New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-12
WASHINGTON.
NETWORK CUSTOM-HOUSE.
AN INVESTIGATION AT oNCE-LYDECKERS OPERA
TIoNs To BE PRovED-vARIoUs REFORMS.

AN INVESTIGATION AT ONCE-LYDECKERS OPERA
TONS I'd BE PRovED-vARIoUs REFORMS.
lDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI
WAsuINGToN April IL The proposed investiga-
tion of the New-York CustOm-house will begin at
once 1t will not be directed against individual Off
GERS but will be conducted with the sole aim of
ascertaning exactly the manner in which the bust
ness of that institution is transacted, the efficiency
with which the revenue is collected, and the charac-
ter of the public service there. Numerous COM
plants have been received at the Treasury Depart
ment from merchants, CustOm-house brokers and
Others as to the manner in which the business of the
Ncw-York Custom-house is conducted. Many of
these undoubtedly will be discovered to be I'M
founded, and of them may have arisen from
personal misunderstanding between Government
officials and persons doing business at the Custom
house. For others there may be ample ground, and
it is the object Of the Secretary to ascertain all tho
facts in order to introduce such reforms us may be
found to be necessary.
An impression prevails in Administration circles
that the present force of clerks and employees in the
New-York Custol-housc is greater than is necessary
for an efficient collection of the revenue. 1t Is
believed that some of the prominent officials do not
give that amount Of time and attention to their
duties which the Government has right to expect
from them and that many of the subOrdinates who
have been appointed for political services, or for
their supposed influence in managing the primaries
and running political conventions, are not as COM
pctent for the performance of their particular duties
a. they might be- Ii will be the desire of the Prcs-
dent and the Secretary of the Treasury materially to
reduce the force in tho New-YOfk CustOm-house, at
the same time that its efficiency is improved, and to
break up all abuses which may have grown up under
the present or former Administrations.
The irregular performances of Special Deputy Col
lector Lydecer had not been brought to the atten-
ton of the President OF the Secretary Of the Trca
sury until reported in The TRIBUNE. The accusa-
lions will be thoroughly Investigated. There is not
the slightest doubt that Nr. Lydecker has been
guilty Of the transactions reported yesterday /;
and n thorough investigation Will not only dis
close the names of the persons referred to having
been favored by him. but also the dates of the seye-
raj transactions. They have been known for
several months TO newspaper correspondents
IN Washington, and an official record of them
can probably be found in the Treasury Department
itself IL NAV be said too, that each one of these
transactions was officially brought TO the attention
Of Collector Arthur at the time of their discovery
but it is uot known what disposition was then made
of chem. The names of the prominent persons I'D
connection with whose importatOns these irregr-
larilics occurred are withheld for the reason that
iii several instances at least they are wholly Ignor-
ant that ANYTHING of the kind had occurred and
would have denounced it if it had come to their
knowledge.
No important changes will be made in the New
York Custoin-hOuse until about the time OF the
meeting of Congress in extra session. 1he only
vacancy now existing there is that III the office OF
the Surveyor OF the Port Soon after the Inaugural
ton ii WAS supposed that the President would fiji
tl,ic vacancy at once and it expected that Gen.
Merritt OF ST.. Lawrence County would be appointed.
The uiune OF Cen Sharpe's successor will undoubt-
edv be sent TO the Senate during its extra session.
Tie announcement that an investigation had be-
GIN into alleged frauds in the importation of silks,
made in TIE TRIBUNE dispatches a few days ago,
has already resulted iii bringing cut much ne" evil
dencs on this subject Letters and dispatches from
several Western cities couObOIato the statements OF
fact already made, and prove the great interest
which Ia felt BY prominent dealers in silk goods al
over the country in speedy suppression OF TINS
kind of smuggling. The largest dry goods houses
of Chicago, st. Louis Cincinnati, and other west
crn cites have like those of NcwYork, been driven
out Of the business of direct Importation By the
system of differentiation practlced by certain
New-York firms. Especially has this been true or
the trade in broad silks and ribbons. Keith Bros.
of Chicago, a very large house, which formerly
iIoported ribbons extensively, has been
compelled t. abandon foreign markets
en .fcly and to make all its purchases in New-lork.
They say that they can buy there from 10 to 20 per
cent cheaper than they import their own goods,
notwithstanding the fact that they invariably paid
and offered to pay cash for all goods imported
Field Letter d Co., and j. V. Farwel ~ Co., also
of Chicago, two of the largest dry goods houses in
the West have long been large importers OF general
dry goods; but, like others. they are compelled to
buy their broad silks in New-York. This is the eX-
perience not only of New-York and Western mer-
chants, but also Of those in Eastern cities.
The investigation of this branch of the smuggling
business will be- very thorough, and an honest effort
will be made and in it the Secretary OF the Treasury
will be earnestly supported by the President, to
hrcnk IL I'M.