The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-22
THE FINAL REPORT
OF THE NEW ORLEANS CUSTOM HOUSE
COMMISSION.
Economy and Civil service Reform.

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advance proofs mailed to ths press Of the coun-
try.
From the proof received last night it was
shown, first, that the letter OF instructions from
the secretary of the Treasury directed seven
lines of inquiry which covered nearly everything
in the way OF investigation. Then follows several
letters from the Collector
TO THE COMMISSION,
the substance of which has already been made
public in the columns Of the DEMOCRAT. Follow
ing next is the preliminary report OF the commis-
sion, and next comes the fiaal report, which we
present in full:
CUSTOM HOUSE, New ORLEANS,
August 4, 1877.
Sa-In their preliminary report of the 30th
June the commission appointed by the Hon.
John g. King Collector of Customs for this dis
triet, in compliance with instructions from the
honorable Secretary of the Treasury, gave their
views in regard to the force actually necessary to
perform the labor incident to the business OF this
port, and its organization. They also stated that,
whilst it appeared to them that certain OF the
poyes were not up to The standard OF character snd
efficiency which should be maintained in making
appointments to public Officer, they would leave
such cases to be acted upon by the Collector.
They are OF opinion that further reductions than
those recommended are impracticable at this
time. In making Investigation under parts to
7, inclusive, OF their instructions, the commission
called upon the Collector to furnish p ints OF
record in reg ,rd to ths past history Of the Gus
tsm- House, and as to absenteeism on tue part Of
the Collector and other chief officers, but he has
neglected to comply with this request with regar
to absenteesm, stating verbally that he did not
think it VAS, was the s.g design @ or ~ the nd. desire
to enter inquiry as to these matters, and fur
ther that the records OF his Off did nos supply
the necessary data. The commission have,
therefore, refrained from any such investigation,
except 30 far as pertans to the manner OF con-
Quoting routine business inaugurssed under the
late administration aud in forcs at the present
writing. Consequently, they are OF opinion that,
after their final adjournment, many things which
would otherwise have been brought to their
notice will remain for Investigation By the special
agent Of the Treasury Department assigned to
this district.
COMPLAINTS OF MERCHANTS.
Notwitha landing the fact that the commits
sion, by means of advertisements il the daily
newspapers OF New Orleans, and special eommu.
ncations addressedsby the Collector to the CHAM
Der OF Commerce and Cotton Exchange, copies OF
which are hereto appended, advised all of their
readiness to hear any complaint or suggestion
bearing upon the administration Of customs a.
fairs at this port, but few of the leading brokers
and merchants presented themselves, and these
with evident reluctance. Without being able to
give sufficient cause for it, the commission are
satisfied that many would have come before them
had it not been for fear that their facilities for
doing business with the Custom House would be
curtailed after the adjournment OF thescomrnsson,
if they did 80. This state OF things has left the
commission to their own resources for most o
the information they have obtained Of irregular.
tiles in the transaction OF the business OF this
port
DRAYAaE AND WAREHOUSE SYSTEM.
Prominent among Complaints made by mer
noI Iiuas tafa anttf,
with the system OF drayage existing prior to the
| LIST Of June, 1877. They say it has been too ex
| pensive, that partiaity has been shown, and ths
the drsymeu designated by the officials have not
been sufficiently prompt and accommodating
On investigation We find these complaints to be
| well founded. The evidence adduced from the
r, cords Of the Custom House satisfes us, whilst
there is no legal proof OF conspiracy to deffaud
that the public carriage system was made use OF
| by persons in power at this port to extsrt from
the government several thousand dollars per
annum, which, while it appeared to go into the
hands Of the nominal contractors, eventually
reached these officers or their friends. The rec.
ords OF the pubic store show that the cost OF
public drayage for the year 1876 was 42H cents
per package. aud for the year 1877 to June ii
was 36 cents per package.
Since the first of June. the expense Of earring
has been reduced to 18 cents per package. Mer-
lchants testified before the commission that the
I enss Of draysge to them, in their ordinary busi
4 Aess, WAS from 6 to Ii cents per package. In
1consequenoe of the foregoing acts, We recon-
mend the revocation OF the present appointment
| Of public drayman, which was made in accord
apce with instructions contained in Department
letters Of February and February %, 1877
copies of which are hereto appended. and that
the contract be awarded tv the lowest bidder, in
conformity to the provisions Of the act o june
| "a, 1874 at rate not to exceed IL cents pei
package. The commission further recommend, in
the case of sample packages, that the consignee
| be required to pay the sum of rs cents on each
package consigned to him, to cover the expense
Of drayage and handling.
| 1t is in evidence before the commission that at
one time during the former administration the
general order business was so controlled that but
| one NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. No. 6-and that one
of the furthest removed from the steamship
landings. until the praprietors OF the other ware
houses Nos. and II, had cloeed up their bust
ness and leased their stores to the parties inter
ested in No. 6. and then the general order bust
ness was afterwards divided between the three
The practice Of ordering all goods to No. 6 hst
the double effect of consolidating the storage il
one persons hands, and giving the public dray
man the highest rate for carrying. Warehouse
Nos. l and IL have since been closed, and th'
general order business is now nearly equally di
vided between the only two warehouses now II
existence.
The commission are OF opinion that, by making
use OF the basement and upper story OF Tho Gus
tom Honse for warehouse purposes, the space
now vacant might be made source OF saving, i
not OF profit, to the government; but before TIL
can be done further repairs are needed. The US
OF the Custom House as general order ware
house would be q convenience to merchants, i
being readily accessible from Their stores an
from all wharves where ships land.
Merchants complain that on the arrival OF {
vessel from foreign port, general order is is
sued for the landing OF her cargo, and as it /
impossible for them, in many instances, to pre-
pare and have their entries passed on the frs
day, their goods are sent to general-order store
thus entsilng burdensome charges for drayage
handling and storage. As, however, the city au
thorities have thus far refused permission T.
steamship lines to erect covered and enclose
docks on which to discharge their cargoes, ant
in view Of the fact that importers accept bill o
lading providing for immediate delivery, tn
commission do not feel inclined to recommen
any change in the practice, leaving it TO the in
porters to apply to their city rulers, in their owl
behalf. for the necessary relief.
The commission have been unable to ascertain
il the warehouse system is conducted irregular
ly in any respect other than those heretofor
mentioned.
IMPoRTATIoNs TO MEXICO.
Messrs. G. A. WhitDey and others represen
that merchandise arriving at this port from fol