New-York tribune., 1875-03-11
ExACTloys UPON IMPORTERS.

FEES REQUIRED BY CUsr0M-HoUsE CLERKS FOR
DOING THEIR DUTY-DELAYs IN PAYMENT OF
JUST CLAIMS.
1t is tolerably well known that importers
OF bonded or goods in this city compelled to
pay the duty upon the full quantity Of merchandise
stated the invoices whether the goods are damaged
or not before they be sold It is probably not
we'll known that the importers Of fruits and other
perishabe articles rarely receive cargo consigned to
them upon which rebate cannot be fairly claimed and
upon which such rebate is not allowed by the Custom
house authorities. These rebates range from one-eghth
to one-haf Of the full amount OF the duty. It not
infrequently happens that the drawback amounts to
several thousands OF dollars. Charges are now made
by merchants that for the purpose of getting back
pedously this sum in rebate 1t has been found neces
sary to pay fee certain customs officers; that
tain firms who pay the charges get their drawbacks
without delay but that those who refuse to submit to
the exacon have wait the pleasure the authorities
and are deprived OF the amount due them for long
tine. duties have to BIO paid in gold this delay
is especially serious matter for these merchants. The
following furnishes q case in illustration:
Paddock Il Fowler, who are importers and brokers
in fruit doing business at No. 81 Bcavers stated to
TRIBUNE reporter that several weeks they received
a cargo of fruit which was in damaged condition. and
they were entitled to and were allowed drawback by
the appraiser The duty paid on the whole invoice
and the Custombou authorities have been frequently
asked for settlement the time Of repayment has
been placed in the future and the firm arc now told
that they will have to wait ten days longer before they
can receive the OF the rebate About two weeks
ago they received information that the firm OF Schnzer
& Menken, who had a quantity OF fruit consigned to
them in the same vessel which brought the fruit of Pad
dock & Fowler, had received their rebate, amount
ing to $1,000 in gold. NJ. Fowler says that he ques-
toned tho members OF tho firm OF Schntzsr
& Monken in regard to tho matter. and
that they succeeded In getting their money so soon by
paying certain Custom house official $40. Mr. Fowler
said that he could not AFFORD to pay or receiving wnat
his due he deprived of the drawback tor six
weeks, the time his irm usually had to wait before
they could get the money due them lie thought re-
form needed.
schniizer & Monken arc importers Of frqit, doing
business at No. lI9 Fronts Mr sehnilzer when called
upon by reporter OF TIE TRIBUNE yesterday. said that
it was true that he had said that ths irn was com
PEELED 10 pay $40 TO secure in reasonable time lqlida-
ton OF their accounts IN the Customhouse uvoVlnga
gold IL was not necessary be said, them make
such payment In this particular case, but Il was
them hasten settlement OF accounts There was
perfect ring existing. composed OF the Cusom'honse
failed pay tho tax, failed to get their accounts
liqnlated Tor long time Tho papers ware % pigeon,
write up the II was also Impossible 10 obtain
any M %s ,Sa 10 G
one who sent him TO some one clse and the merchant
merchant employed Custom-house broSer instructing
him fee the clerk the papers were settled at 0no and
the drawback refunded promptly. TIE oker made ont
his bill for personal trvce aud for the money paid 10
the Official and II 1t wa, paid everything was made
right immediately.
This syste,n feeling the custom officials prevailed In
every department OF tho Customs Department Goods
that arrive M. Schuyler continued. rushed into
General Order in most unseemy haste. uuless We hire
the officer to give reasonable tine IN which 10 re-
move them. 4 case occurred Jew days ago. We had
large Importation arrive and wOd was sent TO us tha
the goods would Immediately IN General Order We
asked the house officer having them In charge To
wait "A reasonable time. He replied Well, II you
don't want them 10 go in you know what yo1 must do"
We understood his meaning. ana gave him the money
he wanted. His zeal abatcd immediately anh we re-
moved the goods In proper time. Tue only way the
merchant drawbacks eXpediously Is to pay tho
clerks for dong their duty Matters are conducted diff
Inundated promptly. No brides offered received.
and officials cannot, or rather Will n0t DO bought
Tns is in strong contrast the practice prevailing here.