New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-15

waauouss The firms representative IN nc VIZ.
A. A n. Saxton. Mr. Saxton Is NOT ie.s ~'no"'
..,,r.rees If Mr. Osborn's distinguished cousidor-
80 .rhe communication which this man sax
s~.s.as IN tho department. he says In which DO
~. 90 h,s Uealth and bis friendship with Mr.. MO-
LILLIAN 20 whom he refers for an endorsement OF
-. she,acter il in itself sufficient to prove MN
.u,,tv.v Mr. Osborn CHARGES the appraiser WIN
slIovIing Ssxton to read Official correspondence.
ADVANCING IMPORTERS INvoicKs.
wn,e Mr.. Osborn was abroad engaged IN
Che Investigation of cutlery impor'aeohs
Z. made reports alleging AUTHORIZATIONS against
l.roe number Of firms His reports on these
Nrures were sent 10 Appraiser McMullen. and Their
mon mauy thousands of dollara were collected for
increased and penal duties. Some OF the i'n-
voytrrs voluntarily advanced the alucs OF their in
voces in view of the serious cases made out against
than Colonel Osborn has made computation OF
the additions which have accrued to the revenues,
a result of his work and finds that they amount
70 at least SSOO.O00 year significant fact Is
tb.t there has be n, according to the Bureau OF
etatistics an increase in tho value of importatons
In cutlery for the year ending June 80 1885, OF
e24l, 623 yet the quantity Of goods imported Is
% 900 dozens less than In the previous year. An
other fact for Appraiser MoMullen to consider IL
put in these words bv Mr.. Osborn
1854 was only SIG and ini only Sl7 50 ms per
rcporf 70 the Bureau OF Statistics Yet In the face OF these
plain truths the appraiser OF this port who was exan
fner OF cutlery many years. and under whom
such gross undervsuations and frauds were perea !"
take place has s S be Knew did not and even SO
- last week declared In the presence OF te .l
the Collector IL 20 we'll satisfied that not only undervalnn
ton but exists that he bias sei one notable case 70
have been invoicing goods for at nom 20 per cent
10 so per below the prices al which other houses
means aud credit IN good position as II Is possible 10
- 10 purchase goods have inVoied them at yet the e1
Amnsr and appraiser has passed them as correct AL
Along without question
An incident Ia told to show the relations OF Mr..
NeMuIlen with the two frrns of Field and Baker.
The Coppei people are Philadelphia firm. and ex-
ojted the great indignation of Field & Co. aud
Boxer & Co. by their alleged AUTHORIZATIONS.
When an in Investigation was made into heir affairs,
Aha speciaI agent at philadepha called upon Ap-
prs,ser McMuilen for list of importers who should
Be summoned as experts. Two OF tho four fur
nished him were leading men IN the nrfns
Of Mr. Field and Mr.. Boxer. MIR McMnlien.'
savs the Phadelphia agent In his report. inform
Cd me that they thoroughly competent to value
these goods aud that their value may be accepted
- accurate" Mt. Osborn accuses these firms also
of differentiation. He says that. generally
speaking uuderv aluatiou has now virtually been
stopped at tina port with the exception of two or
the appraiser"
The exhibits sent to the department in connec-
ton with the report consist of tables comparing the
inporters price or class with the correct price or
class and the amount Of such reappraisements as
have been made. Charges are made against the
Grssf Cutlery Company. who. the report says.
"udervalue systematically, but have recently ad-
yanced their prices greatly, no doubt having the
fear of the law before them" Msrkt & Co. are de-
scr,bed as "daring violators OF the law" who have
"many times been mulcted" in penalties they
also have increased their ratings since their case
was reported 10 the department. A. Kastor IS ac-
cused of having had WortenhoIm's name stamped
on "a large lot OF common German rubbish"
ANrx.MiNEn WITHOUT xPsRIENcH.
Another presentment against Mr. McMullen is IN
these words:
Iaes,r TO call your attention to the fact that young
man named Hartman. formerly opener and packer IN
the service has been examining cutlery The Young man
Guon the present examiner. furnerly sugar sam
pier and was dismissed from the service years ago.
After an ,estigston conducted by Captain C. G. Adams.
WIN reported that he found the charges male proved
Hartman may be good opener and parker ana ItOn
good sugar sampler but they are certainly utterly inca
pable OF examining cutlery Mr. Halsted went out of
the trade In 1871. and when in IT never knew
the first thing about the value OF cutlery. he
never bought sold N German knife during their exist
snre- The one thing needed nj the Public store rs exam
whom the community has confidence. aud not man
a. cOnvfctSd
whom senenee was suspended but is liable 10 be passed
ANY day In OF Boxer Co. they have been per
nito To mss goods invoiced and clas flied falsely both
BY McMnilen and his successor. The present law Is
strong enough 10 stop many of such malpractces
but 10 1t 10 Deedul TO nave honest anu mlein
teni officers al the Public store.
What Mr.. Manning is gong to do about this re-
pori is a subject of much interest. He can hardly
escape doug something. The integrity and COM
petence of his appraiser are boldly attacked. and
the attack is strengthened by facts and figures 1t
"a difficult to see how it eau be removed. Colonel
Osborn should be dismissed for making false
charges, or Appraiser McMullen should lose his
head for official misconduct