The New York herald., 1876-03-22

brother-in-law named Lee, brother OF the put
into the Third Avenue Bank and who developed into
deiauter TO the amount OF from $4,000 TO $4,000 In
less than three months Mr. Lee appointed an
examiner in the tenth DIVISION through which passes
all works OF art, such statuary paintings, chromos
and steel engravingS Before Mr. Lee entered the
oee the business Of examining, apprasing ana pass
ing these articles devoved upon MT ~
c. sturges, gentleman who has been in the
department many years growing up Win the business
and making his duty life study MI sturges Is UNI
versay recognized be the only expert IN this branch
OF the service now in the Custom House. Lee only
qualification for the position was that he had KEPT
know a Murillo from a Chinese tea sign As an evil
dence OF utter ncompeteney 1t Is only necessary to
cite one OF hundreds which recently occurred
large invoice of old Spanish paintings, engravings
and cnromos arrived here and were sent TO the APP
praisors Department for examination and appraise-
ment Lee had the packages opened, took up
some of the paintings viewed them IN various
praised the whole lot at So piece The articles
removed 10 auction room, where they were rapidly
and readily sold at prices ranging from $40 TO 800
Lees figures more than 700 per cent less than
their real value
Constant complaints were made to Mr. Darling for
long time in regard TO Lees incompotency and insub-
ordination in the division to which he had been as
signed; but Mr.. Darling continued his brother-inaw
IN olce although II has always been considered THAT
complaint by an assistant appraiser IN regard to any
man under him was equivalent to that mans instant
removal
AT the head Of the silk division Mr.. Darling mas
placed his sons fathern-law W. Gibson. OF course
through which there yearly passes many millions OF
dollars worth OF goods man who is an expert and in
every way competent TO supervise the business IN an
intelligent manner Is recognized Now Mr. Gibson
enjoys the reputation Of being an honest man. and one
who intends TO do well as he can, but he IS not and
never expert on silk fabrics The only expert
on these articles in the Appraisers Office is gen.
tleman named Day, who has charge Of the fourth div
siona section OF much less Importance than the third
or silk DIVISION. 1t is only another illustration of how
not To do It, Mr. Day for ten years an examiner
in the silk division. been Vice Consul at Lyons,
speaks French nuenty and would reflect credit upon
Az Tor the Appraiser himself what with the Murray
Rank md ho
law suits he reaches the Appraisers stores be-
fore twelve O'Clock and rarely before one and never
STAYS later than hall-past two three. he drives
down TO the corner of West Broadway and Canal
street. where he leaves his carriage and then proceeds
on foot TO the office, lest his carriage should get
scratched or jammed in the lower streets. His bus-
at the Appraisers stores rs usually delegated to
/ his "Man Friday, person known as Larry Harvey.
/ Mr. Harney has long been tho bosom companion OF Mr.
Darling, whose iondness tor HIM seems little strange
to the uninltiated. Mr. Darling took Harney into the
/ department with him, although some say the affair
! was reversed and Harvey took Darling in. At all
events M,rnGy % WAS w. m
made messenger.
Harneys OF honor revoted at the thought Of
being called ''messenger." To relieve his wounded
pride Mr.. Darling changed the official title OF Harney's
position that OF "chef clerk in charge Of the sta
tionery." After time the various attaches OF the
! department became in doubt AS TO who was the Ap-
praser and who the chief clerk in charge of the
stationery but the matter finally settled in favor
! OF Harney, for he had but TO WINK or nod and Mr..
| Darling responded. II Mr. Harney says remove such
or such inan that man will lose his official head be-
/ fore two have set, or, II Mr. Harney
| says appoint such or such man the man
suddenly finds himself installed in office. or
course Harney would not attempt to persuade
Mr. Darling to remove any OF his relatives whenever
the subodnaes to be assessed for eectoneerng or
other purposes Harney calls them together each class
by themselves announces the amount Of the tax.
Forthwith the money is produced and handed to
Harncy, who hands II over 10 Darling None dare re-
/ fuse Tor Harney never forgets delinquent
MEETS IT'S REWARD
No man has been three hours about the Ap-
prascrs' Department without having heard OF tho
''Persona Effect Bureau, or the Seat OF Corruption"
Until recently 1t was presided over oy Channcey
Murry. Mr.. Murry is not there now; he likes Boston
better great many comparatively small but valuable
packages reach this port by steamer without
having any invoice and are entered ut the Custom
House, and appraisement order taken out
! for them. Across this order the broker writes
''Personal effects, aud If charity covers multitude
! OF sins these two words cover equal amount of
fraud deceit II Is alleged, and not without some
color OF authority, that many thousands of dollars
worth of dutiablo merchandise nnds its way through
this bureau without the government ever getting
| examiner and tho examiner make his
the appraisement order personal effects in use"
"Wearing apparel" professional books" or imple-
ments OF trade, - all of which are not dutiable.
partial check recently put upon the abuse known
to existed in this branch OF the service by the
unearthng OF the watch case, and at the same time
honesty met reward at the hands Of those in
authority. Some ten or twelve months ago a house
in William street imported lot of very valuable
gold watches These articles should always pass,
together with all kinds OF precious stones through the
second division; but the Watches in question did not
The examiner OF the second DIVISION an old experienced
hand who has been fifteen years IN the service and Is
| everywhere recognized expert met one day IN
Wall street the gentleman who imported the watches.
SHOW did you like those watches 7" asked the I'M
porter
! examiner.
'Why those you passed day two ago."
81 did not pass my"
That's singular got a lot OF fine gold watches
| through Davis Turner n Co., the European Express
people and they were passed the Custom House.
have them at my They came through your
| department, didn't theyr"
mo. sir they did not go through my department
mill lnnE init hi- u1
And he did.
Returning to the Appraisers Department the
aminer inquiry for time, but without meet
ing with any satisfactory result AT last he went to
the Personal Effects Bureau and asked two or three
parties about the matter and finally struck upon the
right His name is Frederick Clark When taxed
with the matter Clark acknowledged he had passed the
package 1t finally arranged that he should so 10
Davis Turner Co. and get them TO pay the duties
He did and the duties were paid, and The examiner
who had erreted out the fraud was requested TO sign
the necessary papers that they might be filed This he
refused to do, stating that he had not seen the
goods and had no record OF the package ever having
come under his supervision Strenuous Efforts were
made to hush the thing up but 1t nnaly leaked out
and the examiner was subsequently dismissed the SER
vice. and the man who passed the watches was ad
vanced in position and salary, and still holds Office.
1t may be well TO mention that Immediately after this
transaction great many appraisement orders OF Davis
Turner Co passed through the second division, whlo
previous to II they seldom there Mr. Murry,
who was AT this time head of the Personal Effects Blu
reau sgned shortly after this watch exposed.
.'sRENGn EXAMINERS.
Among the multiplicity OF abuses existing in the Ap
prasers' Department mono are more lagrant and, at
the time. transparent tEan the one or
'seeing "nxng'' some OF the examiners.
broker merchant wishes to get an invoice OF goods
examined aud passed at once, and he intimates 10
the examiner through whose hands they must
60 that worth something TO him If he have the
matter nxed without delay. II he knows his msn--and
brokers usually do-he will have his wishes promptly
attended to, and then the examiner and the man whom
he has obliged dine together and drink the best brands
of wines and smoke the best cigars Tho business be-
gins tins way but after the lapse OF few months a
closer intimacy springs up between the man who
"sees'i and who is 'seen,n and then dinners
aud wine parties supplemented by the ''lendng'
on the part OF the broker of anywhere from 500 to
$500 to the examiner This matter OF borrowing
money OF the brokers has become one OF common
notoricty but man ever yet heard OF case whero
the sums so obtained refunded In one sense
this matter has driited species Of blackmai the
broker knowing full well that refusal on his part TO
III M subject him all of