New-York tribune., 1874-03-13
OUR CIVIL SERVICE;
A REMARKABLE CASE
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ACCEPTED WHERE SEW
ryTY-Two THOUSAND WAS DEMANDED.

oxr THOUSAND DOLLARS ACCEPTED WHERE SEW
ryTY-rwo THOUSAND WAS DEMANDED.
The case of Haas g. Seligmann, importers
NJ German linens cottons at No. 19s Churchst pre-
scps some noteworthy features On July i6 1873 their
hooks were seized and four cases OF goods entered NV
them at this port also seized, although they hau
received no intnation OF charges against them ana
had no cause for supposing that such eharges oouu
exist They were informed that Mr. JAYNE was inc
proper person to give explanation and Mr. Selgmann
had several conversations with him IN which Jayne e&
ained taat the firm wero accused Of naturalization IN
che invoice seized On the 25h Of July seven cases OF
goods for the firm. which were in the general
order store at Hoboken. but had not been
entered by them. were seized. This seizure
of goods before entry 80 extraordinary
nroceodnr that when the suit for their condemnation
vas brought 20 trial United States District Court
Of Trenton. the decision in favor OF Haas sehgmann
was almost edate An appeal was, however, taken
In behalf OF the Government, and the goods were not
returned till November when they had become damaged
70 the amount OF almost half he value. causing loss
90 the firm OF full OO besides the exponse OF the trial
af- 0-ts-...s's tnto-'-'~--~ --i'~ ~
Jayne the latter tired bTOwbeat him into compromise
by threatening drive the firm out OF business Jayns
never precisely how much ne required for settle
uent but 10 was intmated at time that the payment
OF sl5OO would adjust matter and the demand WAS
afterwari cut down 10 $1,000 Neither Jayne nor any
other OH ,la let the firm know how much was the
asserted loss Of the Government by the undervaluaons
undervalued all the invoices from certain manuiac-
turer As lar back as 1870 The duty rated at valua
ton Is per cent above what the firm claimed was far
valuation This enhanced standard was, so far as the
drm knows, aruitrarny established Mr.. Sehgmann
proved TO Mr. jayne, by firms gold account, that
full duties had been paid fair valuation or all the
anvoce concerning which question roisod ana MI
jayne Obliged 10 admit that no could not prove any
Intention to defraud. Finding his efforts to drive the
- ... . ...,.,.,t-- 4--i.i---, a sut 20
be brought against the rm S72 OOJ penalties
the invoices running back 1870 which 1t was alleged
had been undo ryaued ana also two suits against goods
seized. One tried with the result stated
While the firm throughout stouty asserted their limo
cenco in the whole matter, and we're strengthened in
their by Jaynes admissions, after the appeal had
been taken 80 the Trenton suit, account OF the
groyOus difficulties. aunOyances and embarrassments
their business to result from prolonged con-
dict with the authorities, they agreed 10 compromise.
and the 12h CT December paid 5000 TO close up the
OF this amount they were mulcted In $1,000, on
of the invoice seized July TO- while the claim OF
Jayne for t2O account of asserted previous under
valuations. satisfied by the payment OF only 1000.
This mpotent conclusion shows how weak Jaynes case
was The goods which seized July 16 not
turned for two months, and then only on the firm
giving bonds, and the books Of the firm were only
rescued from the den OF the informer by an order
obtained from Judge Blatchiord.
peculiar hardship OF this the fact that the
goods all purchased and nyOiced at the exact
price paid. The books of the firm showed this concu-
sively the whole presents instance OF the
power OF the Government brought TO bear TO eXtOTt the
paltry Of 5000 from small firm, giving them the
alternative OF submission TO robbery subectOn to
peouniay ruin Their Importation OF July 49, which was
seized and proceeded against had been entered by
of their clerks and he made the mistake Of declaring in
entry that the manufacturer the owner IN place
OF the firm OF haas Segmaun 1t was found that the
would condemn goods for this mistake, and the
firm therefore submitted 10 pay the comparatively small
sum demanded, 10 set rid Of the big suit for
OOO and TO ge the goods held in NewJersey released;
Tor these goods were sull held Jaynes insgaton,
notwithstanding the decree OF tue District Judge. and
the firm could bond them. persons living IN New
Jersey required sureties and Haas seigmdDn
knew there. These goods worth several
Thousand dollars, and tho firm had orders for more of
that class 81 goods They believe that Jayne seized
them although hev had been entered at all, in
Srder force settlement. The settlement made
jus the az ri A. and whom Jayne found ne could
- squeeze them' for more he took the small SUN
above,