New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-22
LEY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRrprvyI


system AT PRESENT HE BEST.
IDY TELEGRAPH TO THE tribune
WASHINGTON. March 21.-Special Agents Pcsincer
K;nessla and Fox. who were instructed By the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury recently to investigate the
theory and practical operation Of the present system
of sampLng and grading sugars at the four great
sugar importing ports, have completed their report
and will submit it tomorrow. The investigation
at New-York showed that tho samples. after being
graded, were preserved till the end of the month
The agents examined a number of these packages
and also went through the process Of sampling
in the regular manner 1t was found that sampiing
was done the wharves as the hoesheads lay
there and that only the outsiGcs were accessible,
and hence i, was impossible for the samplers 20
carry out literally the instructions Of the Depart
ment. The samples after being taken from the
hocsheads by the llborers assorted according
tariff grades in the Appraisers office where they are
comuared with the standards and the rate of duty
fixed. This is also the system which Is practically
in vorre at Boston and Baltimore. The system at
the port of philadelphia Is regarded as more salts
factory as the packages taken from the vessels
and those selected for examination are moved TO
one place. where they arc subjected TO the boring
and other examna ions required by the instructions
of the Department.
After a careful consideration of the facts
ascertaned at tie different ports, the Commission
arrived at the conclusion that the Treasury circular
of Dee y. 1870, requiring samples to be taken
from head center, foot, aud sides OF hogs
heads and from top bottom. and sides of boxes, IL
practically and in most instances necessarily dsTe-
garded that no uniform system exists at either Of
the ports and that Philadelphia is the only port
where there IS an approximate carrying ont of the
system prescribed by the Department that in every
case there is entirely too much discretion exercised
by the samplers that it is necessary that prlcti
cable system Of sampling should be devised, and
that its UNIFORM execution should be required at all
the ports that at New-York, Boston, and Baltimore
there is some uniformity in the grading of augars,
but at Philadelphia there is a slight difference.
1t will be recommended that the Department Cir
cuar of Dec %, 1870. concerning samplng. be SUI
perseded by something practicable at all the ports
that it IS absolutely impossible to enforce the IN
trrctions of the existing circular particularly at
NewYork: that sampIing from end TO end is the
hest method. and that the Philadelphia system of
boring is the best; that by means of long augur
the samples could be taken out at one drawing and
labor NAV thus be saved but if this, upon further
test il found improbable. then the Philadelphia
system of examining the packages as they leave the
vessel is thought to be the best. This is considered
simple process and relieves the samplers from the
exercise of dan gGfous discretion IL will also be
recommended that the appraisers be required tn re-
pack all samples after grading and classification,
marking them with the date. invoice aud grade aud
TO retain them until the end of the month subject te
inspection. 1t is thought that the ADOPTION OF these
recommendations will result IN securing more uni
form system of tariff grades and will increase the
revenue from sugar several million dollars.