The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-06
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.

REPEAL OF THE ANTI-MoIErY ACT RECON-
MENDED BY CHIEF CLERK MMABoN-THE
ROUTINE BUSINESS EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Fernando Woods su0-comm ttee Of tho Com
mittoe OF Ways and Means met yesterday morning in
the Office OF the Naval Olcer Mr.. Wood the
emily member OF the committee present, but he was
occasionally assisted in his questioning OF Witnesses
by suggestions from Jackson $. Schultz, OF the New
York Chamber OF Commerce.
Richard wyrkoop deputy collector of the Fourth
division, explained what documsntipg vessels meant.
II means granting them certificates enabling the
sells TO engage foreign domestic trade licenses
for coastwise frontier trade tor pleasure boats.
according to tonnage: registers are granted Ger.
tidcatss of tho master carpenter and Others COM
petcnt to Identity tho vessel and give her
mont; the Ices are ixod by law; ne did not believe
that should BE- comp usory for the owner OF vessel
10 attend in person at the port whore his
vessel was built in order 10 obtain
register: he regarded as loose the system
OF allowing any vessel TO discharge hcr cargo after
nignsia as IL gave opportunity for swinding the
government OF It's customs dues. Witness had heard
OF persons receiving perquisites In his department.
but they Immediately dismissed; all mercenary
man were promptly removed upon representation to
the Collectors exporters should furnish lists OF their
exports to the Bureau Of Stat stc and the law upon
the poin, should be nude obligatory.
William A. Morris, deputy collector Of the Filth
DIVISION stated that his aulies included the entries OF
merchsn dise. the Withdrawal duties, liquidation OF
goods and refundng In explaining the nature OF his
onice the witness stated that tho merchant or
broker makes out entry from the invoice and
paid and passes the entry; The Naval Officer checks
H. The permit Is issued and the duty paid TO the CASH
Ter; no conflict arises between his department. aud
the Naval Officer iu regard TO ad vaorem auties
silks and other merchandise; the duly Is computed
entireiv by tho invoice, ana 1t is the appraisers duty
determine whet the rate oil duty charged
rect or not; he wsuld suggest that in order to pre-.
errors steamers should not be allowed to enter
crowds; errors from the necessity OF expe-
ditng business; the remedy would be TO hire
extra set oil entry clerks when the pressure OF bus
moss occurs
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY
Colonel W. II. McManou, cniei clerk Of the Filth
division, explained the duties OF his position and The
process. OF entries. He has ten entry clerks "A good
many messengers, more than there Is employment Tor
now, but aitor the l6th tseptember when the new
arrangement goes into effect there VIII be plenty OF
TOR them. Witness stated that IL has rot been
the practice OF entry CLERKS to receive presents from
merchants but they have received extra pay Tor over
work and have taken nome documents 10 copy IN order
TO facilitate the business OF importers
BY The Charman-Do you mean TO say that
they allowed 10 carry homs from the Custom
House Official documents without authority A.
They are not Official documents, because they have
not gone through the legal process The witness in
umated that the work is simply clerkly one to
pedits the business OF merchants; but the system
has abolished The rsceat change, in the opin-
ion of tho Witness In regard tospassing entries had
worked 70 advantage. The system pursued in liqui-
dating goods described by witness; the process
requires from ten TO httecn days, sometimes longer
wnen papers are returned from the Naval Office to the
Filth DIVISION Lney arc corrected and entered In
book called the "Book Of Errors;' the Collector Is
bound by the appraisers estimate OF vaiuaton there
is no record OF the amount OF duties received IN the
Filth divisou when there 10 any conflict OF opinion
between tho Collector Naval oihcer or surveyor Of
the Port the whole mater referred to the Secretary
OF the Treasury at Washngson Tor maj decI5on. In
regard 10 the multiplicity Of errors Witness stated That
he had recently looked over the ososs aud found that
the errors were not 10 very numerous; when clerk
Is found committing many errors do not report ham
at once TO the Collector, but talk 10 him.
ln answer to a question regarding the NUMBER OF
WAS not ~ tho mead OIL IL
BY the Chalrman-but you are very poar II.
witness said ne could recall only one case whore ne
iound u necessary 10 make Complaint and the clerk
was removed; busy day was an excuse for occs-
siona errors with regard to tho quaincatons oil an
sppolntec he mad nothing TO DO; he was put to desk
assigned by the Collector, and II found incom potent
his case was reported.
FoEEIGS LANGUAGES.
witness stated that ne had ooen 10 tho riitn divis
ION about fourteen years. now numbers sixty seven
or seventy, many OF whom have been there over SIX
years -
by the Chairman-when invoices are received by
an entry clerk In foreign language which he docs
not know, what do you thonf A. Sendthem TO some
one VINO docsi one or Two entry CLERKS understand
different lanxuages but when clerk has been In
service one or two years he becomes ainiar with
the business that knowledge OF foreign languages IN
not absolutely essential, the routine being generally
REPEAL OF rHB ANTr-MoErY ACT.
in the awsay, nrst in order to secure the revenue.
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