New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-22
UNDERVALUATIONS OF SIX.

VIEWS OF NEW-YORK MERCHANTS ON THE CHARGES
MADE by WESTERN CUSTOMS OFFICERS AND MER-
CIIANTs-HOw GOODS PASS THE CUSTOM HOUSE
AT Low VALUATIONS THE COMMISSION AS
SERTED TO HAVE EXAGGERATED THE MATTER.
DISPATCHES from Washington published in
Saturdays TRIBUNE gave the result OF the inyesga-
tions Of q commission appointed By the secretary OF
The Treasury 10 inquire into charges made by western
Customs officers and merchants hat goods were aoWeu
10 be- entered at this port at less than their real value
The commission asserts that European manufacturers
and their cents in America manage, by heavy under
valuations which are passed at The Newiork Cnstom
ouse To control the silk importatlOns 10 the exclusion
Of such American houses as a. l. stewart Co. anu IL
!" II r. Tames OF CnnIn& & Co.. has charge OF the silk
mportatiOns OF that house. In speaking Of the matter
on saturday, he said: - $780,. =.
me- than really exists London aud New-iOrk are the
two open markets Of the world. me manunesur1rS III
filling orders Paris even, or Dublin or GlasgOw or
South American cities. have Just so many pieces 10 sSu
II they manufacture lust such an amount as te otuers
much greater cost than II they turn out an
Ter alternative, and depend upon the markets OF
London pnd New York 10 take the surplus mere any
anout OF elk can be disposed OF at some price, and
therefore here they send their agents what remains
after filling exact orders lhey value ter SILKS w Is so
wh other goods at the lowest possible cost to them
that valuation passes the Custom House. The vaua-
tons OF mportatons made by American buyers must
Included in them. Also the price per yard Tor goods
purchased abroad IN immense guantltles VIII DC sss
Than that OF smaller lots and the Custom House Taua
ton of such goods will be correspondingy lover Ihcre
are undoubtedly frauds In this natler put NOT 50
MANY IN my opinion, as the commissioners seem 10
think"
WILLIAM LIBBEY CORRECT5 OvER-STATEMENTs.
william Libbey, OF A. T. Stewart Co.'S, SAID: "Ihe
commission has made over-statemcntS. The com
mssioners say it is impossible for Western mer-
chants 10 import silks in bond. Yet Western mer-
chants do Il. They say leading houses in Eastern
cities even cannot purchase silks abroad anu make
nrodt ON them. We can, and do purchase directly OF
the manufacturers and sell at profit 50 DO other
hnuspa i'm this city But there many manufacturers
who will NOT sell 10 Americans but make consignments
10 their agents here valuations which nure the egt-
mate trade do not imagine any ring OF silk import
crs exists but agents practise these methods inde
peudantly. -, ,n, 49,,
1.-THE consuls abroad" continued Mr.. Libbey, are
not responsible They do not know about values always
and could not they would, supernend all the ship
ments. The way remedy the trouble, and the ONLY
way Is this: Have appraisers tine ones we have now are
good enough with plenty OF assistants, all pald ABOUT
fOur times the salaries they receive, ana insist tna
these men shall open aud apprase every pale OF sliA
They will become experts IN the luIiy oI 'e s
gooAs and II they want 10 derive falr standard Oh
,uatiOn let them take purchase prices tor year
ar those OF any other house that imports largely ihey
NAV be sure that, be we angels pure as Gabriel OF
greatness as dishonest the DEVIL we are bound 10 Duy
o,r Goods nj the lowest possible prices"