New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-19
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
NEW-YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
REPORT ON THE SURVEYORS DEPARTMENT..
RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION MADE BY ORDER OF
THE TREASURY DRPARTMENT-THE DAGGETr
WEIGHING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE

'sf~A OhI ON SUhtE1ORS DEfAnl
RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION MADE BY ORDER OF
THE TREASURY DRPARrMENr-THE DAGGETr
WEIGHING coNTRACrs-CoNcLUsroS OF THE
SPECIAL AGENTS
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUyz.I
WASHINGTON, May 1s.-Ira Aver jr., and Charles
N. Brackett special Treasury agents, have just SUBJ
mitted to Secretary Folger their report upon the
working Of the Surveyors Office in New York City,
The investigation was had in pursuance Of a request
from III. c. Lake, who was superintendent of
Weighers until his office was abolished, and who
claimed that he had not only been faithful officer
but had introduced important reforms in bis branch
of the service The Secretarys letter of instructions
to the two agents further directed them to make
thorough examination Of the Surveyors Depart
ment and to report in detail. The result is report
OF nearly one hundred pages of manuscript. accom-
panied with large number of exhibits, the whole
showing minute aud careful examination, such as
had not been made, Treasury officials say, by tho
Department before of any of the Customs Offices in
New-York City, The following the principal
statements of the report. Under the head Of con-
tract labor the report says:
the first day Of February 1873 the contract for
into operation aud continued until March 0, 1880.
splitter was TO furnish the necessary weghers labor sc
terms betrg based upon the mporatioDs OF several
years previous and making no provision for possible
goods In the latter part OF 1879 there was large in
both f 10 the and IN
MarcG 81 iSso IN "a % to the the er ces % IS
Splitter were follows:
February l. 1873, TO December 81 1873. s6s75o 90
1899 to to peee@oer Mec M @ dS7e 2S95 S 90
Extra allowance, March, lSo0........... 21,6S7 ~
Total. .sl7s, ,s12 u
On the Termination OF the Splitter contract March 8,
1850 Il was aw- rded TO Albert Daggett on what APP
the period OF five months and twenty-five days, begin
ming March 10. 1880, aud ending August 81, 1850. Dag
the entire amount paid to Splitter during than two
years. The total number OF pounds weighed and re-
turned under the spzer contract and for which he fur
nshed labor was 60l057967s under the frst Daggett
@ach willie It Is S Conceded Y thai ors the fs teams Of the
Splitter contract were inadequate it will be difficult 70
this wide difference in the cost OF the work compar
son OF the propOronae expenses on this account, un-
der the first and second Dagget contracts gives results
still more conclusive.
Number Of pounds weighed and returned
under Daggetts first contract 3,l62726,Sf0
Number Of pounds weighed and returned
under Daggetts second contract nSSl. 1855 620
PAID DaSset on on second contract ssi iesSoi 81
If the provisions Of the first contract had been the
those Of the second which are also unques
tonably very lber there would have been paid to Mr.
Bnsst @ sG au MS What 'f be aes sS rcv 81
expenditures were made under the provisions OF former
than allude thereto
The report speaks favorably of Daggetts perform
ance of his contract.
General Graham became Surveyor July 20, 1873.
On July l, 1877, reduction in the force had been
made of forty-two inspectors and twelve night in
spectors, saving annually $74,4SO. On February
1,1s7S. reorganization OF the weighers depart
ment caused reduction of S24, 795. Other re1uc-
tions made round total of 100000. The steadily
decreasing tide of emigration reached its minimum
in 1877 and duties had reached it in 1878. Tie
expenditures of 1878 are therefore taken as the
lowest possible basis of comparison. The percent
age of increase in business for the three years fol-
lowing 1878 is considerable, and increases largely
in advance of the percentage OF increase of ex-
penses The percentage of increase in passenger
rivals over 1878 was in 1879, 1880 and 1881 re-
spectively, 453 per cent, 200 per cent and 317.5
per cent.
The increase of percentage in duties was respect
lively 162 per cent b. per cent.
and 553 per cent The increase in expenses was
only SO per cent 2S.4 and 3OS per cent. The total
expenditures of the Department for the four years
named was as follows: 1873, $72f6G2 1879,
$764,274 1880, S1.134,272; 1881. 81 ,01s, ,O1O.
The general conclusions of the report are as fol-
lows:
Firs-That we find no branch Of the Surveyors Depart
ment where, in oar Judgment there are more men Than
ors bo day and night has at times been 50 limited as to
embarrass the public business considerably and en-
Second-In respect Of character and competency, the
employees of the surveyors department considera-
fhird-The administration Of Surveyor Graham has
been the main correct. His reputation in official cir
taking officer who has the best interests OF the service
at heart. In his discipline the Surveyor has been firm
but consderae. and so far as We have been able to
Judge the service has been reasonably free from rregu
lsrities and abuse
Among stat ments Of general interest are the fol-
lowing:
OF the 544 persons employed in the Surveyors Depart
ment, have held positions over 20 years more than
Is years 107 more than 10 years 1852 more than
nd
rules since they went into operation March ., 1873.
The number OF vessels reported III 1881 for carrying
more than the lawful number OF passengers was 80.
Number OF passengers in excess, 1913. Violations OF
the law occurred at other ports, also The German
steamship strasbarc recently reached Baltimore with
200 steerage passengers while her legal capacity
was about 1900. In the month of April just closed
fifteen steamships. with aggregate excess Of l,7l9
passengers. have arrived in Yorka fact which the
agents say ought TO be communicated TO Congress The
inspectors force numbers 266 During 1881 the baggage
Of $4,000 passen arriving IN ly34 steamships was
10 secure a sufficient number OF inspectors for tha
prompt performance o. TINS duty IRON our observation
smuggling we are firmly Of the opinion that Q
Tor night service this port number Of steam
ships and sailing vessels arrive at Quarantine during the
regular supervision There Is at this time nothing TO
prevent vessels from putting of goods.
In our judgment 1t would be difficult TO have moro
perfect system at Castle Garden than the
operation, and there Is no question that the rules,
violation OF them coming TO the knowledge OF the Dep
uty surveyor having been promptly noticed and cor
The gents report against tho proposed consoida-
ton of weighers' districts, saying that it would
tend to impair the efficiency Of the work.
Among the officers and employees criticised
hy name are John Glynn, +. j. Donellan and
John Murray Whose dismissal for intemperance is
Iwho are also strongly addicted to drink, w. III.
Hathorn ID. II. Vanderlip and Thomas Nolan unit
for duty on account of old age These all III the
Night Inspectors Division; also Weighers Jardine
and Shirley, the performance of whose duties has
not been satisfactory also John f. Costgan, in the
GaugerS division, whose dismissal Tor drunkenness
Is recommended; also Inspector W. l.. Stone. who
admitted having left his official seal during peri
cd of four weeks in the charge OF representative
of the importing firm OF Matthies'en ~ iecher>, SUI
w clssI Is