New-York tribune., 1874-03-11

D. W. James of tho firm of Phelps Dodge & Co, Mt No
CG-s said that he thought the prospect for reform
encouraging The feeling against the abuses
Of the present system he said is strong ana to ner
chants In the city are 40 unanimous In demanding
change that reform must The anxiety Tor 1t Is
not confined 20 NewYork BY our correspondence ana
by other OF information know that the feel.
general in the country that 10 is common In Bos
ton, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago CINCINNATI, ana
the other great cities Of the Un0n The course OF lh
TRIBUNE in the whole matter has been very highly
praised by importers generally The mercantile com
muny is undor great Obligations TO 1t Tor ls services
Its articles have been fair and without ex"ggcracon,
while they have been powerful and convincing. Several
well-known merchants have told within few days
that they havo recently by the Journals when they
chiefly read before for TIE TRIBUNE, because IN 1t only
they could get full information about these customs
and about the sanborn contracts. II reform Is
brought about much OF the praise for the result must
be given 10 TIE TRIBUNE What the importers want IL
that fraud shall be made easy; that would n1nre
honest merchants as much as IL would inlnre the GOV
erpment What they wish and what Is demanded by the
interests OF that the laws bearing on THESE
cases shall be made simple enough TO prevent mseon
structon Some OF these laws back to the time OF
Alexander Hamilton in 1892 and others, which seem to
conflict certainly confusing have been added
from time 10 time t hardly any two lawyers VIII agree
their construction. II call In the ablest counsel
they doubtful about the operation OF certain laws
country desire specific duties in place OF al valorem
duties The change would do away with all trouble
about appraisoment and valuation and the troublesome
differences concerning appraisers estimates Rating
would then be merely question OF weight, ana the a1-
thorites certainly get honest mon who VIII weigh
fairly II they cannot matters have come to bad pass
The officials might keep the goods long as thought
advisable for month or three months If they chose
Even after the property had been delivered to the I'M
porter they might retain the right to have II reweigheu
II there suspicion OF fraud. But let there be rsa
sonsble limit OF time when the importers responsibility
shall close and let MS not have books seized on
rnnc pretext may be five years after tine
OF the alleged error Wnon the books are IN the III
formers hands, he rumages them through IN nope Y"
nd some oher irreguarity besides the first taken
as pretense, and IL he cannot ca ch one kind OF nsh
tenn kept mp will drive best importers. the men
high character and standing out OF business ana @
The time has been when American merchants were ooked
upon ias constituting sIrong 6uiwark OF me UoS
ernment, but they treated az set OF tmefes
ana harassed and iinpeded IN many ways 1hc eNls VI
which We complain fun of peril 10 trade IN general
10 all industries the prosperity OF this city ana OF
the whole country. gentleman, who Is perhaps tue
largest manufacturer IN the CITY, sad 10 me touey Ila
the manufacturers are of necessity greatly interested
ia the reform of the present sYste tor II commerce Is
War iTred o Mnntr or elsewhere the manuac
lures must TOO. With regard 20 tue explanation o
on Te say T SH Mr. lanes soid hat The explanation was
necessary after Mr.. Jayne had dragged the matter
forward In so uniustitable a way Ihey had noI ih-
tended TO thrust into prominence personal aH iTs
investigation OF tho defects of system, out Mr.
Jayne forced this action upon them Irihh ana iui
showing OF the whole necessary and that tho
statement made by Mr.. Dodge was looked upon as a
frank and 1u eXplanati on they are assured by lhe
words Of all who speak TO them about the matter
BARIHOLD sCHLEsINGER
Barthod schesnger OF the firm OF Naylor Co OF NO
% JOhn-s said that the entire system OF moieies and
seizures was calculated 10 address such temptations 10
informers and officials to plumber importers only men
OF the CHEST character could resist And our Custom
house officials agents and informers said he, are by no
means Of that class The evils OF the system are 70
1agrant and manifest that the entire community insist
upon reform. THE TRIBUNE has done great work IN
awakening pube interest u the subject and In exnospg
the of the system and the msdeed Of those who
have acted under it, It's articles have been forcbe aud
effective without prejudice, oyerstatement or msapph
cation They have been my daily relish, and a great
many OF the importers whom meet enthusiastic
as am about The TRBUNEs work. We are AL very
grateful for its services There is one point which
should like to see dwelt upon especially in the
exposure OF this great that is, the temptation
the system puts before the Distrct-A Attorney who is
made sort of Judge IN these cases. WINE no Is einu
10 force he importer into settlement ny SUIT or otn9
wise because of the percentage allowed nun IRON tue
spois The informer turns his information to the
Distrct-AtCney, by whom II ~ submitted 10 the otc-
retary OF the Treasury, when suit Is necessary 10 re-
cover with accommodation TO the advisabiity OF
pushing the matter or dropping IT, Ia H pFooape that
when there is a chance OF securing hs commission by
forcing the case, unless he be man who never aio"s
1t would tempt almost any man 10 stretch ponI pe-
yond strict fairness. The only proper course would DC
for the DistricAttOrrey 10 derive no enouueht whdI
ever from these cases Theodore Dreicr r the second
member of the house. expressed his agrotmcn. with the
statements ol Nj. ScAlcsinGcr.
WILSON q. HUNT.
Wilson c. Hunt has not been engaged in active bust
ness several years. but retains his interest IN com
mercal affairs and in the commercial prosperity OF the
city and nation. Being asked for his views OF the rev.
enue laws allowing search and seizure and rewards to
TN ha firmly d
evil OF the law and of the manner of ITS execution
All goods in their passage through the Custom-house
ought TO carefully examined by competent officers,
but having once passed, the Government should not
again delay the He thought the power TO search prl-
yate accounts files OF letters in order TO make out
case against importer wrong, and he doubted II
the officials OF any other Government In the world had
such authority. The effect OF this practice on the mer-
chants OF New-York would be to drive honest importers
out of business.
CUSTOM-HOUSE CASES.
ANOTHER LIST OF SUITS SETTLED IN THIS DISTRICT