New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-02
REPORTS ON THE BARGE office.

WHAT THE COLLECTOR, NAVAL OFFICER AND SUR
vEYoR SAY TO SECRETARY MANNING.
WAsuISGroN. April 1.--Secretary Manning
to-day four reports on the subject OF the new
York Barge Office, signed respectively py 'oheo.or
Robertson Naval officer Graham. Surveyor Benede'
and Deputy Collector Williams Collector Robertson
saws: al submit that the OF the Barge once as
pce for the examination of the baggage OF passengers
arriving from abroad in compliance with the statute
ISee act Of June 15, 1873. Vol ~, statu'es-a'e''
cage 1881 have In person visited the Barge oinco
annex and that 1t affords accommodations ana eonVeh
fences the orderly and decent examination Vi gag
gage and for the personal comfort OF passengers ia
s,nericr Tn those given by steamship companies when
baggage was examined on their wharves cannot' am
estisfed truthfuly be denied. Moreover system anu
watchfuness can there be maintained ior 'he pro'ec
of the revenue and for the prevention OF 'ahPens VII"
officers while the examination on the wharves was iru'
ful OF compa ints creditabie TO the Government
..Tho civ,ny IN ono EXPRESS company the exclusive
privilege within the building, OF booking baggage TOT
delivery was without consultation with me- and 'hero
fore without my approval The publicnqui suggesteo
by the Naval Officer and the Surveyor Is not 10 my
mind necessary establish that such privilege is as
the people term 1t, "a monopoly;' that 1t Is "a
monopoly is quite manifest IN Nseh
AS stated in my letter the Surveyor of the 2oth In
slant arrangements should, in my Judgment DE msae
nsni of an express for the OF baggage AID to
this en1 propose that three representative anu %
near the exit ust large enough for one man ana desk
at which shall be displayed the name OF the company
and its tariff Of prices the agents OF the express con-
panies not TO allowed the examining hOor pu tho
baggage checked when in its passage out III
the stand employed company also propose hat
the OF express companies pOnueu az
common carriers shall have stands inside inc puang so
that they ulay charge OF the baggage OF
transit 10 foreign territories and that TO such companies
shaii lie given the privilege Of opening money exchanges
for the accommodation OF arriving passengers ana thus
remove all necessity for appeals by passengers 10 GUS
toms employees for the exchange OF money. ,c, <,,.
Charles X. Graham Naval Ofcer says: Inc Nohector
read 10 me letter which he proposed sendlng 10 YOU,
hut AS this letter only embodied his personal Opinions
,xibout reference to data authorities, deellneu 10
mite in IT. and stated to him that would make an IN
iy,iua report TO YOU In my Judgment tnere are am
ole the Barge Oce. except on extra
ordinary when many large steamers Win he
passenger lists arrive simultaneously IN rega, =,
wharf my impress that the work is carefully per
formed aud that vessels employed are well auapteu
TO the purpose and that the facilities furnished are s
peror to those enjoyed in any foreign country wouu
however advise that the contract Tor distributing Jag
gage should be given to one party, uhue
heavy bonds and subject TO the restrictions Oh
public carriers to selected by or perhaps gwen
fbrou OH advertisement to the lowest bidder Such con
tract should specify the charges authorized 70 DC aue
The Barge Office does not afford room Tor more imam one
com pany to transact this business" aor, 90 -tbs
James L. Benedict, the surveyor, IN MS ePs.S s,ss
Collector gives history Of the Barge once, anu ~.
that the landing OF passengers there nsteaa Vi az o
seamship wharyes better arrangement LOT lne pas
sengers In my opinion" he says, " the service mas
been well performed, and can suggest no practioa m
proyement therein