New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-14
WORK OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION.
DUTIES or THE NAVAL OFFICE EXPLAINED BY
COLONEL BURT-TIsIIMoNY OF SURVEYOR

CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION.
DUTIES or THE NAVAL OFFICE EXPLAINED BY
COLONEL BURT-TIsIIMONY OF SURVEYOR
GRAHAM.
Fernando Wood continued the Custom House
Investigation yesterday, still without the assistance OF
the other six members Of the committee Colopel siaS
w. Burt the Naval officer first called upon to tes-
fy He had been connected with the Naval Office since
1869 being fl We years Controller The principal funo-
ous OF the Naval Office to establish the account
ability OF the Collector and to enforce the revenue laws
The Office took oOgnzance Of every package Of merchan
disc brought into this port and required tue Collector 10
render an account OF Its lna disposition Whie 1t was
part of the duty of the Office to detect errors made 10
the Collectors department, If this duty were taken
away there would sui be necessity for Naval Ohce
either in New-York or in Washington. Those who III
sisted that che Naval Office could be abolished without
serOus derment to the service did not know what they
were talking about. The Collector received an ndehn
ite sum, aud the Treasury Department would have no
means OF knowing the receipts were until the END
OF tue year. except through the Naval Office, which de-
termined the amount Of duties collected from week to
week Goods could not be delivered from ship or ware
house before the Naval Officers signature WIS ON the
permit and this was hot gwen until the Collector had
been charged with tue duties received
The Naval Officer, Colonel Burt said, was check on
Disbursements as well as receipts, money being paid
out without bis signature He differed from an auditor
N''@NN'~N
duties while an auditor simply checked of vouchers
and observed they were correctly entered. As seldom
happened, whom difference of opinion arose between
the Collector and the Naval Officer, the matter was r.
referred to the Secretary Of the Treasury
for decision About 10000 errors in the Appais-
ers nd Collectors departments were discovered yearly
by the Naval Of5e. Many clerical @rrors
and arose from the rash OF business Errors OF udg
ment as to tAe rates Of duty also corrected FL
rors of this kind the Weghers' and Gauger depart
ments sometimes involved large amounts. Foe in
stance recently the Naval Oicer discovered that Nc
Kesson & Robbins paid only $3.50 an invoice, wn'n
the duly should been $500. THIS was very strict
and reputable firm, and Mr. Robins was one OF tue
Chamber Of Commerce delegation appearing before the
committee last Wednesday. Large had been saved
10 the Government b. the discovery VI sncn errors ana
by preventing COLLISION Detwen merchants ahd clerk
VINO might prove dishonest II men were inihnbio OF
IncOrIU DIOie. the Naval ONCE would Dc supeIhiOusi
bat honest men would not be content without some
check Oh tueir IL wOulI be Just wise 10 a.
low the paYmasters the Army and me Navy 10 MAKE
their dsDuI semenls MltlOu SUPERVISION OylOhet but
believed Naya, Office was gam instead OF loss 70
tno Government A year ago IL discovered iencency
OF 5000 .ue 70 cohusion between me- chant and
cerg N inc Collectors department. Nc. Wood re-
marked Ghat twenty-five years tue aDoishment o.
the Naval ONCE had Doen urged IN WASHINGTON on sac
ground that e was uarous AID oppressive. an ODsrnc-
lion a. commerce, ana Oi ittie protection against lau
Colonel Burt sad tuAt sNsy-slx prisons were NO" m
ployed IN the Naval OhGc tne iOrce having Deeu re-
duce tu envy since 1876, ana salaries lowe eu.
Gencr. Cnarcs X. Graham, Surveyor OF the PORT tes-
til ID that he had charge OF ali CdrgOes coming mo port,
ana ali goods exported which we're entitled 20 draw
back allowance. lie thought the Inspectors were All
competent Between sdnsct anu suDrlso nigga.
wacuInen their places hr Wood asked WhJ WIT 80
mucn supervision, there were 50 many cdalges 81 snu
gang. General Graham replied tnaG stewfds anu M
vlcers OF Vessels, anu some passenges' frequent
rrIed 70 taAe ashore, free, small quantities OF ddtdDe
g0Ois. Tue discharge II steamships at night gave some
advantage ~ sndgglegs. Steamships were now
srld IN discharged night, tncr increased Ia
elites enaDing their discharge by daylight.
Mr. Wood asked for explanation OF the lrcquout
cJDpauts about the reteni1OD o. Passengers baggage
General Gfanalu replhd thai the law Was very stringent
regaiiug passcngGrs' baggage, especially wearing
par,l wEca was duaDlo NOT actually worn, even II
Intended priyato Many pas5engeIs ana not un-
dersLaud this No were SHOWN, tne law being
forced arbitrarily wI,h and poor ALI baggage Was
thoIougny examined aud no Instance mad come 10 ms
notice wnere al officer naJ exceeded Its duty. Tue
forcs inspectors too small and ought 10 Do IN
crcused Dy nfteel during busy season ike the present
since coming Office he lad reported several cases
deruclOl OF duty TO tue CJoc,Of and suspended tue
officers He nad heard tnaJ formerly mercHauJ5 gave
presents 10 weguers Tor giving them dapneate re-
turns OF weights, but tuls pracce had Deoh stopped
Tne Oniy sfcguar0 against cOusiOn between the ncr
enunts aud weighe.s better anu closer superv
ION. barge Office Was wanted ~ taclltde Cue OK
animation Of passenKers Odga-e Tue C1nl inlOn abd
trouble now attending the examination OF baggage Oh
tue wharYes Was unavoidable WIN existing laws and Ia
o1ities
Monday