The New York herald., 1877-05-02
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.


GENERAL SHARPE EXPLAINS THE WORKING OF
HIS DEPARTMENT FURTHER-ABUsEs OF THE
DAMAGE DEPARTMENT.
At the hour appointed tho mission to investigate
the workings Of the Custom House met yesterday In
the Naval OMcers room, Mr.. John Jay presiding, ana
Messrs. Turnure and Robinson being also present.
The examination Of General George II. Sharpe, Sur.
veyor of the PORT was continued He gavo further
OF the duties of the inspectors He stated that
the Collector has tho utmost difficulty with politicians
who recommend asprants Tor Office from the ranks Of
tho most ignorant OF men. He knew OF where
inspector had been appointed and discharged three
different times, tho last time being for There
should be grade OF civil service governing the ap
pontments OF inspectors IN order 10 obtain good
men. Usually about election time there is assess
ment laid on the employees for political purposes but
these cont ributons were always paid voluntarily aud
to persons not IN the government service General
Sharpe submttotthe following statement in regard to
the labor performed by tho weghers in 1s76:-Im.
ports ll9, 4l6eons EXPORTS 70 $751; 054 ons coal
salt 5,177 $40 TONS. Foes S4l9 S43 SO; expense
s240 81 Aggregates OF 1870 1871 1872 is73 1874
1876 and 1s76-Imports $50, ,220 440 :ons EXPORTS
Sl2 403 430 tons; coal and salt AZ 372, 2l2 Fees
s., 500, 716; expense, $2,09S, S62 So.
Mr. Jay read the following extract from the law
relating to bribery, and asked Surveyor Sharpe what
he knew concerning It's violation - Every person
engaged in the importation Of goods wares or mer-
ChAndlso into tho United Sates interested prin
cpa clerk or agent in the entry OF any goods
or merchandise who. at any time, makes or offers
present OF any money other thing of value shall DO
fined not more than $4,000 or be imprisoned not more
thun two years.
The witness answered, "As far as he knew about
gratuliies It dead letter. Merchants cannot be
stopped from paying officers for dong their work
Quick as, Tor instance, vessel s demurrage and
tho importer Is anxious 10 obtain vercation OF tho
weights, MARKS numbers tarc, &C., In order 10 settle
frelghs. such work has to be done Office hours
and IL optional with the officer TO do The
wcigners make their returns as soon possible at the
Surveyors Office where tho importers have every op
purtu q g
The Surveyor then related how alleged "Custom
House robbery Of brandy the captain and
crew OF the vessel The captain, on beng discovered,
fled. In 1885 there but three appraisers
acted boarding officers, three assistants sixty
amounted 10 si 46s lIo o. In 1872 the revenue col
iected reached $l4S $751; IT'S T3 Tho present force
aro a ar
lations OF The revenue laws especially those detailed
Tor special service
THE APPRAISERS DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Slas b. butcher, the appraiser, testified that he
had been but o'ght weeks chief oil the APPRAISERS
Office, and Is not thoroughly informed to It's work.
ings
Mr.. Bausch, special Deputy appraiser, said he has
been thiry-sx years connected with the Appraisers
DepallIneut; he commenced his career examiner; |;
hts Is the Sixth DIVISION, IN which all woolen goods
such as carpets &c, are appraised; he has three ex
amners TWO clerks and eleven openers and packers
and one messenger: there are now about fifty examn
and about ninety openers aud packers besides the
clerks and messengers employed In the department;
he does not think the force could be decreased with
out njurng the business; owing to the complications
IN the tafH the aoor OF me department. mas increased
very materially; ho thought, however, that the old
system before the reorganization In 1865, consisting OF
board OF three appraisers who had i've assistants
Was the bcs now there are ten assistants and Ms many
examiners needed the assistant appraisers not
always qualified when they appointed, but become
80 by constant practice. Mr. Bausch thought that
account Of the great responsibility resting tho
sstaht appraisers they ought least So 900
year, instead OF S. 500 paid now, and the examiners
$4,000
THE DAMAGE DEPARTMENT
Mr. Bausch was very severe on the Damage Depart
ment, which, he said, was badly managed Ia his
own department he had rcappralsed by order OF the
appraiser, woocns Tor which forty per cent allowance
had been made and which were not damaged over uvc
per cent. In his Judgment all damaged goods should
be appraised by the respective divisonE. 'Sonic oil
tho damage appraisers better abc handle plough
hoe than To judge of damages accrung to goods s"
The service would not suffer uch by the abolition OF
the Damage Department. as the greatest abuses exist
there. Tho importers should look the insurance
panies for their damages In instance, Mr.. Bausch
related he re-cxamined eighty four bales OF wooens
which had been adjudged rs badly damaged He found
out Of the entire lot but twelve bales which came
under that head, and these only slightly wet from
efficiency OF the Appraisers Bureau, especially long
as "spccihc, nd vaorcm ana compound duties" were
imposed by the existing tarE Mr.. Bausch gave many
more Interesting details OF his department and prom
iscd TO suggest TO the copmissou such reforms his
long service warranted him 10 know the necessity Of
/ The commission adjourned until this morning.