New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-08
AUSTIN CORBIN'S GENTLE SARCASM.
HE SENDS REPLY TO THE COLLECTOR ABOUT
HIS STOLEN WINE

Austin Corbn has sent the following letter "a
Collector Erhardt, in which he continued his dis
cusson with the Collector about his stolen wine, and
raised interesting queries about Civil Service
rules:
by reason of my absence in Philadelphia, did not
ceve your esteemed favor Of the 4th inst until this morn
ing. myself of this opportunity TO
that whatever complaint may have TO make in the mat
ter referred you entitled 10 and should be
awarded fullest credit for effort to afford TO all
persons having business at the Custom House good and
honest service l the wrong complain Of is
entirely beyond remedy without some change
Civil Service rules In the direction you indicate
may l without being considered too persistent.
certainly without intended you to present
this the Treasury Department and ASK for som"
action that VIII prevent its repetition 1t IS quite posi-
bic that in state goods may be taken
from tie packages transtur but beg to call your
the fact in this furnished your de-
partment full invoice showing every bottle IN the ship
mcnt, the kind and price paid for the wines and hold
vouchers from the Government showing that every ono
named In tine invoice charged with duty that there
Government received them all az
per In respect the thief faithful 70 his
Government for he took to that paid full duty
before he stole IT, that respected "UDco
Sa' got his full duty received well as what
stolen.
Since l made this complaint, have heard Of several
than mine. One especially where in ali
invoice OF tvenyfour bottles of whskey the consigned
only received Six balance having been absoibed in
per cent in that shrinkage Of IS per
1 familiar with the Civn Service rules and
wonder. respect matter OF samping OF wines
liquors there is not also competitive exam
ination Of samples. there IS ! should crtcise the
value Of the law II any cmpoyc Of the Custom House
should pass that competitive examination with taste
depraYed permit the conence a. in my case to re-
per his invoice Of carefully selected.
Old port and when 1t came 70 whskcy, scoop In 40
per cent Of the consignment.
the "detectve pIrt OF these competitive eNamina-
lions Is reliable the examination of the
samples Of wines and liquors" well that tho
tools" at your disposal must be pretty Dor"
you Will do all you personally, 10 put
stop this condition Of things, and believe the Hon
secretary Of the Tr asuy. his attention Il called 20 II
VIII decided action enable you 10 do and
especially II (, brought to his attention how common
Inf, habit Of puroinng wines has gotten 70 BE-.
If BE- Ire,eIt'd then, there seems TO be
decided preference - "-Aey Of these gentle
whose tender merca these wines entrusted.
wines would be than just that rule
be established under which gentleman desiring 70 Import
wines might compound with the thief his wines
ma deliver r-teac equal number Of bottles Of whisky
Mr. Corbin imported five cases Of fine old port
only taken to the Public stores for
appraisemcnt. and there the Appraiser found that
one bottle was missing from the case. A. the other
our cases had each a bottle missing. the customs
officials that the thcf~ committed when
the wine IN transit. Nevertheless the robbery
gave Collector Erlaidt Opport unity 10 speak out
urge publicly that the Office Of detective bc taken
from the classified service. The nt-d states civil
service Commission is said to be considering that