The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-23
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.

THE APPRAISERS EXPERIMENTATION SAM
PIERS Observation-Disclosures
THE FINE ARTS ExAMINER--poLIr1cs AND
APPOINTMENTS.
The same Mr.. Peck who was before the commission
on the previous day appeared again yesterday at tho
session. where he irierros gated ut length.
He had with him another person, who, he claimed,
could give very damaging testimony against the Custom
House
Daniel Howell, engaged as storekeeper the At
lantc Docks In Brooklyn in 1s70-7l was examined.
He recited OF gross rreguarty In The entry and
clearance OF a vessel loaded with sugar, which, he
claimed, had arrived at night, discharged her whole
cargo ana cleared again by morning. As he could
give neither names nor dates tho commission de-
clined TO take any notice OF his testimony.
WORKING THE ApPRAIsEas DEPARTMENT.
Assistant Appraiser William D. Hoyt, OF tho Fifth
division, testified that he had been in the department.
for years. but did not claim that he was expert
tho examination Of all tho merchandise that
into his bureau; in his opinion The examiners his
division fully competent TO discharge the duties
assigned them fhs witness also complained that the
tarii is too complicated and renders proper quaint.
cation Of goods very difficult Air. Hoyt asked
his opinion In regard 10 placing tho openers aud
packers under ono head. Ho answered that M would
DC very unfortunate ior Inc service II such course
were adopted"
Mr. D. g. Sturgis, Assistant Appraiser OF the Tenth
examination OF wines, liquors. fruits. SC his force
WAS now as small us the cxgencies OF the
service !, demanded and 70 rssase further
cnuc; witness conducted most OF tho cxamna-
tons Of goods III person. ani frequently has adj
vanced tho invoice value by more than ten per
cent? IN case tho merchant and sampler
Were IN coilasion gross frauds might be BE-
that anything OF the kud exists Mr. Sturgis likewise
begged the commission tc allow HIM 10 corrcct state
ment maze before them by General HAHN regard to
Lee.
connected with the Second division; knew AIR. Lee
very well ana MIN ono OF Inc most conpe-
judges 0 nnc arts III the Appraisers Department
outside OF professionals the personnel of tho appra
or's stores compared iavorapy with any mercantile
house IN morale and efficiency and lie would not hes
tate say TINT the large dry goods firms lost moro
annually through Tho spoalion Of their hcIp III has
ever been lost IN tho Appraiser 5 Department
Mr. ). u. Corbett, examiner pnird division,
has been years IN the government service I'm
dervaluations on silks occur mostly consigned goods
ana not regular Purchases these undervaluaiions
have ranged IRON ten TO ilty per cent; dcponont has
hai occasion 10 add as Ugh 500 per cent 70 The IN
voice value oil goods. Witness complained that
chant appraisers rarely ever sustain increase OF
vaue beyond nine per cent? during Tho past year the
Third DIVISION has increased the invoice valuation OF
importations $5l2 900, since January TO May J.
1877, about $250, 900 nave been added.
N r. Frank loy, Assistant Appraiser OF the Eighth
division, testified that no guided in his
tions or sugar by the samples furnished hm by the
annun there every opportunity for fraud IN this
position; he did not believe that merchants would
depend upon samples to sell their goods BY Dir. A.
accepted no samplers OF sugar but his own; he has
heard OF parties "Hxing' samples for tho samplers,
but has no knowledge Of the Tact; tho temptation in
this line to do wrong IS certainly very grcat.
lengthy statement Ia regard " abuses existing In
cancciling export bonds rnade TO the commission
by Mr.. John A. Alexandra OF tho New York, Havana
and Mexican Mali steamship line. He suggested, q
remedy tor this defect, 10 compel exporcfs TO procure
u custom House certificate from tho port Of destinA-
ton, ON which the bonds should be cancelled.
HOW APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE
81. Fred l. Philips, private secretary TO Collector
Arthur called, and testified that far rs his
Knowledge goes appointments not mado poht-
cal reasons only, but also with view 10 efficiency;
appsneo proves inefficient Is the duty vi
Chief DIVISION report tho fact 10 Collector
and the appointoe either reduced removed; Col.
loctor Arthur acts with great promptnsss all
plants made to him; there IL no truth IN the state
inent that exist IN tho Custom House;
more than Vne-tbird o the employees take an active
part politics. which is u OF complaint from
removed Tor not paying political assessments witness
been private secretary 10 the various collectors
since 1862
Mr. H. H. Bauer, Chief Clerk OF the Appraisers De-
partment Invoice Bureau testified that he acts on
about eight hundred INVOICES month; mistakes in
classifying goods and signing returns are very ire
quent; witness thinks that numerous reductions
b. made, but the standard oi efficiency should DO
raised by throwing moro responsibility upon the
aminers.
In refutation OF tho statements made against him
by General James Hail. Assistant Appraiser, and
Colonel George Edward Hall, clerk IN The AUDITORS
Bureau, Mr ID. W. Lee, Examiner OF Fine Arts in the
Second division. appeared before the commission Ho
was INTERCEPTED at length AT tho close the commits.
sion mi him that they placed little credence IN
what his testified against MIN.
IN