New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-06
THE VALUATION OF vELvETs.

THE VALUATION OF VELVETS.
LETTER FROM AssIsTANT-sECRETARY FRENCH IN
REPLY TO AN ATTACK UPON THE TREASURY
DvPABTMTNr.
(nY TEtEsRArH To THE TRIBuSE.I
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5-Some time ago an edito-
rial article appeared in The NerYOrk Commercial
Bulletin relating 20 advances of values by Custom
House appraisers at Ncw-lork upon imported vel
vets in which The Secretary of the Treasury was
held responsible for these advances which were
denounced rs " Custom House robberIes of import
ers" This editorial has been printed as handful
md sent 10 members Of Congress, apparently with
n view Of making the impression that the Treasury
Department is depressing honest merchants.
A copy Of this publication was sent 10 the Secre-
tary of the Treasury by Congressman Shallen-
berger. of Pennsylvania. and notwithstanding
French to whom the matter was referred. has writ
zen the following letter in reply
WASHINGTON d. C.. sept. 8. 1879.
NE Hon. " s. SHALLLNLEAGEk Rochester, rem.
a. me- as the officer having special charge the Gus
toms Deparneni your note OF August 20. with paper
Commercial BtIetin entitled Custom House Robbery
pf Imporlers. Tho paper Is IN the form OF handoi,
papers apparently IN the interest Of the agents OF
lofelgn a., a. Gr,, M ~, M III ction
efdaes IMPORTS IL i not our habit 70 notice such
attacks but YOU request AN explanation o the action
the department In this matter, an exception may he
properly made in this case.
been done instead OF being Custom House robbery OF
Importers IN fact ar exposure OF the robbery or hon
p iSieisn n ~ sEs and veivets and many other
goods has changed within very fsw years For
uery merchants ia TINS country Orcered ihe!r goods
directly of the manufacturers. Now such an ordcr is
hardly known but each manufacturer abroad has an
agent Ia New-lOrk who alone has authority 10 SCI
nftery refuse sell them directly to merchants,
thus showing conspiracy between them and theragens
cestroyeG and merchants in fact compelledtO
pay higher price for their goods than would be paid IN
tu omen market and the profit OF the transaction was
lhared by the manufacturer and his agent.
THIS middle man. usually FOREIGNER was enabled 10y
rsnicant fact that about 95 yer all the silks
1 1 Po2 S Si sna Gan
these agents In fact our agents ascerI9ined that
merchants IA all the principal cities East ana west were
nDo To- he delivered in future nnd in SOME instances
such orders given even before the goods were
When these velvets came 10 the Custom House and
the duties were added. they found to be nvOced
al 20 to 40 cent below the price at which they
Fection eoo Revised Statutes importers and
signees examined upon oath touching the whole
matter and required 10 produce their letters accounts
and invoices relating TO these mporfations. IL became
manifest that the grosses Maud was systematically
he honest merchants. who were thus unwttingly made
fhe instruments OF such fraud.
OF the customs 10 fix the value ofimported merchandise
NAV appeal TO consisting OF OF the general
appraisers and discreet and experienced merchant
aud value OF the goods in question, and II they shall
6sogr.e the Collector Of the Port shall decide be-
tween them; and such nppraisement Is by law
fua Neither the Secretary OF the Treasury nor any
other OF officers has legal power o. appralss i'm
nOrted goods In TO interfere win their ap-
praisemcn That duty devOlves upon the Customs OIL
GERS aud merchant appraisers by the act OF Congress
This department. In fact never intervenes In the de-
tails of the Custom House business The only influence
department exerts over all bis suDordr
mates, making them constantly feel That tney are re
uurcd AT all faithfully to discharge their duties.
- The Judgment OF the official appraiser who knows
nothing about value OF goods ~ always accepted
etc. the language OF the paper III question: Ihlsis
an arragument OF The method established by Congress
as we'll as character OF the official appraiser who
acted IN this case General Keichum who thus acted
and whose Judgment approved by the Collector IL
one OF the our general appraisers for the whole country
1hey all are of large exper ence and high character
and no honest merchant In New-fork VIII question
either the integrity, capacity or expert skill OF Genera
ketchum
Tie statement in the circular is that " the Custom
House repeating silk velvets the tactics OF reap
praemen and fictitious valuation that IL has lately az
Piled to kid Cloves" IL may be interesting Dritny 10
note results OF the Investigation of the Customs OH
with regard net only TO KID gloves but also TO man
Government the port OF New-NOrk alone, by rea
the advances referred TO uDOn kid gloves, during
tue year ending June 80 1879, was 4l76975 so anu
that upon silk goods S3l9234 90. These results nave
been obtained by the fullest faiTest and most pubic IN
vesgatOn possible, and now generally acqulesced
g. by The Of the country being JUST and
manufacturers of silk gre receiving the lnci-
ccatal protection 80 which they are by law entitled
Very ctfuly,
Aucfuf Eaara