New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-11
CUSTOM-HOUSE METHODS.
THE COMMISSIONS WORK.

TIE COMMISSIONS WORK.
MR. LYpECKER's HIGH OPINION OF TIE FoRcE-IN-
1EREsrING TESTIMONY ABOUT FEES.
The Custom-house Commission is giving more
time than formerly each days business, the sessions
being long and considerable energy and more system be-
ing displayed in the Interrogation OF witnesses Dudley
f. Phelps deputy collector in charge OF the law business
submitted This information in writing yesterday; up
TO date c97 suits have been brought against Collector
Arthur rcfuudng Of duties alleged TO have been
wrOngully exacted. or these j32 have been decided,
as appears from the records TINS Office OF which G35
been decided In favor Of the importer and 9l IN
favor Of the Collector. or the remaining 1,745 few
have probably been practically decided by judgments OBJ
tanned similar cases, but Of which this Office has as yet
received no official notification. The number OF suits
now pending is several hundred less than the apparent
number upon the books OF This division, rs many OF The
the question involved have been con
sOlatcd by order of the court for The purpose o. saving
Costs"
John r. Lydecker storekeeper of the port, testified
that he also special deputy collector and acting
collector in the absence Of Gen Arhar lie had general
supervision Of all the warehouses OF the port oNew-
York There G5 bonded warchOuses-62 at the DO
ginning Of the rOnth-two sorekccpers to each ware
house at jersey CITY and Hob0ken. aud ono sorekocpar
nj each OF the others aud relief sOrekeepers Til
recently he had chief clerk 1T $500, who resigned
lie had without such clerk since, hut 1t was an in
convenience and he wanted Three other clerks
had salaries Of 81 600, 81 600, and $1,000 The reports
Of sorekepers pa scd to the third division AMI then
to hi- the zenith These two divisions were formerly
united The stoIekeepcrs equal in efficiency TO the
other men OF the force. He had occasionally reported
inefficient storpkcepers for dismissal and the Collector
had always acted Immediately He thought the Custom
house force would compare favoraby with any similar
force m the wOrld-wth that of fr,t-cass mercantile
establishment Beyond doubt there was much Poltl-
cal pressure in appointments but II this removed
he did not believe higher class Of CLERKS would be OBJ
tanned Reports OF irregular practices such as the re-
ceivnc Of fees authorized by law TO him ire
ducntIy lie had investigated many rmoTs OF this KIND
and arrived at the conclusion that the facts were very
much exaggerated. II seemed impossible 10 establish
the facts as reported Complaints made a rule
anonymously. Small fees perhaps PAID TO CLERKS
to facilitate business. He satisfied that tine abuse
existed but he could not say what extent He knew
no means OF stopping this. rcremptOy regulation
f1rddug the receipt Of fees penalty OF Immediate
discharge might have sood effect. The law
was strong enough tSis point, hHt there was 10
regulation. He knew Of men who had been discharged
for receiving fees. man "bo had been in the Custom
house 40 ycars and unusually capable, took fees
for extra work. because he said lie was not able 10 live
without them About New Years Day so left
his desk by firm for when ne had done ulch "ofa ana
this led to his dismissal Ihe business OF merchants
would not be retarded il fees were not given. store
keepers were paid II per day and PlJO was collected
cacmonh of each warehouse owner To pay siOrekeaers
ana nc!cnt3l expenses OF tie Government ousinesS
lis own salary as storcaecp.r was S3V'o NHch m"f-
ut the merchants cNpeGe ihey were charged on earl
cas-" $40, which ,pt 20 pay the 70 per day zee OF
the merchant appraiser. Mr.. Robinson sIt secretary
sherman desired inquiry this point. TWO ago
Mr. Lvdecser sad be eiycd the deposits made by the
merchants, which were now paid TO the Auditor II
,rnsr,n balance remained due The merchant There
was q general balance when the Auditor WAS made the
,.slesi5n lie coul not tell how large il was, he
would make mp the account # q merchant wanted 10
cases f.apprscd ~ required to deposit 500, ami
the merchant aprra., did the work III two days The
merchant wouii bc entitled 20 receive bAc 7l3o II was
no; the % give merchants notice o. balances As
a ruic tls balances pcIc sEall
Jari's /. Benedict testified that had been Special
M N frieted sp ctcs u thcr duties hut did NOT make
a,sIsa,nts 10 work lien the Civil service Commission
Wa ui~hanH,d tuc irC'i1uj custom OF having lht Si
no lostorcd Now the cco,or appointed men, so tar
as be know, without the recommendation OF me odr
u,beulurc department were it's N appointments. The
tceIe were very much Ike IRE dogs IT the bench
-hov-tnpy Ner" OF Gi kinds /, TOOK some ot them
lon tin. 10 learn their cu'a Some Of them had not
she aputrd. 10Y i,Gun- which customs officer should
have As IUl, they wore elderly mCu, some ot them
without IuUca bodily activity. some Oi item were men
Of consider t ability. There we're now - inspectors
II akaH ~ d 3'rbGin- Officers Ac thought hat
With tine decrease of business lac fore" could come down
tu 10 u- l,clofs always dD-.fc 10 be- a-og cd 60 the
di-cl"iGe OF r'cmaiipr iHl st.u tL4I 'H,2 Adu q
place u"acr cotC, mat 'hcy were provided Win trir
meals on h"'d bs steamship and that they were ONLY
a.Ft "n-atf tirr 'hitt oi -FOUR tA 10" u' WrcA. but
Lr learned from iucn "hJ Ind eit the department
ana; ihc Fnae! ",trrti"n "as in the siainii"s "hich
tc Inspectors Aad cc' l'r" t",l ul' Sc ihahP tuhpah
les, rau-.u" ~ 90 10 80 and 500. tie thought
PLAZA .eJ 10y IN commission the best mean, 81
stopping thi, d'"'e Ol'..' nicer "4dd a"hi' thal
received called hatcHc,s and bJu-S" The" haicnes'
Were ices tc"NtI 10y inspectors from merchants Tor
hodm2 goots on tc oAS 50 they sIOuld not 20 in'g
general order. IL %s dl nj tu discover the ialchcts'
Wien aH lntrUr:S books were examined recently sums
iound i"co ded as having brrn paid 10 inspectors
fr holding sp0is on G"eAS me bones were ices pad
by steamship passengers 10 oIa'I ID GET thclf --iso
hurried ,rougn us was al sITact 10 Tie inspectors.
The OILY To- abolish he bones Was for the Gov
eminent 10 PROVIDE proper Place Tor the examination
o: baggage.