The New York herald., 1878-10-14
CUSTOMS ABUSES

WHAT CITIZENS SUFFER- ON THEIR RrTURN
FROM EUROPA DREssMAKsR's SPITE Full
METHOD OF REVENGE
NEW York, Oot II. 1874
To THE EDrrOR or TIE HERALD:-
Tho annoy anccs 10 which returning cItizcns from
Europe are now subjected have excited much indig-
naus comment from the press, and must, il IL hoped,
soon lead enient and lDorai construction Of
the revenue laws. II is claimed by the Treasury
officials that all wearing apparel not I'm actual usc''
rs subject TO duty, and, although clothing may have
been actually worn, yet II the Custom House officials do
not care TO discover evidences OF such wear The
dresses are condemned dutiab'e BIT little notice
taken OF the representations Of ladies' gentlemen
who explain how many times they have worn gar.
ments In Europe, and which have been carefully
reioded and rcpacked Tor voyage. II seems 10
be assumed 10 many cases that ''wearing apparel In
actual use" means simply the garments on the backs
Of passengers or only such would ppss s'seccnd
hand articles. Hundreds OF citizens paid duties
clothing (somotmes exceeding It's cost which
been ac uaiy worn, rather than suiier vexat,on
and delay OF having their trunks hont 10 tho pubic
store tor appralsemcnt II the insults and
winch 20 many are subjected TO on anaing irom the
European steamships could DO more generally known
II is probable tnat the treasury Department wcud
adopt como wiser measures IN dealing with
travelled over every part OF Europe say that Ia
Other country have they iound SUCH harsh unreason-
landing on tLsir native shores.
viNpICTIvE IxFoRMERs.
Now, u II frcqusntiy asked WY tho government
officials are SO much more vigant and exacting hts
year than ever before. gentleman WHO has had oc.
cason TO investigate The matter tninks he can &C
count one the causes. de ascertatned tnat
some Of tue fashionaDis dTcssnakers, believing that
many OF their patrons would supply themselves WIN
Parisan dresses, have, upon mere Suspicion lodged
iDtorma Ion" with tue Treasury oinciais giving inc
names OF numerous parties who, the dressnaxsrs
aiieye. woud D'iDg new war@robos with thcm.
Acting upon this 'Inlormationn the Custom
House Officers have seized the trunks Of
many passengers. recent case occurred whero
one Of these fashionable drcssmakers vowed revenge
because her outrageousy exor0itsnt bills had bsen
disputed by u we'll known .amiy .. TINS city. she
lear ned that daughter OF her ola patrons gong
abroad, AID then determined 10 'iodee inlo maiOn"
win the Treasury ot1cais She falsely represented
tbat The young lady would Drhg large wardrobe not
only Tor nerscl, but Tor her mother aud sistcrs aud
besougnt tbs officials 10 watch Tor her coming. ihis
drossmaker ascertane "a from the unsuspccng friends
oil young lady the ship she was 10 return and
the day OF her sailing. and through Custom House
Official IN whose family she was iormeriy seanstress
officers Tor arrival 0i lated
passenger. She arrived ~ was expecieu, aud her
trunks we're examined and regularly passed w
Custom House oicer and sen, 10 her ia,her's house
10 lew minutes alter The uclIvery oi the trunks
= special treasury de.cctive appeared ~ tho
house and demanusd TO examine tho baggage. Ho
SHOW ed his badge o oincs aud said iniornst.on hAd
been lodged" against the iaay ana he must examine
her ruaks. Inc keys were gwen 10 him, and alter
spending hour or more mInutey examining every
article olicer laid asae few dresses. Two bon-
nets, y number 0f gloves and u few y her thiugs
when he claimed naa not been worn. Although the
lady pleaded that had worn the dresses aid tho
bonnets u OF no avail. The various articles were
thrown into trunk aud orcibly taken 70 the seizure
room of the Custom House. The dresses were ap-
praised AZ nearly twice their actual cost IN Paris and
II only alter weeks oi iroubie the DArI of
tue lady fa inat Tho goods were resppras,d anu
released upon tho payment o. heavy daty When
the dresses were returned they were more or ieas
damaged by careless handling, anu one or two were
greatly maIred aud nearly ruined. st.
A wk0SG WITHOUT REDRxss.
1u this ! snoud also DO osserv,d d the officers
admitted that the 'Iouged ipivrmation" Sas proven
be insc, and that the dresses only the per-
wardrvUe oi the lady who mad been subjected 10
annoy yanos. Tue Collector aud the nignest
Law oflicsi the Custom House OF the city boLu ex-
pressed the strongesl Terms their disapprovai Of
the procesdng, ana said that great wrong had
bcen Committed, but they were powcrless 10 gvc re.
dress, MS the special Treasury officers who sezsd the
dresses reported dectly 10 mo department at Wash
In Aud IA TINS way, ny tue aid oi Tho govern
ment agents, the dressmaksr who has her sign
ot our leading avenues and her branches ~ the
watering places was enabled 10 vent her IN Leo
respectable families thnt dared TO dis-
pute uncon scion bio biiE IL 10 hopea tnat the
relation OF these lacis lead he Treasury officials
TO more circiuy scan tho character aud motives oi
certain ''iniormers' who misiead them Tor malicious
enuk CITIZEN.