New-York tribune., 1877-05-04
CUSTOM-HOUSE ECONOMY.
WHERE TO PUT THE KNIFE.


PARTMENT PROBABLE-wORK OF THE CONMIs-
SION.
The Custom-house Commission was in pub
lie session again at 1890 yesterday The examination
of Paymaster Wentworth drew the facts which have
been frequently alleged that the weighers department
contains employees who do little valuable
service the Government and that the payrolls are
third larger than necessary. t Is probable that the
commission will recommend changes in this department
alone which will the Government at least Sl5O,OOO
annually.
s. j. Jacobs Assistant Auditor renewing his testimony
said there was reduction OF 10 per cent in clerks sal
aries OF the grade below chief clerks in May, 1879,
owing TO limited appropriations. Within a year the
salaries restored Hs had at times reported to the
Collector that certain clerk incompetent, and the
clerk removed from his department; he could not
say whether or not he dismissed It was not com
mon to reduce the grade Of clerk for incoinpeency
Joel b. Post Of the building in the rear of the
Customhouse, which the Naval Office is, was recev'
ing an annual rent Of $4,000 for this building and the
building EXchangepace also engaged for the Custom
house business. three years renewal was signed be
fore Secretary sherman into Office. The depart
ment had endeaVored get reduction Of rent, which
Mr. Post having given the renewal, would not grant.
There were no succurcs his knowledge in his depart
meat hut there were two three employees who had
very little work TO do.
Francis q. Wentworth, paymastcr OF weighers and
gauges and the cutters said he had been eight
years in the service HIS salary $500. The names
Of 3ss aborcrs were the wcighers rolls which were
made ont by the weighers clerks the weighers taking
them to the Surveyors office and declaring their cor
recness oath the rolls then passed TO the Auditor
and the Naval Officer before coming to him. lie always
gave the ahorers opportunity to get their money ON
Monday. He never gave the money due them TO the
wpichcrs to distribute, and rule paid the men only
on personal application. Mr. Robinson asked tha VII
II there who appeared on th" rolls ard ga
work. The witness preferred To answer ali'mhNeN
the question put by hmiset II IN his opinion me % %oLce
could be reduced. He knew by hoarSay OF complaints
that men were pad without IeneilhE any "oln' DIV ~ ,
was no hrs duty 90 inquire ine conp3ihlS Nrr. Iu-',
In his dccdcd opinion there small percentage of
Others WHO dd useless work 1V'} spth thc uolI' 10.
which they paid m lettering about TIE district 10
salary o ab0rrr S2i Orthc 3-S men hc hneW ~
few IN which work was rendered I1r wcosy
'l',,. l. ~ -, a.. III, ~ 81 900 ~, I i,.
$4,000 II had bcrli rs hl- as TlI,uuO. Iit i.t re
qUcnt,y seen The wrsheI at Their o-t, h't M I'M io
weizhcr foreman, and clerk IN each of The thirteen
Districts while the assistant wei ghes and the a1orer,
ofthe districts might De- consolidated rau"r rhc whole
number from thirteen to seven, and F3tpUn year
prIrarv interest in Increasing the number Of v,rhme6.
The appointments due often 10 political nlucpon.
did not think the GOvern rnt suffered amy l>s G." r
revoIue through The assistant ~egIeS lie thought ihat
ut least 100000 annnay was u-.tSFy ,,reIt m me
expressed the opinion ma the annual aio"ahre lor me
wrshr,s depart could 9e reduced TiJo9uO Wth0i
first doubted the cXpeirncy ~ making the inquiry uu
lie bdt the experience OF the last two days haa ed En
Joseph Souihworth, Chief Of the stati teal Bureau
said there nOminatly - clerks under Lm bu' four
OF hem }E. Morse and thr three VINO were appointed 90
furnish statistics 10 me newspapers were Hot 'i'r JUS
direction. Two or n" three worked very hard gather
ing information which went t. thr commercial uevsp1-
pers. lie couldn't say mat the newspaper gave thcH
fees Ills y clerks good as the average and
three men il he could allowed to pick Them out As
situated present be couid not consolidate the Wok 800
sI I'm one room An the papers Of the Cu,0Uhous-
PASSED through th" Statistical Bureau, which criI.d d
fcrcut statistics and sept them io the bureau ~
Washington lh' Bureau also rendered atsoAi "i me
goods remaining The warehouses no the ending or rlc
ii n" i,erchans on arpid,tiun HIS clerks received
sa.l cs of ~ POO and Fl4Oo They worked from
r-te he dld not believe they received dollar u rir
way Of glamtics lie had been IN the oicr - years
lie conld confidently -y there nothing in his de-
parment throw lscredt on ine service OF the four
clerks, hre. Oi whom idhishcd malter 10 the Ie"apa
pers De could not speak
The Commission adjourned the pu5!c session earlier
tan usual 10 confer with Gen. Arthur as to the
which the correction OF The a1nses growing on. o the
steamship service should DE presented 20 secretary
ices to me Inspectors which u 1c violation Of the
law The Commission ad"rt'd She following:
0-ded That Tire Collector Naval officer and surveyor Pee
Irqursira & 20 itn,,s MA a fSS, oi i
when ar, ep % 'li m 'H Us , @ o., d. ft tI
regard most exposed to violation OF laN on he part Of
their urorlnatcs ia the ceptaHcr oi ciantc or u com
p.icty uuer form IN attep frauds upon the
AMI that The Ccileror Sayl uMGei, 4nd . .'or De re
qu5d report az the same mc th1r view VI tne cause u
defects in tnc wolk Of me customs system and Of the
best mott Out Of ptaclcaty rtmCo}iuE laH same
Tho Cuumtteo Revenue hci' in or thr Chamber Of
Commerce consisting or hCSaTs. SrhuitI Barbour, and
Robbus has invited members of the Chamber STATE n
writing now far following proposed changes 90 the
Customs laws meet with their approval, aud 90 make
auy sa gr,tions which, II adop,ud, would simplify.
quicken and cheaper the passing OF goods through the
Cu,i0ul-hOuse:
entries e. 900 made before any notary pInc cummi.
siouer; C}j the .bOlltlou 0f the ipnctr uFUrcs (O
the abolition uf consular ccI thcstes 30 payment Of
dulles N certified god cLrCaS (ol cLlcs o. Dee passed
thr same dav they lclt ~ tie CustCu--olte; 90
total chHnge from nj yoIcm so sp9c& duttss and %
th retention by the Government IA Us discretion oi tue
entire uyocc Tor period not to exceed ten dd! : 10
g.tEcr with the completion of liquidation wlfhn thirty
dayS the goods 10 De delivered r. the importer within
ten days, and the liquidation within thirty days, to De
the Enal adjustment upd end OF al claims on c palt Ui