The New York herald., 1875-07-01
THE cRoCKERY IMPORTATION TRADE.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Your issue to-day contains an article column
long headed, ''More Custom House Irreguari-
ties" full OF statements upon hearsay, but devoid
Of truth, and yet appearing in a journal so
widely read, is calculated, II not denied, work
great injury to our firm, whose only crime is that
we have for over half century been importing
merchants In this city, and have always met
promptly anu fully every obligation both to the
government and to all parties with wnom we
nave mad dealings. We never made any arrange
menLs wlIh the late MIR. Jonn Brlndley or any one
else to delraud tue government by under valua-
tiOns or otherwise. We have, through mistakes as
10 the quality OF ware IN some Of our invoices,
paia more duties on some importations than
Dy law VIC should have paid, Dut
never TO our knowledge have we paid less.
The government brought suit against us more
tnan SIX years ago on the BrinGleJ invoices, ana
UNDERSTANDING they would like to have Brindey
go upon the stand as witness, lie, at our re-
quest ~ come mere and be examined, started to
come In the ill-fated steamer Atlantic and was
lost. Tne government nave never brought the
suit to trial, and We learn from your article that
II has ater SIX years frest "fallen through We
never offered, nor authoriz ID any one 10 oner In
our behalf, to pay the government any sum what
ever 20 conpromlse or settle any suit against us.
On the 22d day OF June, 1874 the new law cutting
on oietles was TO 70 into effect just before that
date Importing merchants In this city were Ia
vored with sumnonses from the United States DIS
trict Attorneys ONCE informing them that the gov
ernment claimed OF them sundry hundreds OF thou
sands OF dollars for penalties, forfeitures, &c.
Among the houses thus avOrabII noticed was
ours; the clam modestIy MADE against US was
only lor 5000 900; II might WITH equal justice have
been made lor 5000, ,0O0.0O0 Our counsel, Messrs.
Hawkins Il Cothrcn. Immediately appeared for us
and demanded copy OF the declaration showing
Ior what the government claimed the llttle sum
ol $6O0O0 A year mas elapsed and no further
progress has been made. The governments law
ofilcers have bcen 70 busy with more important
matters tnat tney nave not yet been able TO say
Tor what they claim OF us $500, 900 OF penalties,
textures, &c. While Kept In TINS state Of darkness
by tnem can only say tnat we are not
conscious or having violated any law or customs
regulations Ol the United states, and II the gov
ernmcnt think we have we shall be very glad TO
submit the question 10 a jury ci twelve merchants
10 pass upon aE soon as the government shall be
ready. IL seems TO MS, however, tHat before the
government officers furnish any more sensational
articles against us tnev mad better prepare tneir
declaration, ,tnat we may At least know the grounds
OF tneir little claim OF, not $1,000, 900, as your
article says. but only 100000. Iow hundred
tnousand collars, however, is q matter Of small
conse quence to government ofncers who rush to
the newspapers with their suits before they are
ready 10 20 into court.
L. VI. WILLETS & co.
A BARCLAY STREET. NEW YORK. June 20, 1875.