The New York herald., 1878-09-14
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.

|
EXPLAIN TIE WORKINGS OF THEIR BE-
sPEorIvE DEPARTMENTS TO CONGRESSMAN
WOOD.
Mr.. Fernando Wood the only member Of the
Congressional Sub Committee Ways and Means who
sat yesterday In the Naval once Of tho Custom House
purpose OF investigating the workings OF that
establishment The only officers called upon 10
answer questions Mr.. silas W. Burt. the Naval
onicer, and tho Port Surveyor. General Charles X.
Granam.
Mr. Burt, In answer to Mr. Wood's Inquiries, said
he has been connected with tho Naval Ofice since
lS6u A principal duty OF his present oifco Is to
s,ablisn a method Of accountability by the Collector
for moneys passing through his hands. Without this
check tho Treasury Department would have no
means OF asccrtaining whether not the Collector
had performed his duty In making proper returns Tor
indefinite sums collected by him. Unul the Naval
Officer has given his signature to the permit goods
can lexve the ship. aud this gwen
before the Collector Is charged with the sum Of The
% ns,cro hs oiae,or oan nov on.
any money; hence the ohlce Is check not only on
tho receipts but also on ne r,,dso d.sourso%en,s
Naval Olicer Is referred 10 the Secretary OF
the Treasury. who acts as umpire Generally, no dii
ierencos between The Naval Ofirer ana tho Col
lector that require adjustment IN Washington. In
case Of differences between them goods are detained
until they settled The Naval officer also correcss
any that may originate In the Apnraiser's Oh
Ace; and any arising In the Collectors Office
may be corrected In the Naval Once TO the extent OF
CLERICAL ERRORS ONLY.
considerable percentage Of the crrors no added.
are clerical and happen on account OF the OF
business In Collectors Office As the Naval Office
Is less com IL can be managed with greater ia.
cllty accuracy. Errors judgment In hxing tho
rates OF duties are corrected IN the Naval
ONCE. Lawful disbursements OF the Collector are
regulated from Washington wncrc they are audited.
Large sums have been saved 10 the government
through tho detection OF errors by tns Naval Office
hasv~
corrupt clerks The Naval Officer agreed II
nfailbe there would DO no nosd for his ONCE;
but honest would not be content TO have
his accounts passed without some chcck. The Treas
ury Department makes the Collector strictly account
able Tor such sums reach hts nands through tho
Naval once. Mr.. Burt went at length into tho Dc.
tails Oi The duties oil the Auditor OF the Naval Office,
present in the Naval once is sixty three. and last
the salaries OF MANY OF them were considerably
reduced.
SURVEYOR GRAHAM's STATEMENT.
General Charles H. Granam, Surveyor Of the Port,
said no has hold his position since the 29sh Of last
July The Surveyor takes charge OF all the vesses'
cargoes that into tho and all exported
IDat are entitled 10 drawback duties; he has charge
OF gnuXing wincs and liquors and supsrintcnds the
wsrk OF gaugerS weigners, measurers and Inspectors
In dischArxe OF his dalies tho inspecting officer
required 10 writo good hand have general
knowledge Of business MS hours OF service being
sunrise TIL sunset The surveyor explained the
method OF detailing inspectors for duty Colonel
Whiting, ienaent, Keeps tho OF business
by the pectors The paints about the smug
giing goods into this port arc directed principally
against seorago petty officers Of vessels
entering here. NO permits 10 discharge vessels at
night are now granted they arc allowed ior.y.o'ght
hours which land thor cargOos and usually
complish II IN tnat time II Is almost Impossible TO
prevent some frauds on the dockA II Is more JUDI
ci0us Tor this reason 10 discharge vessos during the
day than at night. Wnen q vessel comes in from
long voy age the number oi cnicers for discharsing
her cargo ~ doubled. No complaint had been rDado
since General Graham ofice about inspect
ors illegally allowing passengers TO take goods ashore
with them. As 10 tue xtrinEency OF tho custom
| overhauiing baggage, the law allows OF no dis
crstion The part OF the officer. Wnen
Health onicor Of tho port, and after his favorable
report the Deputy Collector or the spector
board. The passengers then MI In dec.arasion OF
including such articles as jswery or other dutiable
effects, and swear 70 H. Tho. upon reaching tho
pier, Colonel Burt assigns officer OF the
| passengers TO examine the baggage. The appraiso-
ment Of duty upon passengers' effects up TO the
amount Of 5000 10 made on the spot Inc Inspector
Is the Judge as whether effects dutiaoc
Ii he has any doubt about il he consulIs with his
per,ors. The same rue OF inspection applies to all
from The h,ghost 10 the lowest GLASS OF pas
| sengers. Tho law permits Of no discretion
wherein the officers mad excesaed their duties; he
could not say that he knew OF means whereby
the present system OF adm n,stcring affairs IN his
onicc could be improved but he OF opinion that
hteon additional inspectors wore necessary tor
the expeditions performances OF the service In this
section Tho Collector could not temporarily employ
! inspectors, but he ought 10 have tho powcr OF
tak,ng on additional hands; he appoints officers
Cases OF reports against officers and their
| suspension from duty had occurred during the
present Surveyors tncum0enCy IN ONCE he hdd not,
however attempted collect lacts relative alleged
abuses in weiR hing Attention had been called to the
use 0f iaise Weighs la weighing sugars ana no mad
taken measures to have them investigated. The Su-
perntendent OF Weighers Is q check the weghers.
IL Is not tho practice TO duplicate woigherc returns
Tor tho purpose odating merchants. Weigh
duplicates oil thor work; nc turns 10
tue Office his original book. The receipt OF presents
| by wcign ncrs is allowed nor carried the
supervision exercised by sir. Lake makes prob
able. False returns OF wcghers In COLLISION with
| chants, had boen made, and nothing now exists
| prevent such things happening again. MT Lake
nad mado reports in writing regarding tho false
| weighing OF sugar. The Immigrant baggage Is ex-
am. Casie Garden by SIX iuspoctsrs, who are
specially detailed for that purpose rhc establish
meut OF u barge ofDce Will greatly simplify business
and make the examination OF baggage less Gbnox
II No charges had boon msde about nrtt-
cics having missed the wharf where personal
effects bong examined
A. this point Tue investigation was adjourned till
eleven O'Clock Monuay morning.
A FEDERAL OFFICE hEStGNED.