the Collector had pos
session OF the goods in 1sA committee OF inves-
tgato5 2Pponted by Congress- came here OF which Mr.
%e 90 e o s Tas 6 h aG Gsy sPGd that
10000 more annum than the salary from storage
from his salary his fees should receive more than
$1,000 and that the balance should be paid into the rea,
until the Amended warehouse act Was as m @
which ordered that the leases all stores hired BY
OF not renewed, and that the Collector might place in
warehouses OF the third class such goods he should
guence of the hue and cry that the in
terfering with the storage and warehouse bust.
don't Know IN when ns hfho Was PeSas 70 par
Cunard Company but believe they had it until Mr.
stand for removingit from them was that the taking
possession Of unclaimed goods was an attribute of
that IL belongs 10 the Government entirely
and that was unconstitutional TO allow any partcpa-
lion OF the cusodianshp outside Of the officers OF tho
Government.
An EFFEcTUAL REMEDY.
@ From your experience you make any Suggestion
Is TO change In the present system would be bene
icial to the merchant and to the Government A. IL
congress- at M present session. should pass law that uo
FOODS should be considered unclaimed or taken posses
ion OF by the Collector until Ave days after the entry Of
he vessel there will be other committee OF
yer appointed 10 investigate this question OF General
q But II the present system IL continued OF allowing
'eeFs W unoaa ~ room % tney arrive, whieh thsy