New-York tribune., 1874-11-24

NEEDED REFORMS IN THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.
PREMIUM UPON DOING BUSINESS sLowLY-MoRAL
CHARACTER NOT CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION
OF CLERKs-UNwIsE REMOVAL OF THE STORES.
To The Editor. Of The Tribune.
SIR: | am pleased to see the subject of
in the CustOmhOuseag III the newspapers,
ana sincerely hope that good to the merchants will
ont Of it. My first acquaintance with CustOmhouso
matters was the year when the site Of the build
ing was where the United States Treasury building
stands at Wall and Nassausts. Good Jonathan Thomp
son the Collector, and his son, David Thompson,
was the cashier. would state example to some
OF his successors that although, as think weakly
man. he resided in plain house in Beekman-s house
so PLAIN that think of the Collectors that have
served since his day would not Ike to enter it If they
saw any one in the vicinity that knew them.
for fear that they might be considered poor.
Congress then was composed of intelligent ana un5e
men, who represented the whole country, ana not
any particular section interest. We had in Washing
ton then Webster Frclnghuys3n, Clay, Randolph, Crit
tenGen and other eminent men. My the present gene
ration be blessed with men like them.
/ have digressed; my object is partic-
ularly with the present. IL Is quite common
for merchants TO receive notice that there
Is a certain due thel Government a bond OF per-
haps five years standing. The merchant has to
pay it. If he does not he cannot do business in the
Cus,omh0use The next thing is to fad By his books to
whom TINS IS 10 Dc CHARGED, ana ne learns Jllt
his correspondent is lead insDlvcnt. do no.
plain Of the present incumbens of the CustOmhOusc,
they endeavorng to make amends for the denqucn-
ces OF some one that had charge before them would
ask whether the practice has been done away with that
existed not long since of furnishing the merchants
with "A notice when an entry has been paid, with the
result in every ease; whether there is additional
du;v due The Government, something due the merchant
or ne @ & csnrc in sdc
with the fact that the liquidation Of enircs admits the
slowest process IN the ClSom-ouS ana information IS
given by those III charge OF the CustOm-h0use that
refund due aud for SO much percentage the fact Will
divugeG-does this look Ike giving premium for
delay Is there remedy for this There Is, in my
opinion, third or fourth party. THIS Information
fears oatin fact the interest o. the Government Is
only safe in the hands Of such men, The high officers
nave no means to detect TINS ana would
do all IN their power to Getect the same Make every
vantage Of what may be on record the books
that he takes charge Of, Or to promote his
give any information to any person what,
ever. that may be detrimental to the Government
or 10 any men that are dong business the Custom
house. Why have the Cus:om-house stores that ran
stores removed TO Laght and Wessts, thereby caus.
ing much loss OF time to the merchant, which part Of
his capital have been told-bu not vouch Tor the
truth OF t-that the buildings 10 which have alluded
been leased 10 the Government at very large at
vance on the amount paid before. Concerning the ncon
venence of having the appraisers so remote l haya
recently heard OF quite ludicrous circumstance.
quantity of bailast-consstiDg mixture of and
sauG-out Of vessel previous to Ia king IN cargo An
application had 10 be made to have 1t appraised.
aud the document had TO be sent to Light
and weststs. Tne Appraiser then had TO 60
such distance on such trfng errand
thai he was quite out of temper and wished TO know
II the owners Of the vessel you'd pay him for his time
have voted the Republican ticket for the last time.
think the subject of Presidential election Is 10
come before the people, that it Is the duty of every
voter regardless OF party 10 do all IN his power TO put
into office men OF pure principles. do verify believe
that he Almighty IS cha,tzing us nation for
ruption Ia high and low places. hear say, =" Not
at all; 1t is because jay Cooke & Co. and the Pacific
Railroad went by the board" Not at all. This is
the OF miracles, but an overriding Providence
afiicts nations through huiuan instrumentality.
Neso- York, O0t. TO- 1874 OLD SUBSCRIBER.