The New York herald., 1879-02-01

to the importers place or business anc the erchan-
disc was thus delivered without question.
The record shows that for years under Mr. Arthur s
administration these improper practices were OF al
most daily occurrence. and the articles thus per-
mtted to pass without entry payment OF duty en-
braced merchandise in many instances OF very con-
siderable value such as horses. earr,ages'
cigars and packages the contents OF which are not
known and may have been of great value. These un-
revenue and to the reputation of honest men.
Mr.. Arthur treats as trivial IN character and
scarcely worthy OF mention. III, The partiiim. iu
justice might be done to persons in
this way. but If desired full statement OF all facts
shown upon the records will be given OF these cases
from which 1t will appear that they are not the
''harmless free permits granted in the ordinary
of business tree goods. but are in viola
ton of law of dangerous example. and if permitted
be made the cover of fraud to any extent. with
little danger of detection.
CHARGES COMMISSION CASES.
stated that clerks engaged in making statements
Of refunds in the well known charges and commits
them from the attorneys themselves who press
ing these cases before the courts and department..
this wras grave h Charger He begins by explaining %
that several years since 1T was the custom for the at
torneys to compel the referee by to produce
before himself the papers lodged in the Custom House,
and while in his hands to permit the calculation to
be made by persons employed by the attorneys; that
the practice was afterward changed at the sugges-
tion the Solicitor OF the Treasury for the
that it would be better to employ clerks in the
Custom House. as then the original entries and in
voices would not be removed from the custody of
the government. In accordance with this suggcs-
tion clerks were employed on this work, and of
course, Mr.. Arthur states, they were paid by the
importers their attorneys, the work being outside
of government hours and not done for the govern
ment.
1t will thus be perceived in the statement of Mr..
Arthur himself that under his Collectorship,
matter of course. clerks were allowed to receive
illegal fees from importers or their attorneys from
the claims for refund, many OF which were without
foundation. have nothing further to add to this
admission by him of a practice so improper and one
tn direCtly against the interests OF
the government.
Further on he says somewhat inconsistently. that
this Objectionable feature OF receiving pay from the
importer suggested by the law officer of the gov
ernment II by this he means the Solicitor OF the
Treasury, the only law officer who has had the matter
in charge he does state what is the fact From
careful examination of the correspondence between
the Solicitor and the United States Attorney at New
ruary 1871, when the practice i'll these cases was
changed, there is not found word which will coun-
The Solicitor states to the United States Attorney
in letter of February 1871 that there would be
difficulty in securing the proper clerical assistance in
making up the adjustments in these cases from
clerks in the Custom House. who have hitherto been
detailed to this duty but he says nothing about and
does not anywhere intimate, that they were to be
paid other than by their salary allowed by law.
It appears from the documents submitted to the
House and oral statements made to the Committee
Appropriations in the presence OF the attorneys for
these claims, that forged protests were introduced
in many cases to give jurisdiction in such cases.
and that there failure to plead the statute OF
limitations: that the amount already paid on these
antiquated claims $1,9s0.O00 and that there are
still claims pending all of which fourteen
years old. which, if allowed. would require the
further of at least S750,O00 1t is now con-
tended by the Department of Justice, before the
courts in New York, that the great body Of these
claims fraudulent, and resistance to their pay
ment is thus far effectively made
EXPENSES AND RECEIPTS.
While Mr.. Arthur admits that expenses increased
and receipts from the revenue steadily diminished
during his administration. :, he claims ;,,, that
charged to the expense of collection large
amounts over which he had no control. and which
strictly had nothing to do with current expenses.
But leaving out of consideration the extraordinary
expenses to which he refers rs well as those incurred
by the Naval Office and the Surveyors and Appras-
ers' department., it is shown by the accompanying
tabular statements, made up from the Treasury
registers. giving the number and compensation Of
the employees in tho several divisions OF the Col
lectors Office and Of the weighers, gaugers and
spectors-all appointed upon the nomination OF the
Colectorthat the force and expenses OF MS own de-
assumption of the duties of Collector to the 3Oth of
June 1874, in number 251 persons and in amount
$364 574 more than in 1871 and this in face of the
fact that the receipts had fallen OFF III the time
mentioned many millions of dollars. The first de-
crease i'll force and expenses was made i'll 1875 by
of special agent and amounted to SlS7,6so In 1876
another reduction amounting to ten per cent of the
salaries paid employees. was made by order of Secre-
tary Bristow. but fully restored in 1877, and the
force increased prior to tho incumboncy of the
ent Secretary. In 1878 the recommendations of the
Jay Commission went into effect, resulting in
duction force and expenses in the Collectors de
partment alone of 12G personsand S2S7S74 over the
previous year.
From this it will be seen that my former statement
as to the reductions caused by the recommendations
of the Jay Commission fell short rather than
ceeded az Mr.. Arthur charges the actual reduction
accomplished in his department in 1873 In the Col
lectors immediate Office 1t is that the force and
expenses were increased from eight persons and
$4,000 in 1872 to eighteen persons and $780, 700 in
1877. This force has now been decreased to seven
persons and $40.
Mr. Arthur compares the cost Of weighing for the
year ending June 80 1872. wthsthe cost for the year
latter year of 767 o. When it is considered that
tea and coffee made free July l. 1872. and that
there were therefore. many millions Of packages
weighed in 1872 for which there no correspond
ing expense in 1s73 the ingenious character this
defence will be appreciated. especially free tea
coffee not forgotten when decrease OF revenue
receipts was to be accounted for.
Mr.. Arthur assumes that in my letter of the 18th
he is held responsible by the department for the fall
ing off in the revenue which, in fact caused by
the reduction Of taxes. No such accusaton was
made against him. but it is insisted that while by law
taxes were reduced and the labor of his office dmin-
ished the expenses increased.
He claims that appointments were made
without the consent of the department. That is
true but the primary responsibility for this increased
expense must fall upon the Collector. whose recon-
mendations in matters of detail usually approved
by the department.
DETAILS OF INCREASED EXPENSES.
The following table shows the details of the in
and the several branches OF the Custom House
in which II occurred
@1S71.-@ c-1s72.--