The New York herald., 1877-07-28
They Are Better Fitted to Hoe and
Plough for a Living.
Eight Hundred Errors Per Month in the Appraisers De-
prtmnt and Carshssnsss in The Naval Ofllps
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM
Secretary Sherman Heartily Concurs in the
General Views of the Report

The following report by Mcssrs. Jay, Turnuro and
Robinson, the commission appointed by tho Secretary
Of the Treasury to investigate report upon matters
Affecting the management OF the Custom House, has
been approved by the Secretary, and the Collector has
been directed to carry out the recommendations
herein made
NEW YORK July 4, 1871
SIR--For many years past the view has obtained
with some political leaders that the friends OF the ad
ministration In power had right 10 control tho Gus
toms appointments; and this view, when seems 10
has or late been recognized 10 what the Commission
deems undue extent by the chief officers Of the SER
vice. These gentlemen, the sround that they were
compelled surrender personal and partisan die
tation, appear to have assumed that they were re-
heved In part at least from tho responsibilities that
belong to the appointing power The Collector OF The
Port, speaking Of. the 10000 applications, and re-
marking the urgency for appointments came rom
men ali over the country, added ''the persons Tor
whom Is made bear their proportion oi the RESPONSE
blity for the character Of the whole force"
EVIL RESULTS OF THE OLD SYSTEM APPOINTMENTS.
The extent OF the responsibility which one OF these
persons showed himself ready to was indca ed
by the Surveyor when he said
had within the letter from gentleman
holding high official position in regard 70 the appontmen
from the service for cause lie has also been to see me
that engaged derauding the and
he writes calling attention to the case and re-
questing his appointment.
1t Is satisfactory to know that the deauting employe
thus urged. after three dismlssals, was not reap
pointed. The Inconvenience 10 the chiefs oil the service
from this system OF appointments, and interference
with the right performances of the duties OF their de-
partments, were thus indicated by the Surveyor
% % ars tro the western part of this STATE or
from the State of Iowa, the sometimes A
Of Congress recommend very strongly. and
knowing anything about the
QuesonsO that really the important duty Of the
government inrused to men you know nothing ABOUT
when they come
Queston-Now is the standard OF these men; is 1t
nigh or sakia the ioyresLt or my men
experienced Of the INSPECTORS There are some elderly
great deal and active
a,y Or ssts so ssss Should
not qualified them for the higher grades Of work This re-
The Collector had already remarked in his testi-
mony that 1.-The larger number OF complaints prob
ably came from the Surveyor OF the Port" and, on
being asked their character, said
Some are ciency. for neg duty
some for want of integrity, and for
The investigation showed that ignorance and inca
Dacity tho part Of the employees not confined
70 the Surveyors department. but were found IN
uher branches OF servce-crcating delays
ind mistakes, imperiling the safety OF the revenue
md the interests Of imnorters and bringing tho SER
rice into reproacb. IL was ihtimated by chiefs or
departments that men were sent TO them
Eithout brains enough to do the work
that OF those appointed perform the deli
ate duties oil the Appraisers Office requiring the
special qualities OF expert were better fitted to hoe
ina to plow. Some employees incapacitated by
age some by ignorance some by careessness and in
difference; and parties thus unified have been APP
pointed not to perform routine duties distinctly
marked, but to exercise discretion in questions de.
handing intelligence and integrity, and involving q
.arpe amount of revenue The evidence shows n de.
gree and extent OF carclcssness which think should
iot be permitted to continue. This point Illus
rated to some degree by the testimony OF the chiefs of
Inc Appraisers department, the important duties OF
which would certainly justify reasonable exactness.
The invoices, which recorded in that Office, and
which are sent out to the different divisions TO
be passed upon and then returned the chei clerk,
found 10 exhibit their return the
Df The several divisions, according to witness OF
nearly 500 errors month although The humber by the
Appraiser was estimated ut lesser figure part of
hcse may bc assigned to difference of opinion
10 the classification 0 the goods; but fully half
attributed 10 carelessness AZ the Naval Once it
stated that the balance In favor government
oil tue many and large errors whicn they discover
the Custom House accounts OF the liquuatioh ol
sells and statements OF refund, amounts to about
81 900, 900 per annum.
WANT INTEGRITY THE PART or OFFICIALS.
The evidence touched also upon want o: integrity
cdentally upon the constant violation by many i'm
porters dealing with them Of the provisions OF he law
OF Congress, section 8 452, which Declares
or merchandise nto the United states or s,ed as
principal elek or agent in tue entry of goods
70 any "eer Of ihe W any stny or present Of any
5000. or be imprisoned not more than years
This law as was frankly admitted. has become q
dead letter ana the surveyor testified that he had
known prosecutions under H.
ECONOMY MANAGEMENT OF THE CUSTOMS
Touching the economy OF the management OF the
Of Commerce. comparing the duties imports and
expenses OF the collection OF the revenue Great
Britain and America. that in 1874 the imports oil Great
Britain exceeded 500, 900 OOo and exports
ceeded 81 500 0OO aud that the expense OF collect
ing the customs was $50oo,u00 The same year M
ports We're S642 900 OUO and our exports >55 000 OOO
little more tnan one-third oil those Of Great Britain
and that the expense OF collecting our revenue was
about 81 600 600 An exact comparison is less easy
from the fact that in England the dutiabe articles
are iorty 10 number, and the average duty on all
there are 700 du,iablc articles, and the average
duty all imports Is thirty per cent. Ii was added
the customs service oil Great Britain assists the Lner.
chant IN every way 1t can while bs,ructs ana
hiuders." " ith the abolition VI irregular lecs will
disappear one motive for obssruciing and hndcrmg
importers, and wbcn aiter such rcvsions OF the force
may be found desirable, eaen cmpoyc shall feel
tbat he his place longer political Influence,
chief step toward The restoration Of the service viii
nave been accompIishei-l restof alton not to be
pec,cd while the appointments rest OH plrsan influ-
sncc
SCALE OF SALARIES AsD rEElE CLASSIFICATION
Touching The scale oi salaries aud their cass caon,
10 Wow OF existing circumstances with the force re-
iuced the hours or work enlarged, outside fees abol
shed and the duties and responsibilities o! the
poy6s measured by q higher rule, the commission
ieg leave submit plan with rates not below tosc
paid, and which they do not regard materially
argcr than those which, notyhs,andiug the recent
tall in values, are still paid by merchants and institu-
tons IN Now York for similar services. Take Tor
stance, the principal nseai officers Of Tho customs
subordinate TO tho Collector The latter collects
from 500 600 900 to $50 COO coo rcr snnuIn,
mos over 81 600 900 IN single day. and the former
Das thc supcrVhiOu Oi thlb llulHcnso revenue. ana
Is charged with seeing that II s faithfully accounted
Tor 10 the government, wn.lc he Is also disbursna
agent, dshursiug his check from So ZOO 200 TO
~ 0O0, 900 annually These duties and Responsibilities
not inferior 10 those Of bank presidents or cash
icrs, whose compensation frequently 10 tns city not
below SIC, 900 per aDnum while heso customs officers
receive but 81, 900 ami 5000 respectively. The i'm
portancc Vi the service o these oilicors rccog
nizcd at an early date Not being named IN the law,
.Ley come under the general classification as clerks,
whose compensation (li -, section 2,C3i the Sccrc
tary OF the Treasury was unorzcd hx.
on tho 7th Of July. 1888, Congress passed a
law limiting the compensation OF dcpuiy col
Iectors, wegiers, glugors and ineasurcrs and all
other officers, except collectors and naval oiccr
veyors aud crrksthc language is sgnncali,o 81 900
per anpun. Accordingly. in those days. the auditor
and cashier TO the Collector wero allowed $4,000 each
per ainln, double the pay of deputy collector.
We think therefore, tha. the salaries OF these officers
chief assistants OF the auditor and cashier. two In
bcr should bear somo proportion to those paid their
and approve the salaries received by them