The New York herald., 1878-09-26
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

Mr.. wooD's INVESTIGATION INTO IT'S METHODS
CONTINUED IMPoRTArIoNs, GLOVE
UNDERvALuATIoNs AND DUTIES 'ExPLAINED.
Mr. Wood continued his solo investigation into the
methods OF the Now York Custom House yesterday
morning and heard three wltnesses--Wiam Kent,
chief OF tho Third dision and George n Brdsall and
William H. Hoyt. In charge OF lhs Fourth and Fifth
divisions respectively. From Mr.. Kent's testimony
It appeared that embroideries, trimmings, bindings
and tho ike under his particular charge, and
that he nOs like many other Custom House
officers who had been before examined by Mr. Wood,
without special training the position as he had
entered dry goods house at the age OF nttecn, and
had followed from that time up the dry goods
iobbing business until he entered the Gus
tom House. He was asked nany questions
in reference TO tho Importation OF silks
the pas, IN the present which were OF purely
technical interest," and gave It as his opinion that It
impossible to determine tno value OF silks
now owing the different percentages OF charges.
He asked II such merchants as A. I. Stewart or
Horace Il Ciaatn would not know better how ap-
and replied negative. The heads Of t0e depart
menss, 10 his estimation, were best htsed for tho
THE IxroRrArios or SILKS
Mr.. Wood asked why II was that such houses as A.
| I. stewart co. and Arnold, Constable q 20. had
had stopped altogether fhc falling Oh In their
importation OF silks was simply due TO the fact that
| silks could be bought In New York more cneapy
| tnan they could be imported. Mr.. Kent stated at
| length his views SILK undervaluutions and be
thought that veivets could be subjected moro easily
| 10 specific dutics than silks.
Mr. Birdsa, who has 10 deal moro especially with
baggng bags oiicoths and testified that ne had
been about monlhs the service OF tho Custom
House. Prior that he IN tho internal revenue
service, and before shas ho engaged q CONNER
| ciul agent
! Mr. food asked him II he aware that II was .
difficult thing to distinguish tho difference be-
| tween and linen whom made up into fabric.
Mr.. Birdsail replied IN the negative, although ho ad
| mitted the same time that At times he had expert
enced great difficulty In distinguishing tho difference.
! As between specific and ad vaiorem duties on these
ARTICLES Mr.. Birasa was IN favor OF the first named,
which thought could be moro pracucably enforced
| under the present system.
| DUTIES ON GLOVES.
Mr. Hoyt, whose dvlsoD embraces moro especially
gloves bunting and OF millinery goods, tesi
| hed as 10 his sntecedents-thaI no began life
school teacher atterward the lumber business,
| then entered the Custom House clerk was nd
the position OF examiner OF hosiery, and
finally appointed assistant appraiser 1873 Ho was
| ask cd many questions about gloves and thor under
valuation. Az said tho special agents orgcd the nd
vancement OF tno Invoices aud accused bim OF being
| In sympathy with tho merchants whom ho took tho
| ground that the invoices should not be advanced
| Mr. Hoyt iu favor OF specinc duties on gloves
which, he believed would enable the poorer classes
to obtain gloves OF better quality than they could
now. -
| This finished the days work. and Mr.. Wood ad-
iourued further until this morning.