The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-25
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.

GAUGERs' FEES AND pERQUIsITEs-roLITIcAL
ASSESSMENTS ON BONDED sToREHoUsE MEN.
Mr. Edward Luckmeyer, an importer OF silks, ap.
pearcd before the commission yesterday to refutc tho
allegations ado by some OF tho employees OF the APP
prasers Department regard TO the undcrvaluation
OF silks. He said that shippers in Lyons, Zurich and
other places arc In position to know tho current
value OF goods in this country. In many Instances
goods forced upon the market at twenty per
less than the appraised value Merchandise generally
has gone down. and such firms as A. r. Stewart Co.
and Arnold, Constable Il Co. have shown their good
sense in reducing their imports
Henry Himcy, an importer Of sugar, desired the
commission TO recommend modification the laws
relating 10 drawing samples Of sugar the arrival
cargocs which Is now prohibited by law, before tho
packages have been inspected by tho customs au-
thorilies. He reci,cd whore, on arriving from
Europe, no exhibited 10 an inspector gold locket
the dock upon which he ought TO have paid duty, but
was told hide IT, The inspector asked him several
tunes for money, which witness refused 10 give him.
nor ELECTION EXPENSES
Henry Meyer, keeper OF a bonded warehouse, toss
titled that he had storekceper until recently,
10 whom he paid $3.50 per month latteriy, however,
has taken another store adjoining. wanted the
Collector 10 allow him TO cut passage through, SO
that ono siorekeeper could attend to both this
was refused ana another storckcepcr foisted
upon him; he paid $50 per month extra to
authorities Tor coming earlier and staying later wit
has been assessed all the way from $I00 to $500
Il
Russell his demand had to pay $500 for getting his
store bonded; paid nothing to get II out OF bond, bnt
made to suffer for II by keeping lock on his store
\ for months unnecessarily; for number of years
past he has paid political assessments Tor elections
rnE WAY THg GAuGERs
| c. b. Elliott, formerly . Custom House broker and
later clerk with Wellington, Kidder n Co., importers
oil liquors. was called III and usncred into an ante.
room TO which the commission adjourned. On cmcrs-
log he sworn aud testified that governments gaug-
crs adopted the system OF eyyng fco Of ten cents
per for returns furnished the importer his nrm
must have paid upward OF 81, 600 per annum In this
manner; besides these ices tho gaugcrs made re9ui.
stons tor liquors. ranging IN quantity from one-haIt
TO three gallons at time, and In lieu thereof re.
mted from two and ahali TO five per cont OF the full
measure. witness read a NUMBER OF letters that had
been sent by gaugers Tor gn brandy &C., when his urn
was In business.
REPUTATION or CHARGES.
Mr. Samuel L. Russell rcfuteu the statement made
by Mr. Meyer He denied that no received any
money IRON Meyer. or that Meyer had TO pay any.
thing for getting his stores, either bonding or out oil
bond; IN the latter the accounts had not been
closed, which Is the reason why the store was
| kept closed this done Meyers
| bonds cancelled; Never did leave an en-.
vclope containing $40 on deponcnps desk last iaii
for election purposes, which witness did not eocs
nor accept Meyer was always anxious TO contripu'o
toward the election Athe reason two nspcc
tors sent Meyers store Is that bis houses arc
under separate bonds, and until these are canceeu
CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGEt