New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-11
CHANCES HERE AND THERE.


establishment of tho Treasury Department ITSELF and
may fairly claim to form the oldest class OF officials
in tho Civil Service. The Srst book under the United
States authority opened In the Naval ofice five
days after the act passed, and Is really an ex-
ceent specimen Of handwriting and arithmetic, de-
noting high degree OF efficiency In the Civil Ser
vice OF that day 1t Is large account book Of wire
paper, hand-ruled and bound In sheepshn, and
entitled An Account Of Duties Arising on the Car.
goes Of the Following Vessels 1t is the record
charging the Collector with the amount of duties to
be collected It is repee with interesting facts, and
is not only register Of the merchants Of NewYork,
but also indicates many social and business features
Of the period.
One OF the most notable facts IN this old record is
the dsproportionately large importation of distilled
liquors and wine, Madeira and port wines and and
gin composing the bulk. About so per cent Of the
vessels from the West Indies, and nearly every
one brought rum, lines, lemons and sugar suggesting
a largo consumption Of punch Thore was an oc-
casonal green turtle in the manifest Picking out
here and there from the record II Is found that
President Washington imported a pair Of glooesp;
Cuban VeTplanck got 21324 gallops Of gin In one
consignment from Amsterdam; ship brought as sole
cargo from Hsvro de Grass box and bale for
the French Minister another vessel brought cargo
Of brandy and cIaret, and nothing else but six
of fans and SIX pairs of shoes; John Jay imported
a lot of books, some returned fursH came 70 John
Jacob Aston; vessel from Bordeaux brought two
pairs Of women's shoes and an umbrellas and
10000 bricks came from Bristol, England. The first
record In the book Is Of the arrival Of the brganne
Persis, from Leghorn, on August 5, 1859, with
mixed cargo, including hardware, steel and salt
signed to William scton who paid STA II in duties
OF the 67e arrivals from foreign ports' vessels
from Rhode Island and North Carolina then being
ola foFnfo Gfafa
had ratified the Constitution, ga were sloops and
lao were schooners. The number Of distinct specifca
tons for the Of duties IN the Tariff Act of
July 4, 1888, was 1875; the number Of conditional
specifications to-day is IL o30 The average rate Of
duties imposed by the first tariff was very low, and
for the most part they were specific. On distilled
spirits the duty and 10 cents gallon and to-
day they pay duty Of 90 per proof gallon: wine
paid 10 cents q gallon, and to-day It pays so cents
gallon, except Sparkling wine,' which pays 50 25
gallon; malt liquors paid cents gallon, and to-day
they pay 20 cents gallon; tho duty manufactured
tobacco was cents per pound, and to-day It pays IN
form Of cigars SO 25 per pound. The duties collected
at this port in the first year. ending August T. $780,
were 1886 o3s SO, and in the year ending December
81, 1883, were s14o,ss0,oso s5. The total duties
collected at this port up TO January 1, 1880. were
81, 023, 702 $50.
The intricacy and multiplicity OF distinct trans
actions in tho customs business increase
in vastly greater ratio than does
tho revenue derived from them For instance In 191
the collections at this port about s142 900 0Oo
and In 1887 they about STAG, 5o0,o 600.
In tho former year there weighed by tho customs
officers for the assessment Of duties 1881 ,322 00<
pounds Of merchandise; In 1887, though many impor-
ant commodities had been put upon tho free list since
1874 there were weighed 1929 1877 pounds. These
larger quantities irrespective of the goods entered
this port for immediate transportation to other ports
without appraisement which increasing in
year after year, and do not appear In the collection
1f duties here
Rear-AdmraI 6. Z. Luce, who hes recently been do
tached ON command Of the home squadron and added
to the List Of the superannuated" has arrived North
from Key West, and viii henccforth make bis home
Newp IT. In appearance he is as young and setiv look
as q man VI fifty, while In reality his head and
beard silverod by the SHOWS of sixtytwo winters
The officers OF his squadron gave him hearty good
by when he left them Al Key West February IL and
be expressed his high appreciation Of the conduct Of
bis men during The Haytan troubles and comph
nenod them upon their splendid record in the battery
practice The Admiral said that the political con-
iitious IN Hayt and especially the anticipated troubles
On the Isthmus because of the suspension OF work on
the Panama Canal, would render the presence Of the
Jag hip in those neig borhoods Necessary for some time
and would require great care, forehought and diplO-
macy In the management Of them, hence he applied
Tor his detachment that his successor might begin and
carry the work through rather than take up his work
when only half finished. He suggested that the |
United States under obligations 10 protect CONNER
ra interests the Isthmus and in the West Indies,
The disturbances OF 1885 would not only be repeated,
but would greater and make necessary the landing
" protecting naval force.
mot an Army officer in the new Army Building in |
l..
Inspection Of It upon which to base calculation to
now soon It could probably be completed and occupied
He made much comment not officially but adj |
vtscdy,o upon the way the work upon the building
nas dragged, and said 1t was hoped 10 have It ready
or occupation before May /, although ct the present
rate OF speed or slowness the building would not be
completed in another generation When It Is finished
he Army headquarters will be removed from Houston
and Greene sts where II has been so many years, to
he new building which Is much moro easily accessible
10 communication with Governors Island, Fort Hami-
ION, Sandy Hook and other army stations than tho |
present staaon. He remarked to mo: "The sundry |
1iy bill OF the previous session OF Congress approprf
,ted Ss5 900 for completing the work Of rcmodeng
he old Produce Exchange Building and directed the
secretary OF War to the building 10 DO completed
md occupied without delay. The expression remodel
ing Is misleading for the old building was completely
emoyed and new foundation made for the present
structure OF heavier materials. To facilitate the work
N, expenditures upon the building were made subject
o the control and direction Of the Secretary Of War;
And stu the building is unhnished.'
az look for a general shaking.ur among the Army
,nicers who have enjoyed the sweets Of Washington
lie moro than the allotted timo and through inhu-
nee said this officer further Secretary Endicott
threatened to have many relieved when he FIRST went
% washington but time went on others were
,rdered one by one until tho number Is greater In
zach Department than in March, 1885. This recalls
% mind the Ordnance Department, and General
Denet's famous political circular Did you observe
his recent report In answer to the Senate resoln-
ION tho reasons no gave for making 1t confidential
c was sent to commanding officers Of National
.rmores and arsenals and in substance practically
directed them to favor Democrats IN tho matter OF
and discharges General Benet says
-. NJ thu reeuit Of