New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-28
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. L4STREPORT
ENTRIES AND RATES OF DUTY.

|
DISTURBING DECISIONS AS TO DUTIES con-
DEMNED.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The most important sub
iect discussed in the Fifth Report of the Jay Custom
House Commission is the twenty-secOnd of those
suggested by the committee of the Chamber of Com
merce, " that entries should be taken entirely in
charge by the Custom House." As this is a very inn
portant subject to all merchants engaged in the i'm
porting business the commissions remarks upon 1t
are given herewith in full:
To this measure the merchants shown by their let
tiers and statements attach much importance and the
judgment in its favor nearly unanimous. Mr. Eaton
speaking in behalf OF the committee of the Chamber OF
Commerce, said The committee advises that where
entries made at the Custom House. they should be
taken charge Of by Customs officials from the time OF pre-
sentation 10 the time payment duty the granting
OF a permit for bonding Under the present custom.
merchants must attend IN person. or through their cck
or brokers and carry their papers from desk TO
another until the entries are completed" This change,
II is said, VIII save annoyance and expense VIII slpuy
the making of entry, and will prevent confusion aud
possible favorsm, in making entries at the Custom
House.
AT present the routine in the entry OF goods is fol-
| lows:
l. Presentation of entry invoice, and bill OF laing
at the same time reduce foreign culrences ana estimate
the duties
subjected to the same examination.
g. Coming back to the Collectors office, it goes to a
A. Then TO a deputy collector who dcsgnaes the pack
age for the public store aud takes the oath OF the I'M
Then to the cashier who receives the estimated du
g. Then back again to the deputy collector for the sig
nature 10 the permit.
In France the regulations IN THIS regard are simple
All that is required at the hands OF the importer Il 10
furnish the Government with descriptive list OF the
goods imported and proof Of ownership. Tie Govern
mcnt takes upon itself the examination Of the goods
pays. and receives order for his merchandise.
In letter addressed TO a former collector, Mr. Gideon
I nrtH 1 wa
said "hat En- he London Custom House tne merchant is
seldom Detained ten minutes in the prosecution Of his
III charged that under the present syscm the en-
tr"s. instead OF hche equally distributed among the
entry Clerks given by Tie importers, their clerks or
brokers' 90 such cuy clerk tDey please and that This
gives to some cer' ar-er nnm1,i Tran 10 Others INC
seems to be- rated which accorie neither Win the
dignity 4 The service with the equal rights OF the
Importer.
Suspicion ale, is expressed tat officers frequently
ccIyy business from favorc brokers 90 the dcirncnt
and detention ~ those Who rightly have the precedence
THE PLAN An OLD OSE.
Itappears from letter Of Mr. Collector Arthur (sec
oud Report Appendix j., that about twenty years
tries wta clerk. whose duty a. 60 number and regis
er them ana t'cu butte tncn equally among the
nfry c.l- vo wee rcqufcd to nave them ready for
delivery the following morning The plan was permits
s,e hut as been avied ~ 20 some extent. ever since
"If" o.. Collector sad, cit WIS made compulsory, 10
would fT Co remedy tte alleged oyI (of iuep'r fees
nU voice iu goo selection o' the clerk WHO is To pass bus
entries and, indeed, 100 kuowlodt who las Them there
would h. 600 reason for giving eiiui'es. me toecor
feared. However tt % Nigh Involve annoying results
g. Importers from the delay OF Day m the correction Of
We uina. however that there should be no difficulty
providing FOR the reference Of entries requiring coroc
u'hf "t explanation %" SiV'i 49, N''n s''n Cu.
cement. Ton adN .iu- ttc imp rcr ana put
ring tle entry again upon iis passage that hut htte
! un. shoull hc lost bf Jhc procedure.
TcIela'ous between tie brokers and the customs Of
is has occurred boz regard SEQ the acceptance of sur'lcs
ou r.t- The -ni tics. We aie told are frequently Gus
-, 81, t surefv the brnscr h. TrnGItrd fo i lave
been rcauvc II tie bona clerk Who required his en-
Ne t.n1 mat ae task Of reforming and simplifying the
r0utlu. ui tIr customs ryCc, OF excluding all fGvOu
Ism and preference, ana assuring equal facilities and
caI prompnrss ~ an clscs d,maad mat the business
OF thc Custom House shall be- strictly confined 10 its own
officials and th1 there sla BE- mo- unueces participa
Uou i1 JUS management by outside anu irres pJnsibo
/ R.sardiur the suggestion OF the committee Of the
cham Ier in tis regard Of immediate Importance
recommend that such regulations be made as may be
necessary for carrying Their views into effect, with
special provision agm'st unnecessary delay n the case
/ " entrl.s requiring explanation OF correction.
Tint Custom House pt'k.fs shouid "ct as suitucs In
| Custom House bonds, ANA ve recommend The adoption
cation with the officials curing tier hours OF duty ex-
! c,lt 10y tie authority Oi the Collector.
STABILITY or RATFs DESIRABLE
On the subject Of disturbing rates Of duty by vary
ing constructions of the law 10y the Treasury Depart
mcut. the commission says;
The committee Of the chamber refer the fact that
questions Of statutory construction o.tcn arise N regard
20 rates Of duty PAYABLE on particular KINDS OF nerchan-
or ambiguous phraseOiogy M the statutes and are ulti'
wnffly decided by the Treasury Department az Wash
irson. They complain that 10 often happens that OH
cas ~ the Treasury charged with the determination OF
these questions change their own decisions; That the
new decisions are enforced immediately. ANA that
merchants vino hHye contracted for large Sales the price
hpius based uUon certain rates ~ duty find themselves
otg TO pay an iucr asci rate Of duty OWING to sud
den and uucE pected change Of dt clsOu.
They charge that the losses to merchants occasoned by
such Vacaons on the part of the Treasury Department
The ushts Of importers 10 be protected against such
uncertainty referred by the Committee The Ju-
dietary u report 10 the House of Representatives Janu-
Rry 10. 1873. where 10 Is sad believe that importing
merchants WHO pay into the Treasury 30 large
/ part 81 te money which constitutes the pecunlary
resources Of the nation, entitled To be clearly and
| distinctly told what raUs 81 duty will be exacted
transactions should be made 10y unexpected Treasury
In rw Of this principle Of justice and the complaints
made importers the niOrct ment Of the penalties Of
new Interpretation against merchants VINO had given
orders and imported goods, relying the previous
decision. OF thc Department formerly announced seems
/ o. touch The honor OF the Govcfumcut.
W. concur therefore, no the suggestion Of the commit
tee Chamber of Commerce that greater prudence
should he exercised IN disturbing rates OF duty when
/ once fixed hy tie Treasury Department.
For tie assurance 81 importers on THIS point and for
tie avoidance OF all possible injustice IN the iulure, We
recommend that IL he conveniently announced by the
Department that this rule Will be observed hereafter
----------
COMMODORE vANDERBlLTs COUSIN IN A POOR
HOUSE.
The Supervisors Of Richmond County visited
the county poor house and other institutions at Rich
nona yesterday. The members OF the board
10 MED by Deputy Sheriff Thomas Brown, Justice Garrett
e. Superintendent Of Poor Wilson. and Dr. Mlspaugh.
they found the several Institutions clean neat aud
orderly although Mrs Lowe had reported adversely TO
| thcm Among the inmates were found cousin OF the
/ late Commodore Vanderbilt, and a young man named
Andrew BOwn, vino, Of wealthy family, ran through "a
before he WAS twenty-five years Of age.