The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-19
CUSTOM HOUSE REVELATIONS.
WeigherS and Assistant Weighers Fan
Out and Tell Tales.
NEGLIGENCE AND EXTRAVAGANZA
Superfluous neutrality-suspicious.
Scheming-Pary JeaIousies.

been foreman for Weighsr james Owens He was dis
missed in 1876, when tho force was reduced, and
there any charge against him, but because
they had fight A. the time Of bis appointment
deponent was First Vice President OF the Twentieth
District Republican Association. There was split in
the organization, one part being under tho control oil
Mr.. William A. Darling and the other under Mr..
Witness by virtue Of his ONCE was entitled to
vote for OF the republican Supervisors OF
Election and told by Owens II ho would vote Tor
his mar he should have . place in the Collectors
Office. He did rs requested and was appointed AZ
"Booker' on Owens dock; subsequently he was made
foreman. Owens gave deponent two lists OF charges
for weighing NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. being the printed copy
from tho Surveyors Office. and the other in manu-.
script, and Of which the following is copy
THE LIST CHARGED MERCHANTS.
Fir RON Is cents per ton; in lots, 20 ton.
Bar rod angie sheet ard bundle iron 10 cents per ton
P IGn s Mls: 80 CENTS CENTS per- tom tom
speit.r 10 cents per ton lots 20 cents per ton.
Ingot tin. Is per in lots 20 per
frSnss snd hut casks, barrels or cases. cents per
Cheese, 2 cents per cwt.
Cream tartar, cents per cwt
Ss!:, II S.Es; Scents, II 9ss; 80 iossa,:;
Citroa, 2 cents per cwt.
Matt, In bags. az cents each.
Wool and psss ia ss.ss pc. bale
Rice, with city wcishers ~ cents; for importer. az
Linsecd " cent per bag: for importer, ! cent.
susacAsk bags or mats with city werher, halt labor.
n @ per .w hs IL let's cents
"Halt labor" deponent explained, sgnled that the
City Weigher divides tho labor fees paid by tho
ernment liza gang Of four mon weigh lot Of goods
for which $50 paid the City Wegher receives
half OF the amount This witness testified with good
deal of rancor in his statements He continued The
laborers' payroll contained from sixty to eighty
names, whereas the work could have boon done by
from thirty TO thirty-Ave men. Men employed ON
the tho secretary OF the Twentieth
District organization, countersigned by Mr.. Darling.
Men whom witness discharged tor drunk enness and
stealing were rom stated by Owens Witness more read
letter addressed by him March 81 1876 to Secretary
Bristow, informing him that James Owens was one Of
the cx-drcct0rs OF the Third Avenue Savings Bank,
and wanted tho Secretary to ask for Ovens resgna.
ton. account Of that bank failing He saw state
draft tor $50 600, drawn to Ovens order,
had been gwen to owens WIFE, which money had boon
drawn IRON the defunct bank Besides being United
States Wegher Owens the owner OF two coal yards,
to which no his entire attention, ana worry sell
dom, ever, comes to his weighers office before two
O'Clock I. NJ The writer asked the secretary to in.
vestigate these facts through his special agents.
similar statement had been made BY this dep0ncnt "a
Surveyor Sharpe but no notice was taken OF the mat
ter Witness further testified that the Commission
had he had been approached by officers
lie coui have another appointment. Subsequently ne
was told tina. sum OF money would be made up Tor
him II he would leave the THIS was Declined u6
well as an offer Of ~ per day 10 be paid HIM until no
found other employment. HIS testimony, he said,
was gwen from sense Of justice and not out OF re.
vengc
MR.. OWENS EXPLAINS.
Weigher James Owens notified to appear
before the Commission, aud he did, On being sworn
this witness, who possesses great voublty, ratified
away a rate which taxed tho ability or tho steno-
grapher TO its utmost limit. According TO his state.
ments he expert weigher, and applied himself
strictly TO his duties He admitted being the owner Of
TWO coal yaras. After receiving his appointment Of
| Wcighcr he appointed q named Jayne, OrOtner
| OF ex-Special Agent y. G. Jayne, as his foreman:
the perquiscs to be, his BROTHER the Special
Agent, assured hun that he was entitled 10 it. Wit.
ness was perfectly guilecss and secuted the idea Of
any thing beyond the legitimate fees beng paid to
anybody short umo inter he ascertained that
! witness wanted him to return. Deponcnt instructed
the coopcs not 10 show the dock book 70 jayne The
latter Told him that be was entitled TO his percentage
| To Mr. Kobinsou-The city weighcrs do not use our
for their work. and neither Is II true that the pro-
ceeds divided between the United States and city
Mr. Owens also handled Mr.. Knox, tho previous wit
ness. without gloves This man, witness said, he had
his church. Lexington and Fifty second
street, and had TO dismiss HIM on account OF drunk.
| enness tor which ne also had TO leave the church.
| NwARDxEss OF TIE wRI0HKRs' DEPARTMENT.
A. g. +. Brown, assistant wei her unacr Colonel B.
employed his district city weighers do their work
with much smaller number; thought that the United
states government work could be done with materially
less help; competent weighcrs often sent to DIS
trics where they have no work. SO as to be starved
OUT the that such men have no political In.
uence tho janitor In his Office reads newspapers and
talks potcs the duties witness performs every week
bring the government $70 900 in gold as duties.
for which he receives only 81 day III currency; II Q
man is only little bit careless he may lose TO the
government $3.50 or $500 day in duties; IT'S ire
quenl that hOgsheads Of sugar fall short
! sky pounds In government weighing as compared
with the weigher Deponent further testified that
Colonel Thorpe is very seldom ~ the Office.
A. ii. Reynolds, assistant weigher Of the Eleventh
district under Weigher Drew, testified that the as.
slstant wegher can never do his whole duty nor save
| IN
ton OF hls men In order that he may nave sole con.
troll over them BY these means al Toast one-shird Of
the men could BIO spared and so much saved.
Mr.. Dx0y, assistant weigher with Weigher John !:
O'Brien, gave quite vouminous testimony. He stated
| that he mad been with We,ghers Bacon Lounsbury
and Backe The latter, witness stated, had not been
on his district twice In six months
Dir. Washburn, another assistant wegher under
weigher 0'Brcn likewise testiued corroborasing the
statements OF the last wltncss.
THE ApPRAsER's DCREAU-REAPPRAIsEMKNTs.
Mr.. Thomas W. Gibson, assistant appraiser OF the
Third division, sworn He testified that he had
been chief OF his division since 1871 had been NOR
chant for thirty years aud was good Judge Of goods
Hc has four examiners under him, WEN Kent,
silk examiner an old and respected merchant; Mr.:
up IN the dry goods business and Mr. Leopold We'll.
VINO has been many years IN the service and whom
he considers expert In refutaton oil the state
ment made by witness that on rcappraisement or
goods maximum rate OF ten per cent over, by
which penalty is incurred not being recommended,
MI. Gibson stated that this was q reflection
upon the merchant appraiser. In each case Of
reappraiscm tho Importer, finding alikeihood
OF his goods being advanced, raises the value Of has
accord thus the increased valuation scarcely over
reaches tho required ten per cenium. MI Gibson
cited u occurring only lew days ago, whore he
advanced goods from ten pence TO twelve pence which,
on reapprasenient was not sustained. The value of
| an article Is what II will bring in the market Mr..
Gibson exhibited lot OF samples oil silks, part SILK,
silk and woolen, silk ana monair, silk and cotton and
explained that II required microscopic examination "a
ascertain the relative admxiurcs OF these goods, upon
winch mixed rate Of tariff has to be imposed
EVERYBODY INVITED TO APPEAR.
The commission has issued the following notice,
| which they requested TO have pubshed:-
The commission having nearly their
on officers the customs touching the conduct Of the
various branches OF the customs service ready
ceive information or advice fron importers merchants Gus
House brokers and other citxet looking the nte
ry, economy aud efficiency of the service. Complaints
marked conhdcntia will be treated and parties ready
to before commission will please advise them by
| ILL., .f,u M tlau