, 1875-05-18
The Matter to Be Submitted to Attor-
ney-Generat PIerFepont.

Twenty-Five billions Of the Now
Fiycs Absorbed by the
Syndicate.
SHIPMENTS IN BOND.
coL1EcToh JUDD on THE DAMAGE ALLOWANCE
QUESTION.
BptrfaI Diapdtch n rte Chied5o 1ribu,lt,
WAsn1Sarox, u. G., May t7.-Tho Secretary
OF tic Treasury somo weohs since forwarded
circular lotter to each Collector Of Cugtoins re-
questing reply to tho question whethor 1t is or
il not practicable to nuke Within ten dnJa ftom
the original importation 1t tho first port due
aminatlop for ailowanco1 Of damages incurred
on Tho voyage Of importation as to merchandise
intended for Immediate transportation undor the
list Of responses from Collectors thoro
vsa added today the rcply Of Collector
N. B. Judd, Of Chicago. It ia d
lengthy argument. Judge Durnham SAYS 1t con-
tains many strong points. The following IL q
briof aualysie Of its ch!ef positions: Iho law
showa that merchandise destined for interior
ports is under tho control Of tho olllcera Of the
Government until dovorcd to tho Collector at
tic port OF final destination. Tie importer llaa
no right to examine or control tho goods until
tho arrival at tlsO port Of destination.
THE voYAaE ONLY TERMINATES
With tho delivery At tho final port. It Ia q
violation Of law to attempt TO-. diecovc!
vAothor dnmages heyo accrued until the arrival
At The final po,t. pamagcs can oaly DO deter
mined At tho time Of appraisoa1ens. Immediate
No arpraisomon. can DO made At any oll,er than
tho final port. Tho law not only forhidB tho OIL
GERS ut tho port OF arrival from opening tle
merchandise, but enjoina dispatch In tnmedi.
al &t.n rk sxf{ 81
destination is tho end Of the voyage and tho port
Of ss,try for such merchandise. Ono Of tho it,
cidonts Of tho appraisonont Is tho determination
Of tie damage allowance. Tho examination ut
the rort of arrival Is only for tho
vEn1f1cAT1oN or THE INVOICES,
and In no manor provides for tue general pro-
cess OF determining tho dutiab!o value Of tho
merchandise. Tue landing must bo construed to
reiato 10 tho port Of destination. Tac ten dsSs
must be computed from tho tlmo Of arrival At
tho nnal destination. The law Of 1870 enlarged
the sphere of importation, aud changed tho law
OF 1859, 50 far rs tho two acts arc
in conflict. This must bs construed to;
nortn have cohHed to DO the only ports
embraced within tile c,lssoms revenue Law for
merchandise destined for interior ports. Tho
aeaboard port IL port Of transit, with nlachtucsy
for securing dafo TRANSFORMATION, aud not port
Of entry. Otliciaa 1T the eeaboard ports cannot
interfere with merchandise destined for intottos
| ports except TO Torify invoices. Their dutls8
arc
TO INSURE DISPATCH
snd secure anfety III tle tranRit of goods. Tho
records at ths Chicago ot1ico show TINT goods
arriving At Portland, NO.. dcytincd tor ltufne-
diato transportation require about thirtecn
days from tho arrival of TUG ship until their ar-
days arc requisite from Boston, eoveu to suolye
| days from Baltimore, miro to Bsxtcon days from
| Han Francisco, two to threo weeks from Now Or
leauB. Contingencies may. require moro tims
from tue soysraf piaces than IL specified. No
! claim for damage can he made within tho ton
days from tho arrival ut the first port. Collector
| Judd Eiycs -..
THE FOLLOWING REASONS
| Why 10 docs not consider 1t practicable to o..
| titnato damage allowances within ton days from
tho TING OF arrival 1T tho BoabeAra port: Etrat
merchandise destined for Immediate transpos-
| tstion under tho act Ia not subject to Appraae-
ueut md liquidation Of duties at tho port Of
ilrst arrival. theEo bcinR an express prohibition
| against breaking; tho original package OF such
| merchandise, md tho importer ~ tho place has
| no mcans OF determining in VIVA. condition Tho
goods may bo. Second: tho act Of July Il, 1870.
ii1eB tho port Of destination ~ tho port
and soction 2,027 Kovlsod Statutes, spe-
| officially states that no allowance for
damage can 10 made before entry, payment OF
dutioB, Or eecurity OF duties. Third, It is not
| possible to make tho claim for damages within
ten days after tho arrival Of tho ship. a con-
ii, 1870.
tue nEooRps Or 1uK CHICAGO OFFICE
show that theEe are 21B regular, ind 100 oeca-
ulonal Importers at Chicago, "ho import ths'l
goods directly without bcinE subjected to the
delays and leyiea by tho brokors at tho acaboard
ports. and have their busineas uudor their con.
troll. That business Is increasing every month
Chicago exports 40 largely sent to foro|ga mar
kets without tho Intervention Of tue middle.
| mou Of the eeacoAst. The exchange made by
auch exports ls bnlng handled by Culcaso bauk-
css. This onables tito importer to bs free froua
the cost Of the charges OF mIdllemon. Take
away from them the privilege Of thla claim fo
damages, and you
arhIKK nLow At THAT counsE or TRADE,
and reduce them to tho commercial ya.aalage
which existed before tue passage ot the act @
1870. From careful examination Of tho recordl
Of tbs Chicago Office 1t u atatGa that not pack
| arc OF gooda or dollar Of duty hare becn los
II Chcago under tho operations of tho ast ol
July II, 1870.
In tho rscent decision respecting damage allow
Apces liz 80 Etest That the Secretary OF til,
Treasury hsa decided to submit the entire ques
tton to the Attorney. Of the unttct
accordingly to-day instructed tle Chief Of ti'
Customs Division OF tho Bocrssary'4 oAlco to for
ward all The documents in the caao TO tho At
toruey. 0onera!, md to request him 70 g'Scm ~ o.
opinion With respect 10 tho late decision. Th
Inquiry u alao TO comprehend consideration
Of tho relations Of the Statutes Q
1900 to tho Iutsrior Port Of Entry act Of Jul,
II, 1870, both OF which arc consolidated III W.
reyassd statuteB. Judge Durnham aays that IL
expects deo!sion will be rendered within fo'
daYa.
THE CHICAGO cu5ToM.HousE.
| Sp<etal Diapat1h 10 1hs Chicago Tribune.
WAsurNaros, q. g., May 17.-seczstary usta
tow haa decided to appoint Commissioner t
Investigates tho condition Of tho Chicago Cus
1