New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-24

| that the amount Ia very limited In extent.
through the Examiners Office really short without being
reported rel, as short think not Sit know 1t does
| A STOLEN DRESS.
@ Have You never known Of o complaint being made
by the merchant that his package short when had
not been reported short in the Appraisers storei
have known such cases, complained TO me that his
conclusion that one dress had been stolen from that
upon my floor after examination, and after II had
@ Under your supervisions A. did rnot stand over
have general supervision 6qt aS ior S''"'As
Q. How many cases do you examine and repack In the
course of day Al think about 80 or Co. ho, ,,..
abstraction Of dress 1t limo OF worsed dress
rate Of duty whether they weighed under four
ounces TO the SQUARE yard Tegnsa one piece ana
very close and that would require very close ealcua
S %sp Sp entire hS Contents pa
the scales and weighed them myself; the goods were
then and next Gay eess so 'e to his
store and reweighed the goods anu I0unu tne Just n9
asked him for bill of the things and paid IL am pos
ve morally certain, that that dress was abstracted
from my floor and In case % Gear as mat pau ioi 4'
Mr.. Casserly-That was pretty bold thefti A. IT II
Mr. Howell that was taken from your floor yon think
No; think it was one OF the employed by the labor
contractor or one Of my packers. , ,-,,,r %, No
Mr. HOwe-ls that the only case you Know OH IL NO,
| Sir; II is not the only One.
AN ADRorT THEFT.
O. How frequent are those A. Not very frequent
there only three four such within my reco
lection; q case of kid gloves ----,--.e -.
@. Imported by whOmi A. Harris Brothers; in that
case took the goods from the myself; they came
in cartons Ave dozen in carton and took them a ont
except the bottom tier which could and count with
out taking out and think necessary to take
them out they were in perfect order and when hot
tom; the number was correct 6l boxes ana
the case was repaeked and sent to H thars
and they asked me how 1t was that the case WIS h hO
mysef' they said perhaps you did not take OUT ho
bottom carOns-here Is the case = they showed me the
off and the TN cut at the bottom of the and dozen
gloves taken OF each CARTON leaving the top OF inc
understand was allowed, and the ship paid for them
@ Now want TO know If on sent that ooS OF goods
calling upon merchant to pay duties on full pack
o. How does il lie in your power to say that in fact It
was not full A. can't say positively except nnS "a bs s
saw the thing afterward ana saw now c , n.y. ~
my store but if the importer induced the steamer " pay
| for the gloves, that makes me right OF course A.,
@. But suppose the steamer would not pay Tor me
gloves and the merchant says he must have his pay how
hard question to determine would say it was careless
ness. and If am responsible WIZ pay nave 10 c
cuse to offer except that IT would teach me to take all
/ the packa yes ont another time. o..
q. That 10 what hope 1t would teach you ~ ICE oH
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE
O. During the time these packages under examina-
ton bv you they are the custody of the Labor
Contractor from the time they come into the public
store until they go QUIT A. Yes; the labor contractor
the Collector have REGARDED it as the Coectol
of goods II must be so the Collector must nave GUS
O. should think he had too; but he says he has not
A. Well be has; there IL no question about tnati lho
o Won't pursue THIS inquiry further with you; do
YOU know q gentleman named Forbes who was formerly
after February 1870 think tell exactly; he sue
ceeded MI Gibson an associate OF nine. .,o,
O. What was GibsOn's character as an examiner A.
One of the most thorough. Efficient aud prompt exam
iners that the Government ever had he was an ola man.
and had been in the dry goods business an ms HE lie Is
now Assistant Appraiser in the Custom-lOuso' -,
@. How long was Mr.. Forbes theref a. ABOUT Fix
@. WHO was the most efficient. he Mr.. Gbsoni 4.
@ Was Nj. Forbes good examiners A. No, Sir; he
was not. 49, - $1,000.
Mr. Pratt-How you say II is possible for package
TO be opened and riHed in General Order store A.
have been in General Order store often you can lose
a man there and cannot find him when the goods are
coming IN freely may be absent two hours d you
| cannot find him man can get behind the goods ana
hide himself out Of sight and SO mas aDuua' oppor
in the General Order stores than IN the Appraisers
o. Would it not he the duty Of the Store keeper to
ercIse a supervision the menf A. Yes; but II ne
cannot ind the man. he exercise SUI
Mr. Bayard-Is not a special knowledge and expert
ence required of person in your positions A. Yes SIT
o. Do you find that examiners have been chosen with
References to their special fines Tor tae 1ou
Q. Well, don't want to press YOU let me ASK tms
Mr.. Howe-I wish you would get answer TO that
question mink il Is very atefq r one
hi motives. gentleman In his position does not Ike 10
lSiT GasscTyT think he il right in not answering.
Mr. Bayard-When tarin of duties is based generally
the ad vaOrem principle, is 1t not inc only piottcto
onr Government has in collecting those duties 10 the lu
nS ~, d Vaiorem arf Won must have gentlemen OF
| ...nq pisftcp M II
@ Is not the matter wholly in the hands OF the onceIs
O. can there be fraud upon the government without
collision OF IL own officials A. II must DC either col
fusion ignorance, one or the other -.
At the close OF the examination Of this witness the
Committee adjourned till 1850 p. IN.
EVENING SESSION.
The evening session began at u o'clock,
with an attendance Of many spectators, evidently bus
ness men, well competent 10 Judge Of the validity Of the
testimony its bearing upon the Cust0n-housc
Mates Back of the Committee sat Collector Murphy,
| Col Bliss, and several others After the reading OF
several communications the Committee proceeded to
examine their witnesses
TESTIMONY OF ABRAHAM pATER.
Abraham Dater carman, Of No. l76 Wavereyplace,
testified that he was first assigned in the First District,
under MI Grinnen and afterward by Mr.. Murphy, and
carred to General Order and bonded warehouses;
was appointed in December, 1sc9 and removed In July.
| 1870; reclamaOns had been made upon him for lost
| goods witness here presented the forms in which
these were made, and they read by the clerk;
his clerk gave receipt at the dock for the goods,
which were then in good order had paid bills
| for damaged goods but not under Mr.. Murphy
could not state any particular at present; IL
the practice 10 give receipts for goods; had paid
damages when he did not think losses were occasloned
while the goods in his possessions had been forced
10 nav them or the business this under the
rule of Col Stocking; the goods went 10 the warehouse
No &c Newest could not refer 10 the particu
rv had in all cases gone to The Surveyors Office and
demanded his tickets and they were found all right
TESTIMONY OF BERNARD HESS.
At Senator Pratts suggestion, Bernard Hess, No 236
Clintons was placed the stand at his request