The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-08
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION

THE OBNOXIOUS FEE BUSINESS IMPOSED by
LAW FURTHER VENTILATED WHERE THE
SYSTEM ORIGINATED.
The session Of the Custom House Commission con-
unucd yesterday Mr.. Jay opened tho proceedings by
reading letter from the Secretary OF tho Treasury
plying TO question oil some persons "Whethcr
ployc OF the Custom House won't receive immunity
from Tho government and not be removed his po-
sition in he came before tho commission esli-
fled to existing abuses" Secretary Shcrmans letter
says:-.Tho Custom House Commission viii receive
any proper communicate in confidence, aud main.
tam IL IN confidence, but will examine tho iacts
openly, and prove disprovc them. No doubt
witness such you mention. who desires TO
give testimony will DO examined In private, ana the
Information only used MS IL can be verified by open
proof, and official who rcDders the government this
will not be oustcd from his place disturbed
by reason Of his disclosures"
THE LrquIpArISG BUREAU.
Mr. Il. II. Evans, chief OF tho Liquidation Division
attached TO tho Auditors Depa, tment, tho first
witness examined THIS gentleman testified that no
had been employed in the Custom House since 1885,
the Naval once received statements OF accounts of
vessels only duplicates OF vessels registered the
pcation OF the tariT caused vast amount Of
sponccncc; when an importer felt aggrevcd at the
tariff imposed his good he protested, and this pro-
test went TO tho Ninth DIVISION Mr. Evans gave an
illustration how protests and appeals made. Last
year he made 36l2 appeals oil which every four out
Of i've decided In favor OF the Collector. Mr.
EvaDs thought SPECIFIC duty would be great improve
ment over the present complicated ,nrin. Witness
also thought the twenty-five clerks employed now In
his division might be reduced To fifteen.
AUDITORS BUSINESS.
The next witness was MIR j. j. Herrick, Chief Dis
bursting Clerk OF the First DIVISION, testified that
he drew all the checks and dsDursod all moneys cx
csp. salaries s ana PAD all regularly audited ss
moneys ordered Tor drawbacks. six clerks were en-
ploycd IN this department VINO did their work faith
fully ana moro than earned their pay.
THE MONEY BAGS
Mr.. James lolman, the cashier, testified that his
duties and deposit all the moneys which
collected Tor duties and what are known as tho
cmolument accounts, as vol as all funds received IRON
Other sources; these are classified, aggregated and
entered in wnat Is known as the customs book;
each days work Is closed before leaving
the office and proved under the different
accounts generally, MS also on entrances clear
nnces Of vessels lite here exhibited long printed
list OF the schednc oil fees charged by law, winch
called forth considerable comment from the commits.
sion on ITS great completely Mr. Turnnre asked Mr..
Holman u the government might not waive all fees
aud include tho amount N the dutics' To this
affirmative answer Was gwen.
"whai does It cost the government to collect tho
fees which consideration is gwen the inspect
orsY" inquired Mr.. rurnurc. Mr.. Hoffman could not
say
timc and trouble ~ continued Mr.. Tnrnure.
Witness dd not think the ngures could be placed
high.
Mr Hofmar-Thcy could be aiaaigamaed with the
duties
The witness further testified tnat no had fourteen
employees N hts oliicc VINO were all good and faithful
their hours are longer ihan In any department OF
the Custom House; there Is no way to L.vor any
chant, consequently no graucs could be obtained by
his clerks; ABOUT 900 month IL collected Tor the
State, only to accommodate the merchants winch are
dues Tor tho harbor masters marine hospital and
Health officer; this money deposited in tho allatin
National Bank to the credit OF the Collector, VINO rs
the agent for this fund reduction Of the present
forco would work great injury TO the service De-
poncnt has been twentythrco years connected with
the cashiers office.
GENERAL ARTHUR
slight sparrins match occurred between Messrs.
Robinson aud Turnurc. Tho latter wanted to call
General Arthur TO explain about the fec business,
while Mr. Robinson wanted TO continue tho inycstiga-
tion. Central Arthur, however was called aud stated
that the fees talked about amounted $3.50 900
year, aud are known as the "Emoumcnt account"
winch Is spent tor clerk hire as far as II went Tho
collection thereof worked great hardship to tho i'm
porter aud the burden 10 tue merchant Il greater than
the bencht accrutng to the government He had re-
pcatcdly recommended the abolition OF these duee.
In the same connection General Arthur informed the
reporter that the establishment Of the Naval ONCE
part OF the government oil this city. Then the com
every month TO examine the Collectors accounts and
TO divide tho cnoIuments between the latter and tho
GROWN After the establishment of the Republic
tho Naval Ofncc was continued, but civilian made the
chief OF the bureau
The examination OF Deputy Collector John j. Os-
born OF the Third division, closed the investigation OF
yesterday.