New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-16
REVENUE INVESTIGATIONS.


COMPLAINTS AND CLAIMS OF MERCHANTS.
INQUIRY INTO CHARGES ABOUT UNDERyALUA-
TONS REBATES, ETC-wHAT HAS FOLLOWED
SPECIAL AGENT CURTIs's STATEMENTS.
commission has been taking testimony IN some Oh
the principal cities Of the country about alleged u
lervaluations of imported goods and excessive re-
bates for damages The inquiry is now to go forward
IN New-York. The sessions will be private. Leading
merchants IN the principal branches of import
trade are expected TO furnish information to the
commission. The cases. about which Special
Agent Curtis made some charges of fraud at Wash
ngton recently, are again brought to attention by
The arrest of Almon W. Grswod, Of the cOunse'in
some of the suits, but the Government withdrew
The complaint Mr. Griswold has made statement
protesting against the cOufse Of the Government
officials
COMPLAINTS OF CONGRATULATIONS.
OPENING OF THE WORK OF TREASURY CoAdis-
SION ~ THIS CITY.
The Treasury Commission which has been
Engaged for some time in inqurng into alleged undeI
valuations Of goods at this port visiting in The inVes
cation Boston, Portland, Philadelphia, Baltimore anG
bieaco assembled at Collector Arthurs ohce IN TINS
ty Yesterday for purpose Of continuing the inquiry
here Among those present John Meredith Geuera
Appraiser at Baltimore II. W. Bingham, Special Agent
at Boston, and T. II. Kinds, Special Agent al Cicago
q
Collector Phelps, Special Deputy Collector LydecKer'
Mr. Treor chief clerk OF the Bureau OF Correspondence
AZ the Custom House, Appraiser butcher aud 6eneia
Appraiser Kctchum. There is also associated win the
,ommlsson leading merchant from each OF the above
named cities Yesterday T.. s. Jafray was seiecteu
u represent the trade OF this city in the mVes-
hgaton II is reported, however, that he VIII decline.
rbe commission will be assigned rooms in the Custom
House and to-day will begin TO take testimony The
representatives of leading firms in the city VIII DC SUD
penaed and it is expected that the investigation VIII
asst ten days or weeks The sessions VIII De Aeiu
with closed doors.
The object of the work not only TO make IN inyes
ration into charges Of differentiation upon importa-
lions OF goods at New-York, but also to Suggest
ueh changes in the present law as may seem deslaDe
fhe commission was appointed on GGcoHht o. 1
made 10 the Collectors at Philadelphia
cites that merchants there were c0mpeied 10 D1y LUZ
ported goods at NewYOrk where tbey were sOlu nore
sheaply than the same g0ous eouI 'e ei!tis in lii
IOId in thOss cities. The Customs Oinclal- III 'u,
matters and they claim that they will be able 10 show
that the complaints made nave no lOuDGa'Ion oHed
compete cheap sales Of the same goods with the large
EewYork merchants who command mi,ons Ol e"puTnI.
They gay that the charges OF the mCrchuts OF 0Iher
cities do not allege fraud by New-YOrk officials. Iney
declare that it is The duty ana interest OIL ne @
all information to show that their transactions natS
their large capital import silks gloves, and other ar
lces mentioned III the COMPLAINTS more Gheapy .Da
Philadelphia, Boston, ana Chicaso meIchAA's' Will
smaller means are able to do
WORK OF THE COMMISSION IN OTHER CITIES.
The commission met in Chicago about the middle OF
March, and city continued its investigation FOR
ten days From Chicago ii went TO St. Louis Cincinnati
Boston, Portland Philadelphia and Baltimore In these
stiles the commission has heard the testimony OF the
leading importers in regard 10 the questions Ie-
!erred TO, and great mass OF testimony mas
been taken, pointing to Eastern ports as the
,ources OF the difficulties. 1t has been claimed
~ Western merchants that foreign silk manufacturers
9aye agents IN New-York, to whom they eOns2n almost
heir entire stocks of goods, informing them
II the real value and the price Ut WAcH
ne goods may be sold at profit. The
,ptre Importation thus sent TO agent eau have no
market price iu Europe and the cOnsgnOrs are able TO
put nominal value on the goods IN making out the III
roces That nominal value, 1t is claimed, Is lower than
he market price OF similar goods in Europe, aud
u this manuer the agents are able 10 sell much more
iheagly than those who endeayor to import
themselves. Merchants complain that there are
PERTAIN classes Of goods which can only be
purchased through agencies in New-YCrk, aud as
hey cannot be bought in Europe, the manufacturers
nave no trouble in arranging valuation in passing them
through the Custom House here In regard To this mat
Ter, complaint is made by some New-York merchants
NAT one agent may cell prce day and some
ofher al less price the next day. and thus the large
uyer may find himself undeIsod by small dealer ad-
Joining him.