The New York herald., 1877-09-14
NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, sept. Id, 1877.
Tho report of the New York Custom House Commits
sion on the Appraisers once is considera-
tion by Secretary Sherman. Tho Commissioners say
in reference tho silk business, that importance
beyond the loss OF revenue TO the Government was
shown to belong to this subject by memorial OF the
Silk Association Delegates from that body appc ,rc d
before to complain OF abuses, chiefly in tho Appras
ers department. They said that merchants had been
driven out OF tho importing business because they
could buy silks cheaper in this market than thoy could
DO imported and that not per cont Of the staple
goods sent to this market come by dircct purchase
ISSUE CONSULAR CERTIFICATES
They complained Of the loose ISSUE consular Ger
iincatcs the starting OF the goods in Europe Of o
waot OF efficiency tho Appraisers department and
OF the reluctance enforce tho legal penalty
tempts 10 evade the duty.
COMPLAINT THE PoTrEas.
A similar interruption to their business was com.
planned Of by tho National Potters' Association who
declare that insufficient number Of packages
amincd; that goods undervalued, they believe
by colusion betwecn the importer and the exam in
that the dealers have all boen compelled 10 stop i'm
porting by the cheaper prices that obtain here and
THAT tho goods are now imported almost solely by con-
signees Of manufacturers IN Europe.
THE DRUGGISTS DIssATIsFIED
Among the complaints was ono by leading importers
that branch Of this department. The testimony shows
that ono Of the most di1icult parts Of tho task
correct classification OF the goods submitted to them
under tie existing tariff, which export described
the most complicated tariff ever passed by Congress.
MARKkr VALUE OF GOODS.
Another difficult task, requiring large experience
aud correct Judgment is that OF ascertaning with
tho market value Of the goods in question
the time and place 0i expectation. To Inc qualities
demanded for these duties should be added quick
ness discovering the ingenious devices and subtle
frauds by which parties Ia foreign land. aided by
their allies in our own are constantly endeavorinE
conceal values and to defraud the revenue. The tcsti
ony shows that the allowances for damage greater
than they should be.
II have examined " said oneof the most experienced
officers, "some articles OF merchandise where al
Of Of, l0ry PER cent had been made and would
xxcEssrvE ALLOWANCES
In another case where, on eighty four bales OF wool,
there had been allowed from Ave to forty per cent il
WINS found, on re-cxaDinaop, that but twelve bales
had been slightly damaged by salt water 1t does not
appear in regard TO the appraisers who to dotcr
mnc the dutuble value OF imported goods that sys-
tcmatic arrangements have been mnde for supplying
them with rcabie and exact information as 10 the
Il would rather that thcy have been compelled
10 rely generally upon their own experience and upon
liar invoices Of other parties. II has bean intimated
that importers might furnish n they thought lt 70
thc appraiser, weekly Or ssmiweekiy Authoritative
The Commrssionsrs say complaints arc rife not only
Of errors In classification but Of the gravcs faults IN
nndervaluatiop, in ths furnishing samples pnss-
ing blind invoices with description OF the merchan-
ise in unfair recognition OF constructive COST
entries by apprascmcnt without invoice, and in va
1t lis said that those and other evils are encouraged
By unscrupulous Importers agents or brokers, aud
oelieve suggestion Of will accomplish the
reform demanded. unless 1t be accomplished by
vigilant supervision will tho officials OF
every grade ndesy and ability, with due experience
and judgment.
RECoMMENDArDyA
Looking TO the convenience and efficiency o. the
work. the commssio now recommends with the cvn-
currencc OF the appraer and deputy appraiser, that
the ten divisions be reduced to seven, with assist
ant appraiser nt the head Of each, that me first
division be devoted to the examination and cIass,-
0caton Of sugnrs the second TO drugs and chemicals;
,ccoDd and ninth; the fourth OF the present eighth
and ninth; the nth Of the third and fourth tho
nxth OF the Nth and SIXTH and the seventh be de-
vocd 10 damage allowance, tho divisions to be limited
a n., ns ns sn s may drss Ths
government IN several particulars, assisting to
lenaud prompt despatch and 10 prevent importers
and their agents from having direct personal commu-
nicatcn with examiners. Wc regard the last point
goods and which Is at present iinpcrfcctly OBJ
served.
We recommend that the three remaining assistant
appraisers constitute the board under the supervision
Of thc Appraiser for the adjustment Of disputed ques
iowance, appeals from the department at Washington.
for the report Of questions that may require consua-
tions with importers, and all other questions specially
referred TO II by the Appraiser
FRAUDS IN SUGAR
Tho evidence shows that great ooscncss
prevails In the examination and sumpling
81 goods on tho wharf aud that no one
article is imported into the port OF Now York
sugar, and, according to the evidence taken by u.s.
shcro Is, perhaps NO article which the govern
poriaon. In order 70 ascertain the true charac cr
Of the sugnr tho government employs persons ut q
small rate Of compensation, whose duty 1t is to take
samples OF cargocs OF sugar the whar These
samples arc sent to the examiner at the appraisers
store who parcs them with OF the required
"Dutch standard and cassines them accordingly for
duty II rs therefore important that the surplus
taken should represent iarly the entire cargo on
which duty 10 to be assessed II Is well known, now
ever that box hopsnead Of sugar may be sampled
90 as 10 represent almost any color as the sample
may DO taken from tho top middle or bottom OF tho
porter 10 have the sample, If posb o, represent the
lowest grade. In the present system of sampng
sugar the government must depend entirely for tho
true sample on an employe whose pay is trlnG over
whom there seems to be but little oversight aud who
may be subjected 10 great temptation.
PROPER METHOD sAMPLISG.
IL may be impossible in such a state OF things to
Sut .0.r se n o wT"nS ssmpns s on
systematic supervision which should DO exercised
.o would suggest M as safeguard that all sugar
sent immcdiately by the appraiser to the Custom
House, wnerc they sheud bc arranged and exhibited
In room open to tho public scrutiny. These samples
should be labelled by the assistant appraiser charge.
tho label stating the name Of the importer whence i'm
ported, the datc Of Importation the date OF the ap-
prascrs report the name OF the importing vessel the
marks ana numbers, the classification. the name OF
the sampler and the namc OF tho examiner
We may add that ut present while the entire ques
tiou OF duty on goods examined tho wharf rests
sgrea, part upon the sampler, officer receiving but
moss and inconpetency, the check upon his actions
sccms 70 altogether insufficient. Tho commission
inclined 10 think that the rulo adopted in their
bort may bc safely adhered 10, and that tho force
the appraisers Office, except the assistant appraisers
whose number Is fixed by statute, should be
reduced, as regards tho examiners, TO tbe
bcr o. In 1869, the balance OF hc force twenty pcr
cent trctsining the most faithful and efficient om-
ploycs) and II the adoption OF the new scheme
which Is expected 10 facilitate the abors OF the de-
partmcnt. an additional force shall still prove 10 be
desirable II will be easy for the appraiser and assist
ent appraiser TO report their for your consider
ation. and show tho places whore and the reasons
why further employees deemed essential.
fAssEKGERs BAGGAGE
Upon tho subject OF passengers baggage IL Is re-
markcd:-"Wlth clcar nding on the paYt of
PM songcrs Of tho actual requirements of tho law ana
n their right 20 bring with them free Of duty,
wearing apparel IN actual use and other personal
pGects--not merchandise professional books impie-
ments instruments ana tools OF trade, occ upat on
or employ mcn the Opinon expressed by an oi-
Ger OF tho service That fair nation Of tho bag
gage, conducted oouvtcously and mpprtialy, would
add 70 tho revenue and give offence only to the dis