New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-08
THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED.
TESTIMONY OF ALEXANDER T. STEWART.

THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED.
TESTIMONY OF ALEXANDER T. STEWART.
Mr.. Stewart was sworn. and the chairman
stated 10 him that the object ohe Committee to In
quire into the connected with the administration
OF affairs in the CustOmhOuse that they wished partcu
larry to inquire into the General Order business; and
that they would DO glad to receive such information as
be had to impart. Mr.. Stewart attended by Mr..
Cooper his principal assistant in the CustOmhouse bust
ness who read tho following statement which Mr. stew
art had prepared for the occasion:
TIE removal Of the General Order business from tho
Cunard and HObOken stores has not only caused pecu-
mary loss but great inconvenience to importers The
greatest portion of merchandise If not quite all In tho
now imported by steamships, and when they make long
passages is usually the case during the Fall and WIN
Ter months they discharge their carROes Immediately on
arrival in order to be ready TO sail again at the appointed
time. when such IL the the importer has not su
Consequently all goods discharged under
such circumstances at once sent TO General Order
as Collector Of this port General Order business was
removed from the Cunard and HObOken stores At that
time there the west side Of the city the same
number more General Order stores than now; but
when the business was removed from the Cunard and
Hoboken stores the plumber in New-iOrk was not IN
creased TO correspond with the dmnuton of storage
ROOM and tho result has been that storage accOmm0da
ton for General Order goods has been so restricted tat
when several steamers making long passages arrive
together Is frequently the case their eargoes
crowded into the present General Order stores in such
Of confusion that great delay enses in obtaining
arriving at New-York during the past two years has
largely increased they are of greater size aud bring
paeity Of he General Order stores has been actually
diminished 10 the loss and deigg Of ne importer In
now controlled by one firm 1t las become mo-
nopoly and tile charges increased to 81 % or more on
he merchant. besides there is an additional eIa er,
pcnse for carriage say so cents per When the Cunard
and HobOken bonded warehouses had the privilege OF
receiving goods under General Order such arrived by
those discharged from the ships direct to the
warehouses without any expense OF caIage and there
remained in bond wthOutany additional charge for Gen
era Order II an importer has made entry for goods
to be deposited in above stores and his permit does not
arrive in time TO save all or part OF his shipment from
General Order the merchandise must be earted to the
General Order stores in New York and carted back again.
making double expense OF carriage beside the LABOR
and storage fees of from 81 80 upwards per package
Order The General Order stores now in in un
safe quarters, surrounded by cotton warehouses and
diagrams rendering it di6icuIt 10 procure Insurance
and only at extra rates willie insurance is easily effected
stores owing to their safe and Isolated position The
confusion consequent upon sending SO many good, from
two only, which even one or two cafgoes VIII pro
hearv losses to the importer nom fluctuations prices
without any benefit or additional security to the Gov
eIumeut
UNFORTUNATE RATS or LEET 4 co.
Mr. Stewart submitted q diagram showing the location
of the upper and lower stores at Leroy and at Nos SO
and 50 Greenwchst., with their surroundings Of
stables liquor stores, and other dangerous buildings
also Of prices that had been charged per
der the General Order system, and the price which Is
Mr. Stewart have stated In this memorandum that
81 the price, have been paying as high 81 10
bills here 10 exhibit TO you, II You desire to have
ucm; attempt was made to charge us higher price
40 one time but unwilling to pay it, and the par
ties refused TO deliver and the goods were held.
les we paid the price at which their bills were made out
they then made agreement WITH us, which can show
YOU that VIC we're not to DO charged more than 81 70
By Senator Cassery-Do you by the present par
Al" Ia.f 4, N flapn L. krlua
they agreed should not be charged over Il 10.
THE following agreement at the foot of the bill
Mr. Leet saw Mr. De Brock and agreed that 81 10
the highest price TO be charged."]
O. That was TO your hOuse2 A. Yes, Sir; 81 ~ per
package; the maximum rate that we were to be
Charged there were some cases OF great value an small
compass charged at 81 so.
O. Did they formerly charge you morei A. They at
O. But You never paid it4 A. Ibid not but apart from
the price, 1t is OF great inconvenience TO men or business
to have goods that delivered in Jersey City and Ho
bOken cared the City Of NewYoTk and turned heller
skeer and sometimes before you can find the packages
that must 90 to the public store takes week or ten
days. whereas, when goods were delivered at Jersey
City and at Hoboken 1t has not taken more than an hour
by Senator Cassery-Do understand you to say that
the merchants are allowed AZ hours within which TO get
permits before their goods can 20 70 the General Or
der storei A. No Sir not now; no. they dO,if gice four
minutes II the goods are out u rs serious
to the Government 10 have the goods carted us
they now to the General Order stores; we DO not
from the Insecurity OF the place and the difficulty OF
getting insurance.
o. What are the rates Of insurance in the HOboken and
the Cunard stOres A. think forty cents, current rates
O. Forty cents insures how uiuchf A. One hundred
dollars.
O. What "a the rate OF insurance on Washington and
Wessts. A. About stIty.HUe cents; we would not be
willing account of the present insecurity OF the Gen
era order stores 10 leave goods there and incur the
extra insurance. would remove them 10 some other
stores, wo do now.
MERCHANTS DRIVEN TO THE GENERAL ORDER STORES.
q, Why have you not got your permit when you made
your entryi A. have not had tmej before get my
permit board the cargo turned out and am caught
with 20 or 80 packages Of invoice they will not give me
three minutes they cart them right away IL is much
incOnyenient and moro difficult for merchant 70
md his goods where there will be, perhaps, 1000 1000
turned In heller SHELTER; difficulties Ten
times where they occurred once when the General Order
business with the Cunard and Hoboken stores.
O. Are the goods packed In the General Order store
houses promiscuOuslyl A. understand so, Sir
@ And when you want package you have to Overhaul
all in tho store until you find the package = A. Yes Sir
O. And In that point Of view you think a merchant Is
cOnvenenced by having as few goods In the General Or
der possible, because the fewer there tho
less he will have 10 bandle A. OF and the less
ne has 10 pay; V0OOds do not into General Orer
do not hare 10 pay for storage and carriage.
q. Now immediately upon the arrival OF steamship
the goods thrown the side before you get
your permit and sent 10 the General Order stores this
sideS A. Yes Sir. a,
O. And you have 10 pay carriage and storage for the
month"; A. Yes Sir Whefher they r,main there not.
O suppose the goods those stUfes, aud