The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-02-06
NEW YORK Cs>T0N HOSE.

1
Secretary SherBian-s C0mUianlca.
thur and Cornell.
The following are the main points oi
Secretary Sherman's communication to the
Senate in regard to the New York Custom
House nomination:
The Secretary states that he. having the
hearty support Of the President in the nea-
sure, attempted reforms in the custom ser
vice generally, notably at New York. IL
appears that Tor a series OF years since 1872,
the receipts of customs at that port has
constantly diminished, while the expendi-
lures have, with the exception OF but a
single year, steadily increased. The first
| report Of the Joy commission showed the
number OF employees at the New York Gus
tom House could be reduced 20 per cent.
| This reduction was opposed by Collector
Arthur, who states that a reduction OF more
than l. per cent could not be made in dull
times without injury to the efficiency of the
system and 10 the business oi merchants.
/ Notwiths anding this opposition the reduc-
! tion was substantially carried into effect bv
my order, making an annual saving OF
$3.50 $50, and Increasing the efficiency Of
| the service.
| The second report shows that il was a
common practice among the entry clerks,
weighers, gIugers, inspectors and store
keepers TO receive from importers and
brokers irregular fees, emolument, gratui-
ties, and peIquisi:es in the nature Of bribes
bIz W. M ft ,,aparaI
| toriety in the Custom House, and 1t does
not appear that any effort was made by the
Collector, Naval Officer, or Surveyor TO
suppress it. The commission suggested
remedy iur this state Of affairs, but Mr.
Arthur thought ''it nigh: involve annoying
results to importers by delays" 1t has,
however, now been adopted with gratifying
results.
The third report shows that the gravest
irregularities existed in the departments of
weighers and gaugers. Persons were borne
on the pay roll a. iaborers as a reward for
political service, who performed no service
except TO sig- their names 10 the rolls and
get tLeir pay. Ry reason OF Irregularities
the cost OF weighing and gauging imported
goods at the port OF New York has in
creased to the enormous sum Of S3i6, ,52i
per annIm.
These evils we're known TO Collector Ar
thur, vet he made DO cit. mpt during his
term Of office TO remedy them. On the CON-
trary, in a letter to Inc he stated he failed
to appreciate the amount Of work done by
the weighers, and have by their general as
sertions, done great injury TO them The
existence OF all these irregularities was SUBJ
sequently rectifed by independent inyesti-
4 4
The reforms proposed by the commission
in the weighers and gaugers' department
were subsequently carried out by my order |
and effected a reduction OF over $1,000 per
annum in the cost OF this branch OF the SER |
vice, alone, besides securing a great saving |
to the government in increased duties. 1t |
also appears from evidence on file in this |
department that a vicious practice has for |
a long time existed OF granting free permits |
for imTorted goods without authority /
OF law. These permits were
usually granted by Deputy Collector Ly-
decker, and ihe value OF goods thus illegal
ly delivered free Of duty amounts to a very
large sum. prepared to try TO execute
the reforms proposed with Mr.. Arthur in
office rather than stranger. The Presi-
dent aoquiesced in this view, but it grad
udliN tNi!CDi AIldl UtltlltE A(tluT /
nor Cornell were in sympathy with the re-
of the commission, and
,ouid ard did resist their fair execution.
The President became entirely satisfied
hat it was his duty to make change in
both Offices.
While Arthur held his position the same
ystem, the same persons, the same inilu-
.nces prevailed as.before. From the nature
II things it was diflicUlt Tor collector
ong associated with the chief subordinates
lnder him to believe evil OF them. Ly-
lecker, the Deputy Collector, was pracii.
ally Collector. Arthur did not give that
'ersonal attention TO the business of the
fiice that would seem necessary for
he proper discharge OF its duties
lie did not usually arrive st his ,
fiice until the afternoon. Continued COM !
laints came in from other ports of entry q,
hat unconstitutional Determinations were !
lade in favor of the port of New York by d.
,ethods of conducting business AT that !
ort that allowances for damages not per- /,
'itted at other ports were made; that |;
Tstem OF underyaluatIon prevailed, and by !;
lese means important branches of busi- :.
ess were turned from their usual course
Imost exclusively TO the ports of New !
ork, causing a reduction of revenue and :
'justice to other ports and TO the people of :
le United States. L.
The Secretary calls attention to the re-
ort OF General Appraiser Meredith and
Decial Agents Blinghsm and Hinds, on
e New York Custom House. which says:
an this connection We would respectful
call attention TO our special report in re-
tion to certain practices OF Special Depu- q,
Lydecker, ard to the several reports in tr
lation to him OF similar character which, Il
we are informed, have heretofore been fo
omitted to you. We are surprised TO T
arm that Collector Arthur, alter hav- b,
g been advised of the connec- d,
N Of his special deputy, y
7decker, with schemes to defraud the tr
vernment, and alter proofs OF such Of m
ial misconduct had been submitted to tn
N still appears to repose in Lydecker the u
,st implicit confidence, and TO allow him Or
practically control the business manage pa
mt of the office. We found that the hs
IRE honest and intelligent officials in the IN
stom House had long had reason TO dis
st Lydecker's integrity, and that the in
ence exercised BY him over the Collector
i been for long time the subject Of
nment. Since General Merritt has been Ja
Hector general improvement has taken wi
ce. The reduction Of the force contem- OF
ted in the gaugers' department and in gu
several divisions of the Custom House NE
7e been fully carried into effect, the re- liza
t Of which will be a large saving TO the cri
ernment in salaries alone" the
{ is respectfully submitted that under me
circumstances the restoration of Ar see
r and Cornell would be serious injury ere
he public service, involving loss to the are
Vic revenues and increased expenditures. tro
require this business to be performed BY see
sons in hostility to the general policy Of bee
would create discord and due
tention where there ough, to be unity Sta
harmony. 1t would be unjust to the Pre- che