New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-12
CUsTOMHOUSE DISCLOSURES.
WHERE REFORM WILL BE MADE.


soN's LITTLE suRPRlsE-wEIGHiNG ABUSES.
The Custom-house Commission completed
another weeks work yesterday. and takes today its
usual Saturday recess. The Commissioners expect to
complete the inquiry fortnight longer. ono day Will
be devoted TO visit TO the dehenturc rooms, barge
Office. and the bonded warehouses Merchants and
brokers will be given opportunity to state their com
plants and views. Secretary sherman was in the city
yesterday and paid five nlpr tcs Wait to the Commits
sion shortly after II o'clock. lie accompanied b.
Gen 4. c. McCOOk, ard hs private secretary, Mr. Bah
cock.
Naval officer A. Il. Cornell replied in writing to the
request OF the Commission, that the collector naval
officer and surveyor report what subdivisions OF their
offices were most exposed TO bribery and completely in
frauds and that they suggest remedies. Mr.. Cornell
wrote in part
consider the entry. Hquidating and warehouse
CLERKS the only particularly exposed to such I'M
would affect tie amount Of duties 10 be collected The
causes OF such liability wound aScFibe To Nc tenpl-
nus offered by those wAO desiring 10 gain an adv autSv
over their rivals who GCiraud The Government Of Its
revenue, scek to control the action Of clerks by bribery
under the pote name OF Eratlles IL IS uWcut 10 SUI
ss adqatc remedy for such abuses since they orgi
nate with those whom jhrrc Is no Official control
can OF no protection Other than careful
selection Of persons M such exposed positions par
ticuar gard bcng paid 10 moral character and fur
tBcrmore eu.h official discipline and supervision as
would reduce 10 q minimum Ire opportunity for teilpta-
ion together with rigorous punishment IN case Of the
discovery OF any lmproTn'y.
Mr. Jay read communication signed by 20 Custom
house broker, and rOtaccs asking the Commission To
recommend that tie secretary OF the Treasury forbid
clerks from a9 ing nOtarics, alleging that the time
consumed I'm attending 20 the calls made upon them
n,tarrs ted.d to rctard the business OF merchants
special Deputy surveyor james h. Benedict resumed
his testimony and m explaining the outdoor business OF
the Customhouse, followed IN part the line OF statement
previously taken by surveyor sharpe. MI Robinson,
who he'd in li- hand paper containing specific alega-
tors agu, certain inspectors OF being engaged III out
side business pTopounded several important inquiries
Tho wue-, said ne knew of no inspectors employed
IN other business. T-cy might be SO engaged
ana he not know it Mr.. Robinson said
;hcrc were man, complaints tlat Inspector, carry
ing kinds OF hu-HDas Inconsistent with their dates as
Government 'uc aach N httHinS hrir's r.sduidh' g.,
aIt ag i-b'Dr saloons The witness rd that one Of
the ns Fcfors rcpHtci 90 keep motel ~ Ngstchc-'er
County, hut Tar the witness knew Dee had been
attentive ais official duties Mr. Robinson gave ,r.
Benedict dud Cen. sharpe surprise hY showing then.
tLr !Ht "I Inspectors "o 81 was 'hEtu were 'iis-'u
M the restaurant and Rag rir:I u Mr. E'UrGc,
slid be- rad been tAe Cu,DmhrIse n years. aud ,il
vas IrlftIu@ -'hitthH. A|". rF''' "E, hI' IuIA''
ud tt' reporters iA. ~" Commission Was rtttN"E
90. INST almost everybody connected Win The custom
ioler .t, .,..,,
b. oGIs'd ~ answer % tnc trs' question: 500 10 "if
uoH.ct -c." I4rrc were 1913 AIGit Hatciusa ia TIE
c'rrr fns w,in-,. * r6c e.sn tie .rir,oa.,
- -tcm. Nc thoueai ta Go'cia;I,ut Oaeht 10 own q
seiof uu Iic N5Jn or J. 50 Hivrt. and smaller tIa
logs M t1e dicrrn- districts. NI'h proper ae-'nii,'ia
u {
much improved boo aFst.W and Che tIIco console t.o
10, witness questioned 100 great length concerning
Uc ',cgacI~ ami C",s,r- Hc t-ul i tlo ass. l,
.c!-i.I- lahJrciS. They were pad I'D cents an
hour rac.. Ike ltHurtrS, I'm! were sworn ON" rs.
.'U IurI.JT" .llG Do. VS. alleged iiIf tie ASSISTANT
W .-u-IS sometimes cit the Government instruments
aud D.. aIorcIs E..i tlo city wo,2'.fs who tOJA TIE
weights AND l;ua ,hc v,ehcr t.u part %. DO, ia af
4Iru-.. The witness SAID Lt could not cohesive oi
this urin- tTut, ami said Ga tue ether band msIc1-u
a' charged hai h1If o TIC weights returned iy fe ~
We gher, were copies II the Government weights. lie
thought the manner of up.IyIrLg fhr WtgItrs' ace
cou.- enabled him 10 jHdg' ciu-.l, TO the honest
a.d 'lcl-HcT ol tier work. They I'D -rcat deal %.
WORK Last there were weighed up. ard OF 1880
COCOON pDuut- o. porte and upwards H. OUOtpup'
pounds OF exports. IL 10 were true that thc weigh
exercised Atile or 40 supervision OF the Weighing
W0ld admit jhat Tie Office eft Vrigncr almost u,r
les Anyway, Tie j. Hc -hcr6 might De reduced ~ T.
| IS 20 whether m,n "2re Gut on the Welghors
vice, the witness said ne preferred 10 have thc
Wr-Aers tell their own story. lie hudilS saHt 3,
wa, bis IMPRESSION thJt la some OF the districts iu'ry
were the Toii, who dG not render any absolute
OF necessary ~erylc, To ia. GOI crnI-Lt There Mere
few complaints IS merchants ~ tic gross weights, bat
trrra were ndin'~ or the tarc Weghts. MI lU.nut
said hc believed tuat the theory and law were night Dui
.,.c d The allowance OF extra tdIc not conducive
10 fraud The witness aid finally That NJ could soc h""
il might lead fraud. Dir Turrurc sad IL ALICE
hat The IRISH gentleman who serves III the Wclghrrs
stead 20 hour getting the tiTe on an Ia
voice uf sugar. for example, wuud pick ont e" ot tut
biggest hUg-EridS, and use their estimated WJght rs
basis Tor estimating dre the invoice. The witness
said II amy such system prevailed II all wrong and
led 10 fraud There we're - clerks in his offices, Ct
many Tor inc work required OF them.