The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-05
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.



Nh. yERNANpo WOODS rSvEsr1c ATOMS OF ITs
EFFICIENCY AND COST coNTISuED.
Tho subcommittee OF the Committee Of Ways and
Means yesterday was a committee Of one, for Chair.
man Fernando Wood was the only member present
ana conducted the examination OF Witnesses single
handed. The first witness was Mr.. James Honmann,
the cashier of tho Custom House. whose sxamiuatioa
Was attended with some difficulty owing TO tho fact
OF his being rather bard OF hearing Mr. Wood was
anxious to learn from Mr. Hoffman, whether any
saving could be sscted by transferring tho work oi
tho auditors ofioe 10 the eashicr's depart
ment OF the Custom House Mr. Hoffman,
did not think that tho work Of the one do.
partment could DO transferred 10 the other
without the employment OF an additional force He
was asked wnethsr he thought coiIusou between the
employees OF tho cashiers Office ana dishonss out
sldors, such az merchants entry clerks aud Naval
ONCE clerks, was possible, declared that u
not. He was questioned about the occurrence OF do
falcatons In tho cashiers office, and stated that
although he had already been connected for quarter
Of century with the cashiers once, he knew
Of single defaicaton having occurred. This limo of
examination was continued by Mr. Wood, and, after
all, the tact was eciicd That there had been APP
parent dehcit OF $4,000 in January, 1876; but Mr.
Honmann contended that TINS merely duo 70 a
clerical errcr, which tho result OF the system
vogue under a previous cashier MIR. Holman ex-
planned tho occurrences OF the dedct by sayiu that
Mr. Robinson, MS predecessor had rusled i'm pcily
to MS subsrdnates and had ed from recount
rug their moneys because he thought might imply
an unjust reflection upon them. The entire system,
Mr.. Hoffman, declared, had since bren changed
NO REDUCTIONS POSSIBLE.
MT Wood in following his questions In reference
to the advsabiilty Of consolidating the
various departments oil Tho Custom House, with a
view 10 cGecting reduction, again clcitod the
Nncss' decided opposition TO oscillation Of his de.
gave il as bis opinion that it would no, be sac TO al
low 10 absorb the duties both the rece,v-
ing and the Discussing oiicer the cashier now NAG
Wood no nope OF cutting down this iorce Tor he
decided III DIS opinion That the cashier could not get
on with lesser force In reercnce N the amount OF
work done by these gentlemen Nj. hoffman, declared
that would be shown from statistics great
and tho witness then submitted quite elaborate
array Of statistics 10 that effect dc asked
the leo 9Th oil service which ploy6s ONCE
had spent dutics ana re pcd that their tor ms
oil service ranged from SIX 10 twonty-iour years. 1t
had been the uniform Practice during tho last
years 10 instal the now corners in the capacity Of
boOkkeepcrs, and when vacancies by death or Diner
causes occurred In Tho ranks OF Inc ellcrs tho
places were hiied BY promoting those Dookkeepers
who had proved trustworthy tn positions vi teicrx
Thus, NO Sraw' men, Mr. HOFFMAN demonstrated,
were appointed as tel.erR ,siasa r. i.a --.a.-t NJ
ANriQUATED REprAPIsN.
Mr.. Wood asked II the antQusloi forms, some Of
them over century old used An entering merchants
ana 70 each Of which tee was attAcued should mol
be consolidated and ronodelled, aud Mr.. HoH mann
thought it would be good Thing 10 do go. Mol only
wouid this change reduce the cost OF entries TO tho
merchants, built would tend 10 facilitate The dispos
lion Of business Mr.. Hoffman, finally promised tnat
he would reduce to writing this well other sug
ana then retrsd. fi4 .tT G-E
r. John J. Osberne chief or tho warehouse DIVISION
lteennlealiy called tue ih'rdh was subjected 20 an
ae tails OF his Office. Like the other Witnesses Mr.
Osborne had NO information 10 give winch would
snow how the cost Ut running his division coud be
reduced he said hc was not IN position to answer
the questions put by Mr. Wood on tnis point because
the matter under Official Investigation now. Il X
.iaras3 y DANGRRs OF COLIUsIOS. halt i-. ~.
Mr. Wood wanted know wnat measures had been