New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-22
DIsCLAlMING ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

NE VIEW WHICH CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICIALS TAKE
OF THE ALLEGED tRtUDs-iHFIR REASONS FOR
DECLARING THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE
The officials of the New ork Custom House
disclnim all responsibility for any ire sular.tics OF
rarls that may have been practsed N collecting
claims account Of duties wrOuRfu,ly collected
The Custom House view Of the matter was OBJ
tanned by conversations with prominent officials
Yesterday Tho investigation now being carried on ~
Washington. they say Is entirely regard 20 OLD case
cases that under the Old system OF protests that
abolished long before the present officials received
their appointments. Tue Old system was 10 permit q
merchant, Whenever he considered duty 10 b3 uulaw-
fully IcyIcdUpln certain class OF goods to make pro
test This protect allowed % act prospcctiycly In
regard any Subsequent leycs ~ tue same class which
might b, found 10 be ILLEGAL The pr sent Law require,
ID, merchant make protest In every that arises.
uui tho protest e. lied IN duplicate at Washington and
Sew-York Under this lattrr system, 1t Is claimed that
90 UlIr, laye arisen u tIe recovery % tie wrong
fully collected duties.
TIE collection ~ the amounts claimed By o." mGI-
chants tine cd system depended whore the du'ic
have been wrong uy ry.ei, upon ihc qucs
tuu vhg,r tsc protests given. u thus happened
that -uemrrchalt able orcceiyo back thcIrmon,y
while others. wish The same 70. 4 IN equity. were obliged
to allow their money IN the hands OF the GOV.
eminent because OF the technical difficulty Of lacS
OF project. II was into such eases these that
between SOB aud 1853 that frauds creut is alleged
TIE merchant, would PIT their claim, into the bands o.
ATTORNEYS who IN some cases mIGut be uUprlRupled.
Custom House officers declare that II woud BE-
Impossible 70 insure against all tampcru
VITA the records. Reputable LAWYERS arc OIL
lowed To examine tnrm they are allowed 10 examine
those 90 the County Clerks Office, and IN each case 10 is
impossible 10 keep such close watch as absolutely
% prevent any false documents being thrust m
VITA tic others. Thus, It Is said, that
il Is possible that these false protests were placed on file
without collision with any C1-tom House employc No
great doubt however. tx pressed by the Officials thli
There may have been assistance gwen 10 the claimant,
los some suburdinutcs In the Custom House
That there anything new In the present disclosures
8. denied bv the Custom House Officers. Complaints o.
the same character they say, have hern made repeat
rdy during 90, past years and the present uycstl-
cation bias arisen of tAc al oi Tie present seer
ar ~ ih- Treasury to pay TIE claims now IN tie Treas
ury Department awaiting payment. The responsibility
ogd,i.ctug tb,-, fraud, zoos not rest, 10 Is claimed,
u,ou the present Custom House officials who have had
nothing 20 do with the papers on which Tire cases are
founded further than 90 keep them rccor aud 10 pro-
lucp turu boz court when required. The courts are Ia
determine their character ani II Is the duty, a. j.,
claimed the attorney Tor the Government 10 discover
w.lu thor. Is fraud ln connection with theui.