The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-17
MUST BE ENTERED AT TACOMA
The Customs Department Makes An
other Ruling Against Seattle.


other Ruling Against Seattle.
TACOMA. Sept. 16-[Special. All goods
for Seattle have TO be entered here
and then forwarded to their destina-
ton. This will not entail any delay
in forw arding goods, and will not entail
any additional expense to the consignee,
according to statement made by Deputy
Collector Dorsey.
About the time Mr.. Dorsey came into
office, he says. q quantity of Oriental
goods was properly entered here by Ia
coma firm. the duties being paid in the
usual manner. The Tacoma firm then re-
shipped a portion of these goods TO Seattle
and the goods thus reshipped went for
ward with quantity of other Oriental
goods which had been shipped direct from
the Orient to Seattle consignees. When it
arrived there was no way of segregating it
from the goods on which duties had been
paid. AS result there was a long delay
in the delivery of the goods. This delay,
together with the correspondence relating
thereto. brought about an examination
into the method of forwarding packages
arriving from foreign ports. Both Deputy
Collector Dorsey and Maj. McGregor, spe-
cial representative of the government,
who has an Office with Special Agent of
the Treasury Cullom, considered the
methods in vogue irregular.
Then the whole matter was reported to
the government, and instructions were
issued calling the attention of the local
officials to the provisions of the act for
the entry of goods from foreign port and
bound for other domestic points. Among
customs officials this act is known as the
81. t. act, and Mr.. Dorsey says it pro-
vides as follows, among other things:
That goods arriving from foreign ports
and bound for any port in this country
must be entered at the first American port
reached. The consignee, either by pre-
vious arrangement with the bonded or
common carrier, which in this case is the
Northern Pacific. company, or with a
shipping broker, or by his personal ap-
pearance, can have the goods forwarded TO
their destination, where the duties, if
there be any, can be paid, and where such
duties, if any, must be paid before the
goods are released TO the consignee.
In order to have the common carrier or
shipping broker act for him the consignee
must furnish them with power of attorney
to act for him. Goods viii not be for
warded without specific arrangements of
this nature. II he chooses TO have ship
ping broker act the usual fees will have TO be
paid. but if the common carrier or deputy
collector is empowered to act for him
there will be no extra expense. In either
case the goods will have to be forwarded
bx boat. the owners of which have given
bonds for the safe deliver of the goods,
and this the owners of the City OF King
ston have done. Regarding this feature of
the matter, Mr.. Dorsey says:
sit is for the interest of the shipper, the
government and also the consignee to have
the goods properly handled, as we propose
TO do. No hardship will be worked on
Seattle. It viii be dealt with just like
Chicago. New York and other points
which ship goods through this port are
dealt with. When car load of goods ar
rives from the Orient for New York il is
entered here, the goods are placed In the
car under the lock and seal OF the govern
ment and forwarded TO its destination
in charge Of the government, the railroad
company giving bonds 10 carry IL properly
and safely. That is just the way in which
goods Will be shipped 30 Seattle. Hereto
fore goods have gone he!ter-skeifer. Now
they will go under the supervision OF the
government, under the governments lock
and key and seal. Ii will be In charge OF
tine inspector aboard the vessel, the City
viii be under bonds for its proper delivery.
When il arrives st Seattle 10 VIII be
checked of 10 the deputy collector there
or to his assistant and properly entered.
W hen the consIgnee comes with his Dill
OF lading and pays whatever duties there
may be, then the goods are turned over.
Until they are thus turned over they are
IN the hands of the government and
the transportation company, and they
are responsible for them. Heretofore. In
asmuch as the Seattle goods were not en-
tered here, no one in particular was re-
sponsi5ie. II a package were stolen there
was no way Of telling ST what point it dis
appeared. Hereafter II package Is miss
ing We can tell il il was landed from the
vessel, II u went forward 20 Seattle, II -
arrived 81 that city, and in that way we
can place the responsibility where 1t be-
longs"
Mr. Dorsey Is not now aware Of any In
stance heretofore in which goods arriving
from foreign ports and bound FOR Seattle
were landed At that city without the duties
beng paid. There may be eases of this
kind. bat IL would nov be difficult 30 trace
them
Also by the proper handling Of goods
bound for Seattle, Mr.. Dorsey says. possi-
BE frauds viii be detected. If any goods
have gone through to Seattle heretofore
without the proper government inspec-
ton, there is no telling what the pack
aSSs coutaIneA AZ m xasnacrior Of thar