The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-19
THE CUSTOM-HOUSE INQUIRY.


4 r. is@ 1870 Na
AN APPEAL TO TME COMMITTEES,
Interesting Data Relating to Revenues.
The Custom. House Commission having entirely
recovered from The seq trip, sst again yesterday
and discussed The testimony they had taken du.
ring their examination Of the customs system d
the mouth Of the river. The evidence In theil
possession seems TO show that while there are
efficient officers In chsrgs Of the coast stations,
there are others unit for the duties imposed on
them. and these will certainly be decapitated.
The commission during the day received from
| Mr.. Il. Bonzano, the Custom. House broker, who
Ia thoroughly converssnt with Custom.House
affairs, communication, in which oil our peopls
| will take an interest. II reads ~ follows:
An appeal 70 the New Orleans Custom House In
vestigating Commission to recommend irse
entry on cortaia parsphernalis, papter nedche
works Of art, eto., which have no commercial
value, imported once in each year BY the
"Mystic Krewe Of Comus," knights o.
Menus" "OowbelioDs, School OF Desigp,
and other Incorporated societies, ests blished
for the encouragement OF fine arts, giving
gratuitous public exhibitions.
New ORLEANS June Is, 1877.
Your memorialist respectfully submits that the
societies above named, and oiher liberal, public
spirited and benevolent societies Of like charac.
ter, entertain the public once year ct the time OF
M srdi Gras Day, or shrove Tuesday, with beau IT,
| full, chaste, interesting and instructive public
exhibitions, emb acing almost every branch OF
| useful knowledge appertaining to this versatile
Most Of the psrapheruaa and outfits spper-
tanning 10 these gorgeous displays are procured in
Europe and imported Ut large expense to these
societies, and, I need not add, are, with great
amount Of labor and personAl sacrifice, exhibited
to the public at large gratuit0usly.
AZ soon az the exhibitions are over the ma
terials OF which these displays consist are COM
psratively worthless, the bulk OF them, in fact,
being only fit for the paper mill; and yet the gov
eminent has been in the habit of taking no note
OF the fact, and hitherto has always exaoted the
FuIL RATE or DUTY.
You are respectfully and earnestly requested
to recommend reconsideration Of the former
rulings OF the Treasury Departments on this sub
ject, 30 that this GLASS OF importations can be
placed on the stree list" rs importations for So
oieties. or institutions incorporated or estab-
lished for philosophical, educational or literary
purposes, OF the encouragement OF the 6ne arts,
aud not for sale"
Under those rulings the present honorable
Secretary OF the Treasury, though no doubt
favorably impressed with the justice Of the claim
herein respectfully represented, would probably
not feel at liberty to make these just and reason.
able concessions unless further evidence WAS
adduced before him Of the meritorious character
OF these societies and their exhibitions, and there
IL little doubt that he would willingly embrace
and advocate any recommendation your commits
sion might make to that end.
Hence this earnest appeal to give the matter
the force and weight OF your official Endorsement,
an opportunity which may not soon occur again.
II. BONzANO.
Custom House Broker.
Mr.. Bonzano ut the same time submitted the
following for thelcon sideration Of the commission
NEW ORLEANS, June is, 1877.
To the New Orleans Custom. House Investigating
IL is lunderstood among importers and others
interested, that Ii IN the intention Of tine com
mission to recommend = reduction In the clerical
force OF the Custom House. Should suou step
be taken, deem IL my duty TO request you to
take into consideration the effect such q change
will have on the general order system.
At the present time, q steamship bringing an
assorted cargo receives her general order" to
alssh.rSs cargo upGn the ,ysry day Of arrival
have their entries passed by the entry clerk and
the Naval Office before the goods are rushed out
Of the vessel and hurried off into public stores,
thereby subjecting importers to much vexation
and useless expense
would. therefore. suggest chat II reduction
IL 10 be made in that branch Of the force which
10 charged with the "pAssing OF entries" the
general order system be 80 amended as TO give
merchants reasonable time 10 have their entries
checked and permits issued to them In time to en-.
able them to intercept the goods on the landing:
or. that steamships with assorted carRoes,' in
demanding and accepting the general order"
guarantee their consignees against warehouse
expenses and extra drayage for such length OF
time, nj least az IL may take the reduced force In
the Custom. House to check the entries and Issue
permits for oil entries presented at the entry
deck within twenty four hours OF such vessels
entry at the Custom House,"
Very respectfully,
II ROMANO