The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-05
rhe Custom House Inyestigation


House Commission, appointed to inyesti-
gate the affairs Of the New York Custom
House, met the members Of the Chamber
OF Commerce to-day In the room Of the
Chamber Of Commerce. Mr.. Jay read a
letter received from Secretary Sherman
asking the Commission to inquire
into the salaries, not fixed by law, OF the
Custom House officers and 10 fix plan
for their proper classification on fair
basis; also regarding the complaints
respecting customs and revenue laws,
made with view to their revision. The
Commission will report suggestions look.
ing 10 this end. Mr.. Eaton read long
document expressing the views OF the
members Of the Chamber OF Commerce
and merchants on the remedies required
in the custom service. The following arc
the changes recommended:
!. Abolition OF naval Office.
9. Oaths to entries TO be made before
any Notary Public or Commissioner.
8. The abolition OF triplicate invoices.
4. The abolition Of consular certif-
Gates.
5. Payment Of duties in certified gold
checks.
6. Entries to be passed the same day
they are left at The Custom House.
Z. A change from the present law au.
thorizing the Government on OBTAINING
one package in every ten, or one package
in each invoice, 10 allow the importers to
take the other packages on executing n
bond, and in substitution Of that law OF
provision allowing the Government to
retain in its own discretion the whole or
any part Of an invoice for period which
shall not exceed ten days, at the expira-
ton Of which the entire invoice or por-
ton 30 retained shall be deliverable to
the merchant.
0. Completion OF liquidation OF entry
within 30 days, such liquidation TO be n
final adjustment and end Of all claims,
except for fraud, on the part Of the Gov
ernment touching importation.
10. The abolition Of petty fees, includ-
ing fees for permits and entries.
II. Duty is now assessed on the market
value; ii 1t is more than the invoice price,
but on invoice price ii the same is more
than the market value, let the law be
changed so that the duty will always be
assessed on the market value.
IL. The Custom House to be kept open
from to o'clock.
lS. A reduction Of charges at general
order stores, also for carriage.
IA. The prompt filing by weighers and
gnugerS OF their returns.
. 10. Total abolition Of all damage al
lowanCes and repeal Of all lava provid-
ing for the same.
lG. The reduction OF penal bonds from
double the value of goods 10 double the
duties.
II. No charge whatever to the import.
er for the carriage or other expenses on
goods entered for consumption.
IS. Simplify the law for discharging
report bonds.
10. Greater facilities for withdrawal
by buyers OF goods purchased while in
bond.
90. Provides that when judgments are
recovered against a collector for duties
paid under protest, the Government shall
also pay interest and cost, the same MS
other defendants.
81. Where goods are entered for inland
transportation, two bonds are now re-
Quired, viz one from the common carrier
and one from the importer; let one OF
these bonds he abolished.
%. Let the entries be taken entire
charge ofby the Custom House from the
time Of the presentation to the payment OF
duty or permit Of bonding.
%. An adequate system Of eQualizing
appraisements at the different ports, that
all goods shall pay like duty at all Gus.
tom Houses.
q. The abolition OF the fee Of ten dol
lars on re.appraisements.
%. Let rc.appraised goods be bonded.
20. Increased dispatch in re.appraising
merchandise.
81. No duty should be charged on goods
burned or lost while in bonded ware
houses.
%. Goods procured otherwise than by
purchase should be invoiced at their ac-
tual market value at the period of e1.
portation.
90. Greater prudence should be exer-
ciSed in disturbing the rates Of duty when
once fixed by the Treasury Department.