The New York herald., 1877-07-11
THE REVENUE SERVICE.
Reported Removal OF Special
Agent Brackett.
Is IT CIVIL SERVICE REFORM9
What the Steamship Companies and
Merchants Say.


For several days past has been rumored that Cap
tain N. Brackett special Treasury agent located
this city. was TO DO superseded. The statement
was made when. some time ago, Mr. Tngie was sp-
pointed supervising special agent ut Washington
Prior to that time tho different stations had been
definitely designated and only last week order
issued from the Treasury Department dstr,ctug the
country and setting apart certain Of territory
for tho various agency precincts. few days age
Major George ID. Weeks, OF Brooklyn, returned from
the capital with an appointments oil special Treasury
agent In his pocket At the time IL va
given out that he would be stationed this city, and
take the place Of Captain Brackett. orders TO tha1
elect TO be issued today; but up tho hour q
closing last night nothing had been heard the Gus
tom House to that effect Major Weeks, the new ap-
poince has been connected With tho internal
service OF Brooklyn Tor number Of years He ~ .
builder by trade which profession hc practsed since
leaving tho government employ For several years he
was the chairman OF tho Kings County Republican
General COMMITTEE He has also u very honorable
record from tho army, having attained bis rank BY
merit only. II is stated that Mr. S. b. Chitenden and
other leading merchants have been tho means of OBJ
tanning Major Weeks appointment
now RECEIVED.
Tho rumor that Captain Bracket had been removed
was received with considerable surprise In Custom
House crclcs It viii be remembered by HERALD read
ers that Captain Brackctt is tho officer under
direction the large ana important Of laces,
silks and English clothing has been made, It was a
little startling that the rumor OF his removal should
follow so soon aiscr bis activity In capturing tho Snug
giers and Their goods HERALD reporter yesterday
cacd u tho office VI tho Cunard line Of steamships
order 10 learn whether any conflict was In progress
between the Treasury officials und the officers OF
thus line; short time siuco Captain Bracket
seized on Of tho company's ships elegant SUIT
ol gentlemaus sumner clothing, II being directed 10
the agent o tho lnc and II supposed that his
ton IA this matter had cmbittered the officials ana,
therefore, tnat Efforts wore made IN Wash ington
have him removed. Mr. Charles G. FranckIyn could
not DO seen, but his secretary told the
relations between tho revenue officer and the com
pany were perfectly harmonious; while the latter at
times thought the oilcer too strict IN his
9n OF the law In sezing every little package that Vas
not in the manifest; still his zeal could not be TOO
highly commended nor his honesty doubted. A
might occur, tho officer said, where a gentleman
would ask his friend TO send over package and the
favored one ON this sde knowing when II was to
arriye neglect TO declare It and pay tho dutles
IN such case, he thought, the law should not bo
strictly interpreted
Tho lnman line Is represented by Mr. John G. Dale.
Tho reporter was told by thus gentleman his COM
pany had tecn in trouble Tho revenue au.
thorties, and consequently the removal retention
oi captain Bracket was matter OF which he had
| never thought
Tho aavana steamers have given tho Customs
authorities perhaps more trouble than any other
account Of the constant smuggling OF cigars and
cigarettes The modes OF the coptrabandsts ~ getting
their precious stores ashore very ingenious giving
the revenue officers the greatest ana ire
quenty completely battling detection Mcssrs. W. +.
owners ana agents OF this line Mr.. Clyde said that
although Captain Brackctt had often ccmc iuto col
lislon with The company the matters OF seizure,
they had always believed nm 10 be "a conscicnt
oicer. and were surprised VI tho report oi his
| movaL
| IN THE CUSTOM Housg.
Tho secretary OF Collector Arthur explained that tho
Special Agent was apponIee OF the Secretary OF the
treasury, was under no orders from the Collector Of
tue Por and acled Independently all respects He
had heard nothing OF the removal OF officer. and
could not say vi his own knowledge whether tho
noating rumor Of the dismissal correc or not.
An atacne OF the agents Office explained TO tho
porter that there was change, but that ABOUT
no, from any dissatisfaction with Agent Erackett, bat
on account OF rcdstrcting the oice. .hAt Is say
The present Incumbent succeeded Treasury A ,cnt
Hale. but has received rcgolar appointment
Nov, the -ccond dist.ct embraces Farlcid, Middle
| town. and Now Haven, Conn. Sag Harpor N y
Perth Amboy and Newark " j., with a station At
| New York city. Tbe duties OF SPECIAL agents as de-
nncd by section 2649 OF the hevsed Statutes of tbe
United States, are nc examination OF books papers
und acts o. Collectors and othcr officers vi the Gus
toms revenue, and these duties, under the require
ments oil section 6jl OF Revised Statutes are TO
DO performed under regulations not ncons stcnl with
laws tnat tho Secretary OF tho Treasury may
To time prescribc Special agents engaged inve-t-
gazing frauds or wrongs against TIC revenue oi tho
| government are empowered 10 administer oaths 10
| witnesses, and under section 5000 are authorized.
wihn definite limits, to make and seizure OF
persons and properly IN tho prevention detection
oi frauds upon the revenue.
CAPTAIN BnAcKErr's STORY.
The special agent himself stated 10 reporter that
although he had no Official notification oil change II
was generally bcneved that u STRONG effort WIS heing
made toward tnat end. Tho party named as his
successor " said 10 De Mr. Weeks friend OF Assist
night oil In tins oice, said tho AGENT ''in trying
% ferret out frauds against the government.
Here Is pile Of checks ana invoices,
tnero bills OF ladns and correspondence have
! selzed and they have lod 10 the lace seizures Ia
spring street already noticed by tho press tue
silk capture III Forty seventh street have made
fourteen arrests already In connection with the late
exposures, ana this morning arrested ON tho
steamer Greece, which boarded at daylight so you
can have some idea OF the labor connected with the
business In consequence oi the Occupation of nv
tine with government Affairs | not sought IN
nuencc with politicians. rs considered tho Interests
Of tue revenue took precedence OF my own.
WHAT rnE IMPORTERS
In order to give the pubic iu idea or this SNUG.
ghng business and how Affects the or the Guy
of New York II Will only DO necessary to gtyo the
views OF low leading i'm porters and jobbers 40
silks and general merchandise Nr. Libby, Of nrm
Of A. T. stewart Co., was dsincIincd to speak OF the
matter; but his satisfaction could not 10 concealed
tuat another blow had been struck the smuggIera
member Of the irn OF II. Is. Clafn a. Co. thought
.tnat although tho disclosures revealed nothing new
The constant lear OF exposure would deter from
cngag ing In tho traffic
Mr.. Fox, member OF the firm OF Le Boutillier
Brothers, gave some Interesting nguscs. He said
Amcrican silks that We purchased at ~ yard
years buy and sell at profit or 81 25,
but think the amount OF foreign silks small and
tho demand 80 great that the quantities smuggcd
hardly affect the market Another dealer thought that
tho time would come when scarcely any foreign siks
would Oe sold In the American Market 1--WE I'M
proving every day III their Manufacture and attn
hopeful that ou. imports VIII decrease rapidly in
this article oi womcns wear that snail be abic
pay oil the national debt during our generation"
| Mr.. Charles McCIccry, Of tho ntm OF Jainos Nc
Crcery a. Co. said that tho importers suffered
than tho dealers; that smugglors always wanted
highest market prccs and, what win perccn
''go-bctwecns" COMMISSIONS 10 auction houses &c,
his profits were not nearly 80 large usually sup
posed But the sixty per cont duty that the govern
ment Imposes will always be incentive dishoness
mon 10 engage Ia ventures 70 cheat Uncie sam
| GMUEGT.En