New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-05
THE REFORMS DISCUSSED.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuNE.l

WASHINGTON Dec 4.-The sixth report of
the Jay Commission on the New-York Custom House,
just approved by Secretary Sherman is devoted to sug
gesons Of reforms that may s he made in the admin
stration OF that Institution. Opening with few com
pmentary words for the New-York Chamber OF Com
mcrce, from which complaints have been received the
commission says
In many cases the evils complained OF are distinctly
due 10 the complex character OF the tariff with Speoc
duties aud ad vaorem rates, ana the TWO collov ~,
others they appear to from the roguatlOhs OF W
service established by Congress. or the Treasury Dep
ment and in others. again. from tle uucyfsS IN
ing the class cauou OF goods ana rates W
arg number Of cases, however the dlhciy, w. ,,
its origin, has been exposed 10 aggrlyauoh ny ,i
uetency, md ference aud yet graver faults or I
ties, in the administration OF the service, Una. w =
ton has frequently ARISEN how Tar the Inconvenience
abuse complained OF was due 10 e&istlhs awe =" 1irs
lions and it the result a errors OF dnii,
tratiOB, flowing rom The system OF poitcd opIofi r
ments, Ylicn, Or the future, are da"pP'o'eu an" i
Whc We are agreed that thorough aud searching re- re-,
vision az our revenue ie2isatloI aud practice a9eu ~
;le varied cxpeccnccOf Otier countries Is eeNai,H %
the protection alike OF the OONtll H,'
and Tor the healthu Development OF our me- nie
eYc.oug,.s we are also agreed that the nIs an C
step - the securing IN every ucfa' ~ -, to,,rne ~
~ ,nc ,'' and 'UiearIty TO secure this result,
Judging from reason ana OK leioi ~ nee" The rule Is
from ne experience OF Lnsihi am Ye r"vcr ther
rssentia tEat subordinate Office VINO hanG , ,,1
fitness their posts, snail MOI d, Ieu3s cs
behavior without the assignment oI ir 'Le
while for new appoint n'hts u Gems tIs ~ r., df,s ~
mere should b. careful asccratnmtnl OF Tue hinessH
Inc applicant as regards age health character Know
edge and ability, by preliminary in
ibe fsnre Tor deueudence On GOOD behavior for
aud neIlnncncr OF position features 10 which
European governments add, with advantage s5stth
oil retiring pensions AT moderate rdS, as III , "a
nv probationary term should be 50 thorough ana pract
cal secure Tor The Government me pes, natei,
while plan would secure TO the cztls al an sc,lon'
equal opportunity Of secuuns positions OF re- onsi
bIlity competency for which they may De ntteu. T.,
Touching the present force in the Customs service N
OF the Developments which pave neth due "a nv
unGtucss Of many Of thc aotees' WE nf tnc II
department may properly exercise the moSl Watcn,ui
supervision ana instantly dismiss Tor cau'c any vn
pOyee VINO may be round wanting III lhitrly anu anu ia'
at the end OF SIX months lIltf ho'lcc az - ~
shall be found 10 be msufccnty qualified Tor tner b0-
stion mgat be advauiagoousy dIopPeG from sJ roi,f
without assignment OF cause ana WITHOUT Impeachment
of their characters. -, 800
sion to watch the operation OF the customs ~
mates the annual loss at 40 per cent put we lake VIC
lower estimate or - per cent stated by MI 'us ana
MS Ociatee, the cures are suhcl1hty T.aIthns t
receipts from custous n lie United Side5 III -. - iYi
instance, were rlbJ SD inc one,ioIn ioS " %
should have received would have been 81 HUVV-
Tec,pti At NeW,96rk in 1876 the ouefourth loss
would he $36,GO0O00, making the amount %hiyh
the Government should have received at Nt" loIa'
Sl44 900 900. instead Of tho amount actually IeceNeu;
SlOsOO00OO. The COLLECTOR III submit .lhs '9uio anu ~,
1874 remarks without any desire 10 argue III oehaI OF
mfomeIs deceive officers, am Aet slohsl Vi tle
millions t. the Government. caused 10y the comparative
SAFETY OF those wEo are undressing ana accom-
Consequence the legislation OF ISL IN addition 10
the varouy estimated In 1871 at 20 per cent ana
40 per cent OF the entire revenue"
COMMERCIAL AND TARIFF MATrEEs.
on the subject OF lessened Imports and the depression
OF home industry the commission says
While various may be assigned FOR the deprcs-
sion in labor market the resulting stOppage III
emigration, ana the Iurthtr lact, WIcn was "a soOu
ia, spoil OF when 1t recently occurred, that American
norm skilled WOrkmeH had been engaged 10 work for
English capitalists IN English workshops II woud seem
clear that had reacheda point IN our history mere me
great Industries OF country -rcuura nanuaciur-
Gun To depend for their nl announcement aud prosperity
ut
he accepted as maxim Of winch congress WIZ appe-
clate the fun significance that every opening OF our
ports 10 foreign goods, opens foreign market Tor our
The commission submits the following statement show
m , relative cost of collecting the revenue on imports
m the United states and several European countries
United States 80 per cent; Austria hungary, Luz
per cent Italy, Loo per cent; France o@ per cent
German Empire O.30 per cent; Great bltah' W. per
cent The imports OF Great Britain III $50 ana l9'o
wore II $50 600 600 aud The cost OF collection TlV'-
900 III q tnnor,s of the United States IN 1876 were
$50 600 600 While the expenses Of collection were
S6,7O1oOO. -.
After gvinga long summary Of the arguments maze
an bebalf of the Chamber OF Commerce in favor OF
restoration OF the duties tea and coffee the su6siln
on of specific for ad yalorem duties, and a general
i,li0catiop OF our tariff system the commission says:
We entirely agree with the Committee OF the Cham
ber o Commerce in recommending the change 10 specific
dulles 81 "a" as . ~ ~ tuicS crr,iar cx-
sion tIat tho change = pact'"".c ~ d" N' d
tent than TO have been supposed IN the uhIed
sat
he made as complete rs IL 70 ~ n-l a.,
with only specific du les but We THINK that
the ciort should be made to adop such duties ~ every
pOss bic case view Ot the d"cardiiOns on bthdlI OF
Tine Chamber Of Commerce that many merchants are
entirely ruined by the frauds perpetate under IA va
loren duties and that change 10 SPECIFIC duties Is
matter ~ fe ana death with them The tariffs o. Great
Britain and Of Germany are already lree Withtrhlug
cXceutlou-. from vaorcn duties We are agree also
IN recommending the abolition III all cases without ex-
ccutCn Of mixed duties
review of the features OF the French tariff is
vD i, The conu ,siOn for the valuable suggestions ~
reform that It contains. The commission recommends
The negotiation Of reciprocal commercial treaties ANA
announcement to navigation in the following words:
That commercial treaties for reciprocal benefit aud
the enlargement OF exchanges can De hceon"'td py me
United >tatos'vith little or no loss OF tN'ue anu WIN
adyaufages 10 our exchanges similar To- those
mat have resulted to the countries OF Lu,op',
tbcc. would seem little reason 90 Doubt; and We
fully commend the subject 90 the atthu0u OF inc
tnlv HE views expressed D., the Honorable Secretary
If state the necessity OF rowing Our com eItr ana
our carrying trade Wound seem to be I'D dccOi" NIt tAe
policy which We the honIr 80 submit for cosdcra
ION The hope has been frequently oppressed that
CONGRESS III view the effect OF the existing rcarc-
lions upon our carrying trade. while attended with 80
largo decrease in our shp-buil0ng notwithstanding ita
ief vii, lcud 10 Terminate our dependence on foreign
countries. aud 10 recommcnce sure b'>is the dcvc
~ ouf paouo Z. So closely connected, and which,
iay 10 our navy in ships and safOrs may bc douDy Ill
VARIOUS CHANGES DISCUSSED.
The commission does not the abolition Of the
Naval Oncc, and adds:
We are inclined to believe that the Chamber Of Com.
MERGE when advised of the number ana cNeu, % he ~!
rors and macasance discovered and detected by The MI
val Onicc Will revise tie opinion thdt no such cnecE on
tie Collectors O0ce Is necessary and upOn this point b
may be- well 70 recall ne antiquity OF s1ch supervision of
the Collector the British Service ANA the fact that NJ
ter an experience of some five centuries and with the
supervision over the Collector o Dates is continued
iu force. We think ih9i ID would not cOmpOr with the
3fe OF tine rcysudc 90 abolish the Naval ONCE unless
its ppce supplied by controller TO exercise sim