New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-06
SEEKING TO SIMPLIFY THE WORK.

TESTIMONY or THE CHIEFs OF THE FOURTH AND
FIFTH NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THOUGHT TO
PROM sE GOOD RESULTS.
Fernando Wood alone represented yesterday
the Custom House Investigating Committee He waited
until 1850 ID. for his colleagues, who did not appear
Three merchants sitting about the tables kept
up the appearance Of committee in the eyes OF large
number OF idle persons who tbrOnged the doorway TO
the eommiteeroom. Jackson g. Schultz sat next to Mr.
Wood throughout the proceedings, and frequently made
sugg. stion TO the chairmanc
Richard WyukOOp deputy collector OF the Fourth d.
vision, the first witness called His department has
charge the entry CLEARING and the dOcumentng" Of
vessels. By "documenting." the witness said was
meant the granting OF certificates TO engage in foreign
or domestic trade The fees fixed by statute and
were paid 70 the cashier. Deputy collectors not
entitled TO receive special fees for administering the
oath. Twenty men were employed In his department
and were kept busy Four clerks taken from the
force year ago. II embarrassed the Office for time.
The force had been reduced to the last and would
not safe TO make further reductions. He could not
suggest any improvements except that some changes in
the law were gable, especially with reference to the
Act Of April 1874 amendment 10 tbe Acc OF 1893 re-
spectug he dscumenting exemption Of canalboats.
He took one view OF the law, eanal-bOat took
another view. and the Secretary Of the Treasury still
another IL would be boon 70 ship owners II the law
wcrc cnmged regarding marine documents. Now tho
ship owner could make oath Ouy before the officer who
grants the marine document
Mr. WynkOOD recommended also a change in the law
imposing penalty the master ~ vessel for
ing To- false manifest Tho master could not always
know the contents OF case, II they properly
described ia the manifest II the shippers required
10 make oath the manifest themselves they would
give 20 many manifests. He questioned If it
safe IN principle 20 have vessels steamships unl0adod
at night, bus IL safe FOR the other.
Mr. Wood said II the privilege granted steamship
owners was doubtful expedieucy 1t ought not TO be
extended sailing vessels. He did not know that any
OF clerks received perqustes Sut believed that such
thin bad happened heretofore He had found occasion
10 tel tho Collector that he believed certain
msrcenary aud when the opportunity came they were
removed from his department.
William A. Morris. deputy collector Of the Fifth Div
isOn the ROtunda, said his department HAD charge Of
the entrance Of all MERCHANDISE, the granting OF free
permits the grading Of bonds and final Liquidation.
There nine entry cerSs and twelve or thirteen
The NUMBER OF messengers being increased
70 carry GOut the new plan OF conducting business.
The new messengers were paid salaries OF 5000;
Others received $500 Any stake occurring AZ passing
an entry corrected during liquidation Mr. Wood said
that the Naval Officer had reported between 500 aud
1000 errors IN the RDtunda within short fine.
THIS had attracted much attention In Wash
IngOr Mr. Morris said that they s-oye 20 have as teY
errors possible but that they would occur 80 far,
these had not been taken as sufficient cause for
the removal OF clerk The change IN the mode Of doing
busfness which would be fully carried into effect by
September Is, was improvement in facilitating the
fraracOn 81 business Errors were due Ia part 70 the
Tapldfy with which business was transacted on days
when there had been arrival al at once. Of i've
steamships. Mr. Wood said be no reason why order
and efficiency should not DO maintained even II ten
steamships 20 arrive at once.
H. McMahOn chief clerk Of the Fifth Division, said
the special duties OF his department the regulation
free Remission and refunds. He thought the
method just introduced OF passing entries secured
could not be dispatched as rapidly The chance Of
successful cOllusion between the entry clerk and