New-York tribune., 1875-02-03

AN OBNOXIOUS CUSTOMS REGULATION.
ETForT AMONG IMPORTERS TO HAVE CHANGED
THE OEDER CoNCERNISG DAMAGED GooDs-A
COMMITTEE SENT TO WASHINGTON.
A committee of merchants, principally deal
ers and importers OF fruits left this city last night for
Washington for tho purpose OF calling upon the secre
tary the Treasury and asking him TO change the re-
ouireInenis OF Custom-hOuso regulation which they
claim Is working great injury their business. Under
the privilege which accorded 20 the Secretary OF the
Treasury 10 make such regulations as Eo may deem
necessary 70 secure q revenue, order WAS issued
some months ago and became operative at TINS port,
which required all packages in bonded warehouses upon
which drawbacks bad been claimed by the merchants
and allowed by the appraiser for goods partially
or wholly damaged to be branded damaged"
Previously 1t was the custom to have the packages
or boxes examined by the Appraiser and when demand
was made by the owner cOnsiguce for drawback on
account injury the Appraiser reported his
estimate OF injury at the Cnstomhouse specifying the
particular percentage which he deemed should be de-
Quoted from tho duty and the package was marked 70
a. to identify it, with private sign well understood
at the Custom house. The goods wereisold as all such
articles usually are after inspection aud although the iu
porers claimed that the officers
favored the Government and did not make the proper
deduction for damages yet they were satisfied with
the system Complaints were made 10 the authorities
t Washington that the dealers whose goods were de-
slared % be damaged were IN the haO OF exporting
them principally Canada, where tho duty is much
os as prime articles thereby deprying the Government
Of revenue and oispOsng of their articles at good
profit Tho Secretary OF the Treasury then issued ;he
order referred to ioI branding packages damaged"
Tho merchants claim that this order. which Is now
rgdy enforced them great injury, and they
that It very frequently happeus that only very small
portion OF large package box Is injured, yet with
the Government mark Of dam ged' upon IL. they can
not sell the package except as injured goods and great
losses are cniailcd UPON them. Jney unite in saying
that WITH merchandise haUle beCOme injured as
fruit raicy happens thai package or eash has not
some small portion Of its cOutcut. harmed; but the
value OF the whole is affected BY tta Government mark
The business THIS city, 70 l. claimed. has thus become
dsrangrd importers prefer 10 claim no draw
back IN order 20 save the branding OF their
goods. A memorial WAS drawn up ON MONDAY, ana
signed by all the leading iiuit houses OF tho
city requosug the Secretary Of the Treasury t. change
the order complained Of T1e importers clam that the
law as u previously existed, worked 10 Ill 70 the Gov
erpnent and did deprive " OF any just fovenue The
memorial was -gnCd by Henry eiggcrndn, John Havi-
land & Co, B'ume q Co., Henry NOrlhnger GO. Eo-
sensteln Brothers. Lims ROseuscin Co.. Paddock a
Fowler. Dean q Hcgbergcr, W. h. HasuuG. q. r. Lew
ton r. A. Anderson, L. a. Eyarjs, Town, Nltainsou d
Curfew. r. j. s.isOn * Co., A j. Powers Falsom, and
ma