New-York tribune., 1878-05-18
THE TREASURY COMMISSIONS INQUIRIES.

TAKING TESTIMONY IN REGARD To THE IMPoRTA'
TIONs OF SILKS AND KID GLOVES.
Though all the members of the Treasury
Commission 10 whom have been delegated the investga
ton of complaints aegeduudervauation in the mpor
atOn goods Of excessive damage allowances, were
present at the meeting Yesterday, the session
short one. At the opening, William Libbey of A.
T. Stewart & Co.. took his place with the commis
sion as the representative Of the merchants oi
Eew-YOrk Many responses were read 10 the circular
sent 10 leading importers on Thursday, offering 10
meet the commission at any time and during the after
ternOOn schedule Of the WORK OF the
commission was arranged by Messrs. Libbcy and
Letter. but information concerning this and the other
proceedings Of the meeting withheld. Several
witnesses were examined in regard to the al
legged undervaluatiOns in silk importsuons at
this port among whom Mr. Degncr, OF Messrs Aun-
ordt & Co. He answered freely regarding the impor-
tation of silks, and gave it as his opinion
that when a manufacturer sent his entire
stock to this country and sold silks abroad the agents
could properly fix the market and invoice values.
In the course of the session yesterday, Il domestic
manufacturer of kid gloves was called in,
and in his testimony, gave every particular regarding
fhc manufacture OF this class Of goods suggested to
the that from his statements they could
easily obtain tbs true invoice value OF foreign goods
these snSects: and IL is expected that to-day
the questions under consideration will he more
thoroughly explained 1t Is stated that alleged
Irregularities in the trade will als be considered by
this commission and VIII form important
part Of the report In the matter OF KID gloves,
Collector Arthur, yesterday. named ten merchant
appraisers whose work will be distinct from that OF Ihe
commission They Will pass upon the large stock OF this
class of goods at present in bond
In the testimony tasen in the West by the
Commission, ii asserted that in the mat
ter of rebate damaged impOrtations such
percentages have been allowed TO Eastern import
deprive Western importers of trade in the art
clesOn which rebate is given 1t claimed rebates
frequently allowed OF from 10 to 40 per cent, while
the goods when received were easily sold frstclass
goods Investigation made of this subject, and II
was found that rebate allowed in the West
and ncOnsiderabe amount in Philadelphia. In Boston
the system Of rebates carried out to greater ex
tent, but the testimony taken pointed 10 New
York as the principal place at which these
allowances were made. In his remarks wednesday,
before the Commission, Appraiser Ketchum stated that
greater practsed at present in estimating the
damages claimed than had been shown for many years
before. 1t has been claimed that certain classes
of goods be purchased i'll Philadelphia at
cheaper rates than elsewhere other in Boston
and still classes in NewYOrk ali TO the derinent
of the West aud the Western merchants have testified
with unanmity this subject. The western firms say
that all they ask for ia uniformity such uniformity az
will allow honest competition. some of them
testify that while many houses have been driven from
business the goods about which complaint has been
made they have trebed their business in Other goods in
which they have not been subject to the dhculties
which they are seeking TO have removed.