The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-23
CUSTOM HOUSE REFORM.
FLuIrER AMONG THE wEIoHERs AND oAuo-
Ens-THE JAY COMMITTEES REPosr-wHAr

ERs-THE JAY coxNuTrEE's BEPoRr-wHAr
Is SAID OF 1T.
ihe last report or the committee appointed by the
Secretary OF the Treasury investigate the colsstos
OF customs for the port OF New York creates a stn
among tn" weghers and gausers and Is regarded A. o.
great importance oy some Of the leading merchants
rha' committee consists of MessrE John Jay, Law
renee rurnurs and H. Robinson, aud the report just
presented TO the Secretary OF the Treasury the fourth
which they have submitted The lrst report was on
reducing The force in tho oicss Of the Collector and
the Naval officer twenty per cent; the second re-
port related TO reduction OF the force IN the
Surveyors Office; and the third was on drawback,
on sugars. Tho present report, under consdsrs-
ton al the Treasury Department at Washington roc.
ommends thorough rcorganizauon Of the weiehers'
and gaugers' branch Of the service the interests
as the committee claim, both OF commerce aud
ofthe government Tho proposed changes, in fact N
carried out, would practically abolish the thirteen
Weighing districts OF this city and Brooklyn con-
solidste them In one district, With general super.
intendent and assistants
WHAT CUSTOMS 0SriclALs SAT.
Collector Arthur said that he had received no on
cia notification whatever In regard TO the changes
suggested by the committee Surveyor Sharpe IL out
OF town. Deputy Surveyor Benedict pointed out thai
there were thirteen weighers, for each district
and iortyseven assistant weighers appointed BY Tho
Collector. Tho number Of iaoorers IL continually
varying in accordance with the pressure lack Of
pressure Of foreign business Ut this port Upward Of
Two thousand aud one hundred million pounds Of
merchandise were weighed during fiscal year end
Ing June 80 lS7' and over $3.50 700 was paid for
labor employee IN weighing These laborers are paid
Prominent Custom House officials were very ret,ceut
about passing criticism upon the changes proposed by
the JAY Commission Ia the weghers' and Eaugcrs
department. pointing out the IMPROPERLY OF such
comment until tho report Ind been pom BY ths
Secretary OF the Treasury. One prom nent ocicial
however SAID that he did believe tho system nov
IN pract'ce In tho weiehers' and gaugers' department
had been complained Of by more than two thrss
merchants There were complaints made he
SAID, Iciore tho Jay Committee by laborsrs VINO nae
been discharged. The System which In vogue
IN weighing and eaaging Is practically that winch
adopted Ut the foundation OF the government
Changes have been made from time 10 time
were n,ns,as" few "' ro uas@, a., mus mere
there only thirteen Changes the districts depend
UPON our foreign trade No regular standard can bs
set up. ~ precisely A. - win large who esals
stores Go BY them to-day aud you may see twenty or
twenty tive clerks idle; but they Kept tho
exiscncies OF trade wnsn the busy seasons II
remains TO be seen, by actual experience, whether
such a system rs tue one proposed by the Jay CON-
mission would be any better, economically other wise
than the present system Their proposition, stated
squarely neuns the consolidation OF The dis
with thirtynve assistanta The weighing DO done
and experience ulone can only show which the
mothod. Complaints are made by some hat they
never see the weighsrs themselves do any Weighing
rhis he said, is absurd. Originally the ONCE VI
wegner was made and defined when the commerce OF
the country was very small and each wegher
actually did tho Weighing. Now the commerce Of the
port has grown To such fnagntud that such thing
is a physical mpossibiiity. The woigher must n
necessity I've, not the actua bcamsman the super
ineudent OF tho weighing. just prese his duties
are lighter, because Of the falling of Of the trade IN
Iron. sugar. &c Moreover, tea aud coffee now bear
no duIIss; these formerly had to he weighed This
makes great difference. Any such change as the one
consequence the wogners aud gaugsrs themselves,
and the many aborcrs II thoreoy there 10 to be
partment their places icing taken By otherA Con
corning tho charge OF the Jay Committee that part
of the vegetable merchandise imported here, and
which ought to 10 weighed ~ weighed At all. the
foreign marks Of weight on the package being copied
Oh, he expressed firmly the belief that the statement
One prominent Custom House official, commenting
on the committees report said tha It might be not 80
much a change Of system In weighing and gAuging as
change OF administration On the charge that there
was sort Of partnership between the is4e5aI and the
wished latter ms FAR OF as possible
OPINIONS " xERcuASTa
Members or representatives, OF several Of our very
heavy importing houses, such US those dealing
iron, stsel tin, drugs, &c. expressed themselves
well satisfied with the system Of the government, both
fault whatever to ina. Mr.. Daniel e. Robbins OF the
firm OF Nckesson Robbius importers OF drugs, took
sAseps,on however. rnsr ovr arm h.a 40 e.ass Tor
merce committee before tho Commission 10 investi-
gate the Now York Custom House he had found cause
for a change In the whole systen. He agreed with
Mr. Jay. He believed that tins branch Of tho
should be wholly reorganized As existing II iet
Tor wholesale fraud He cited me 10 lowing from
the Recommendations Of bis commitioe:
The commissec further recommend rigid enforcement.
oil the regulation providing tor %" promps ing u
weighers and gaa :ers resurnA The Is frequent com
plant delay Ia this Mrrohan
often unable to ship their rods vessels upon which
| the DELAY
returns OF the leading Arms in tho city
that often have from three four
liquidation of specific duties owing 20 the delay Ia
hIing OF the weghers This proposition meets
with the unanimous indoremens of our Correspondents
| The Offices Of wcghcrs and Raugcrs are created by
statute II the proposed change OF system made
IL must be done W Congress Tue Chamber of CON-
MERGE committee Is now preparing memorial 70 Con
gress TINS SUBJECT
RENDERING THKiR REsIGSArIoSs
At half past three o'clock yesterday afternoon the
weiqhcrs, John j. OBricn, Charles Blacke, Jeremiah
Drew, James owens, Colonel Thomas D. Thorpe, Col
one Micnae W.. Burns, Samuel q. Acton, Lewis @.
| l.ounsoerry, George II. Shelley, Jonn Mckay.
Robert Edwards and Edward i. Jardne
waited upon Collector Arthur and tender ell their
ignatons. stating that this done IN view or the
Jay committees report The Collector smipgly said
that had received notification oil the abolition Of
Offices and declined their resignationx and after
q pleasant conversation they Withdrew.