New-York tribune., 1877-06-08
REVENEE PROBLEMS.

APPR iIsER BUTCHER OPPOSES a REDUCTION IN MS
DHPARrIENT-BRUU MPoRTAIIoNs-JoHN c.
HOPPER.
The Custom-housc Commission spent The lat
ter haf Ol the afternoon yesterday ~ prEac session
with sas 3. butcher the Appraiser discussing tho CE-
ganlZatiou ana WORKINGS Of the Appraisers Department.
The Commission has announced twice that merchants
would now have opportunity TO state opinions and
offer advice ard Commission thinks it strange tnat
80 f.r The merchants generally have kept a!Oof.
Thomas J. Madge, James >. Douglas, and t. J. New
berry, committee Of 1ruit importers, desired that the
regulations should be modified that green iruit could
DO discharged from vcsse Immediately Oh ai1iYing 81
the wharf. They thoagn. that the duty On Uopich
lruit. lorl be .bolisAcd. Frequently importers lost 40
per cent of o'rgo.
Collector Arthur being called in said H. thought thar
both the interests the Government and Of the import
ers required that vessels be allowed TO discharge green
frnit before entry The damage allowances being less
the Government would receive more daty. lie favored
aboisaing tho duty green iIlut altogether
Appraiser Datcher read report on The practicabiy
of reducing the force in LIS department, in which he
says, among other t-ngs:
have carefully considered the suggestion OF placing
the asSi, appf:s i pat o: the ndns scJlaic
nom the examining floors and the reasons therefor
ana cannot NY approval, because believe the a>-
S.sIaut appraisers SHOULD be where tncy exercise
eaIcf supervision ~ he wort. dO4c IN tAa examining
rooms. most Xlef1cncvd ana competent eNulc45
tud 1t necessary frequently TO consult ;hc assistant Az
itr4k 10 considerable reduction caa be mado in tine
force If the Appraisers Olico with profit 10 lie
Government. At This season Oi the year tue
business is usually light, Dut il increases IN
e,;armrns tlere should thorough examination
sud compile" yerlhcaiiol Nhch one case h Ten Is
sent ~ tfc puhie store fof cN'h'ltloh 10 eA9nn-
lion should every variety ana description oI moF-
chandise ia tho and some examiner. shoho have
yeincr whose whole tnlc would Do "a their disposal,
while others woGld require yericr only pant OF the
time, and some not all Nbe the volume OF business Is
much than it I'VE years ago. the WORK OF the de-
paItncnt has nOt losseucd IA proportion
More damage examiners are needed ~ order that two
may b. assigned 10 every examination made ti'e%hTre
than at the public store. II tnc experts .toM The ucr-
ent divisions Of this department are TO be called upon 10
make the examinations loI damage allowances, thcii
number cannot De dniuShcd NOc.>s OF men connected
with this department require m9e general business eX-
perence, sOnhdrr Judgment or more stIlSl lutoHiy
han officials connected with this branch OF our ser
vice.
Mr. butcher also reviewed at considerable length the
duties OF the various assistant appraisers and made
.ral suggestions TO the division OF work in the Ap
pralser, Department. lie submitted tabular statement
TO show that tho percentage OF damage allowances was
ess under the present than under the o!d system III
1854 the average percentage Of rebates Was 36sO in
1900 u TO; in 1865, II ioiOo in 1868, Il 1900; III
1870 IL 6lioo; in 1873, 17$ in 1874 10 GoO, ana IN
1878, 14ni2
John c. Hopper, representing the Importers and
Grocers Board Trade and the National Revenue Re
form Association came prepared TO testify at any length
aud was well armed with books ana papers lie opened
by reading shoTt account OF hs career as student of
the revenue show that he might be supposed 10 know
ono voice injured how long Mr Hopper might occupy
their attention, which Mr.. Hopper replied, AZ your
uleasure-I shall proceed cOnsecutyely" MI. Hopper
appealed for less interruption when member or the
Commission pressed "a question more relevant
TO tie business in hand than tbs ldea ~.
Hopper happened to he pressing, and TO save time nf
Hopper read with astonishing rapidity. He advised
revolution tho CustOH-hOuse organization, ana would
begin by abolishng tie Naval Auditors ana surveyors
departments. HC wished 10 read what be called Dlll-
doing letter." received from the Treasury partment
Wnen Mr. Bristow there his suggestions were ~
first cOdy received bat Mr.. BrlstOw finally tchn0ws-
I,I.. l. zYi,si m r.
thought Mr Hopper wandering from the subject III
which tine other members acqulesced, ana hr Hopper
then took hold of the Treasury Department, and wanted
it 20 have a commercial bureau &c. but Mr. Robinson
demurrod Mr.. TurnuTe retreated 10 the window, ana
Mr Jay said the Commission did not propose TO enlarge
its jurisdiction. Mr. Hopper had book OF printed matter
and manuscript which contained the essence OF nlne
years labor in studying faults IN the laws The
nOnts ali picked and succinct ne SAID ana he
would like 10 read some Of the suggestions embodied
therein, but the Commission cOurteOusly begged of.
Will the Ways and Means Committee bill attend 10 these
things 4" said Mr. Hopper. After being pinned down
dow m TO specific opinion several questions, Mr.. Hop
Der retired win thanks Of the Commission promising
10 bring a dozen bills before Congress and to Mr..
Robinson In Washington