New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-09
VORK on THE PPRAISER'S OFFICE.

Threading their way through boxes and cases
piled by hundreds in numbered by tens,
viewing every sort OF merchandise from sugar anu
machinery to immature Geneva watches, intricate
German toys and rich silks and tapestries inc
Tariff Commissioners went through the Unlted
States Public Stores in Westinghouse, yesterday
urder the direction Of James =. Howard, Appraiser
of the Port. The hour fixed for the meeting OF the
Commissioners at the Appraisers Office was l. a. m
Messrs Amber and Porter arrived fifteen minutes
before that hour. Mr.. Hayes president OF the Com
mision aud Messrs BoteleI, Garland anu Mcmahon
reached the Office about ii O'Clock; Commission
ers Underwood and kenuer came in later.
Under the ad valOrem system OF collec ting
duties" said Appraiser Howard, after the hrst
greetings were over TINS ONCE Is really tne icy 10
the positicn. IT is popularity supposed that the
Collector is the principal officer In the hnal deter
mnation OF values but as matter OF TACT the aD-
pralsement here is not overruled IN one etc., case IN
chandise imported into the United States Is ap-
praised in New-York We appraise in this building
goods worth from $l,OOO,OOO to SLOOO,OOO per
ii purposed, Mr.. Howard" said Commissioner
Mcmahon to remain in the city Tomorrow IN
order to Get three things for the Commission list
of all the importers III New-foIk, copies OF an the
correspondence the question OF home valuations
and also copies of the correspondence on the prop
osition of q tribunal to decide purely customs
cases | think 1t will be of benefit to us that we
nave the views of the officers here, as they have
gone to the Secretary of the Treasury
Customs Court as ] see Mr. French did when he
addres sed YOU gentlemen some days ago.
" Mr.. Shermdn'S bill Tor the transfer OF cnSloHB
questions to the Court of Claims at Washington
seems hardly TO meet the case" Mr.. Bo'eler re-
marked.
"Oh, no." said Mr.. Amber, emphatcally there
is no question that the court ought To be here.
This is the proper place for the hearing of disputed
points where the bulk of the customs raised and
where almost all the questions that would 20 LefOre
the tribunal would arise"
Further informal conversation was held on the
question of the valuation of impOrtations at for
egD ports or at tho ports Of Importation Appraiser
Howard informed the Commission that he was IN
favor of foreign valuations. About two years ago
the subject agitated by the Chamber OF Com
mcrce. and bill introduced into Congress OH
the subject. The Appraiser had been asked Tor a
report the snbiect, md on taking the views OF
the ten neutrality-suspicious. he found that only one
chief OF division was III favor OF home valuations.
The Commissioners, after further conversation,
started with the Appraiser on their tour OF lnSpcc-
ton. At least room in each division was
visited. and in some divisions two or three rooms
the officers in charge were introduced to the Com
missoners aud they explained to them many OF the
intricacics of the present tariff classifCatons
What We need" observed Commissioner Hayes,
" is the simplIlcaton of classiications."
Undoubtedly" responded Appraiser Howard.
" prefer specific duties where they can be ascer-
tanned where they cannot we will have to accept
ad vaOrem duties. do not like compounded or COM
pick duties"
The Commissioners arranged for the preparation
of views the tariff question Tor submission 10
them by the chiefs of the different divisions of the
Appraisers Office. At $50 p IN. tine party went
on board the revenue cutter William f. Chandler
for a short cruise around the harhor. Surveyor
Graham and his assistant, Colonel KDbe. received
them on board All the Commissioners except
General Mcmahon went to Long Branch last even
Ing. They VIII resume their sessions to-day.