The morning call., 1893-08-10

brokers examined by Mr.. Evans. Mr..
Wheeler was the first one placed upon the
rack. He represents Bauer Bros. jules
Levy & Bros, Kahn Bros. Klein & Co..
E. Raas, Buyer & Reich. Steinberv d
Kalisher, Muser Bros. Schweiizer & Co.,
Sachs Bros. & Co. aud others, clients who
import European dry goods mostly.
"At which desk Go you deposit your en-
try papers?" asked DIR. Evans.
Undergraduates desk.
Have you had the privilege of handling
those papers after they are laid at the
manifest desk?"
81 have had the privilege-yes. sir"
Estate at what times and from what
desks you take these papers, and to whom
you take them"
"Well, deposit them with the manifest
clerk, and in the majOrity OF instances the
next l saw of those papers they were
handed by the permit clerk to me, and l
transmitted them to the Naval Office"
When the Naval Office is done with
them, what do you do?
Zone moment-in the matter of ware
house and export entries, everything; but
duty-pad entries were thrown on the
counter at the invoice desk, and from the
invoice desk, next to the Deputy Collector,
L took those To the Naval Office"
when the Naval Office examination is
completed you again take possession of
the ="
Take possession of the packages-yes,
sir"
"And carry them where?"
well. they are then ready for the oath
of the importer. and they are held in my
possession until such time as the importer
comes down and signs"
IF he is not ready to pay the duty you
still have possession of them?"
Yes, sir, they remain In my possession.
For instance. | have some papers in my
possession at the present time belonging to
Mr. Sam Sachs that have been passed and
ready for the payment of the duty for. oh.
several months. but they are household
goods. He has no house at the present
time and he allows them to remain, al
though the entries are all passed. They
simply remain in the custody Of the Gov
eminent until ne chooses to pay the duty.
In the meantime the papers remain with
me-"
This serves to show what is the process
the papers went through. and how loose
was the practice to which Mr.. Wise put
an end. Further on Mr.. Wheeler ex-
planned what were his privileges as to
examining the invoices and entries of his
clients, and also as to whatever the Collec-
tor of Customs might write in relation TO
their business, the latter privilege being
conferred by recent circular Of the Sec
rotary Of tbs Treasury relating to protests
and arguments. Then the examination
continued:
under the custom that existed prior to
the recent order, did the broker have any
opportunity of consulting the papers re-
lating TO an entry of rival importer or
br0ker?"
He might have had; yes. but no more
than at the present time"
"f1e could glance at them occasionally.
Under the practice that has prevailed here
it was possible for a rival broker or other
person to l,ok at an0ther's Invoice or entry.
was it not?"
1T was possible at times"
HAS a broker any opportunity of glanc-
ing at the contents of another's invoice
while it is in the possession Of a deputy
collector? ?"
"Mosr assuredly-yes. sir"
when he is putting on the stamp and
designating packageS?"
Yes, sir"
And certifying to The date of its re-
ceipt. etc ?''
Yes, sir; and it is impossible to prevent
it,"
However, Mr.. Wheeler explained that all
invoice could not be at glanced by broker
while it was being examined by an entry
clerk or permit clerk unless he got inside
the counter on the pretense of a private
talk. He had had clients complain tn at
the contents of their invoices had been
made known to rivals, and it was in an eX-
PLANTATION respecting his position in such
cases that it developed that convenient
forgotten was useful thing.