The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-20
THE BLAoKBALLINa OF BR1srow.

To THE EDIroR or rHE HERALp:-
AS there has been SO much msconception regarding
the blackbaing OF Mr.. Bristow by the Union League
Club and Herewith think II due to
tho public and ourselves to present the following
facts:--
BY law duty is imposed on all raw sugar imported
into the country, and upon the same goods being
refined and exported portion Of this duty is returned
to the exporter, which Is termed drawback The law
tR 81 0l9) provides that this drawback v to be
ascertancd under such regulations shall be pre-
scbed by the Secretary Of the Treasury The regula-
ton prescribed by Mr. Brstow his circular order
Of March a. 1875 which, relating to sugar, 10 as fol-
lows:-"Re1ned crystalline sugar, $40 per pound
less per cont retention; refined B and G, lower
grade sugar, 2c. per pound less one per cent retcn
tion This order in force June u.s. 1875, when We
sold for export lot OF refined crystalline sugar, for
which we allowed the rate named In hts circular
for this grade OF sugar. the beng paid septem
Der "a, 1875 In November, 1875, we sold for export
large quantity Of exactly the same grade as former
Shipment and upon applying for the drawback pay
ment at former rate Is 75) rofuscd II being sud-
denly and unexpectedly claimed by Mr.. Brstow that
this excessive, and this Claim made his
part In the OF the fact that his original order
IN force at the time Of expectation none other having
been issued countermanding or annuIing IL
In making these sales We as Is customary In such
cases. the purchaser credit for tho drawback 10 DO
In its collection arbitrary change ia the rate but by
some strange freak caprice OF the Secretary he ar
prary refused 70 pay vs. ea. three cents per pOuna
pound which, after repeated delays and Inconvenience,
we accepted under protest II must be remembered
TINT this rate oil three cents was at time OF expectation,
unknown 10 the law applying to grade Of sugar,
but was entirely arbitrary and exceptional Amor max
ing our shipments another house exported this same
grade Of sugar. and before dong SO teegraphcd Mr.
Brstow 10 the rate OF drawback, and received re-
ply over his own signature stating that the rate
made before any question raised In our case Mr.
Brstow said to us no would pay more drawbacks at
paid tho firm we have referred to the full rate,
three and threeourths cents He also pad several
OF sugar exported about the same time We,
through our counsel, requested Mr. BrIstow to refer
the matter between US 10 the Solicitor OF the Treasury
or 10 the Court OF Claims, but he refused to do SO,
assigning for his REFUSAL By law he might
have done either and SO avoided expensive litiga
ton. to which must now resort Wo would also say
that the time of making these exports there was In
session the Custom House a committee OF Mr. Brs-
tow's own appointing revise the proper OF draw
backs &c Their first action to have the Secretary
revoke his unjust order mndc October 10 1875, BY
which tho rates had been changed The order was re-
report dated November IL 1875 said 1.-THE interests
involved which wore disturbed by the sudden appear
or said order annung contracts or rendering
their iuhlment highly injurious, unsettling market
values and parayzng business led your committee TO
the Recommendations before referred to- Thus u WIN
be how Mr.. Brstow'sow committee characterized
OF his orders, and II Is fair commentary on his
incapaclty. public may put their own construction
on Mr.. Brstow's versatility constituting specific
law discriminating In favor Of certain firms to tho
damage OF thcr competitors. H possibly has his
private Tor doing, to old expression,
Of makng hsh Of one and fowl OF another" while the
law aims at equality
We present the foregoing facts briefly stated to tho
unprejudced minds Of the importers and mercantile
classes OF the community, and would ask them II. in
their Judgment 1t would DO beneficial 10 thor interests
and that OF the country at large to further or abet the
ambtion of this man for place power, who has by
tho here presented shown not only gross ncom
potency HIS administration OF the affairs OF his Office
and adjudication Of questions relating thereto but has
also assumed auocrac powers, constituting the laws In
spirit OF manifest unairness and favoritism ~ his
within caprice at the time might prompt to the great
dctriment OF the mercantile interests OF the country,
which should be his special business TO foster and
protect C. w. DURANT L. SON.