New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-26
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE INQUIRY.
SOME CAUSTIC OPINIONS on TIE SUBJECT by
ONE WHO SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HE
Is TALKING ABOUT.

ONE WHO SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HE
Is TALKING ABOUT.
TO the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: What everlasting rot tlis sO-called Customs
Commission l. giving The statement lately made
that Mr.. Deputy Appraiser stevens in few hours OBJ
tanned the simon, invoices, which the Appraiser and
Mr. COrbett could not do. seems like "whltewash'
for Mr. stevens and continued sur on the other TWO
gentlemen. as this Deputy Appraiser. the currently
alleged for the Appraisership of Messrs Fair
child. Tichcnor and Tnge, shared, and prominently In
Ha,sctts attack on Mr.. Cooper.
Now 1hat the difficulties In getting these IN
voices Mr. Daniel Magonc. eN-Cocctor, II he Knew
III, business as Collector, and II he did not know IL
shows his gross ignorance Of his own functions wheh
Collector knew that all invoices numbered seraIy
each month. from up to 5000, we VIII say as the cur
rent monthly numbers. Entries arr numbered scraly
through the year. from January l to December u ana
we will suppose these invoices were numbered L. IL
1906 1921 ,2i3 lin fraction FORM, anu
50 on. These are filed by the entry num-
bers, the lower. dcnonnator. numbers IN 'he
record room, top floor OF the Custom House.
n fact Mr. Magonc ought TO know, and all hc'
rs the experienced expert in customs matters. had to
do was 10 ask .nr the entry NUMBER which the Ap-
praiscrs could have supplied. and In thirty minutes
using the Barge Office telephone connecting Win the
Custom House. he could have these. or any ohcr III
voices before his Commission Point No ]. as TO MS
Ignorance I'm the premises. Point No. Is mat ne
knew or should know that the Appraiser has no
record nor Is II his business Ia have. and obviously
a. his Is not "lquidating' Office. OF the hh''
Inundated values on invoices, which The duties are
collected. 80
Mr. Magonc should know-and II he does not THIS VIII
/ teach hm-that the Appraiser makes "hddluohS I"'
value" Only the facts recorded. and the III
voices are RENTED the Collector for liz acu"n'
AT Til, point the importer has rrappraisal winch
fake, the invoices beor, the General Appraisers VII"
determine the true market value" ana thrN Keep
the record OF such advances and return the Invoices
70 the Collector. who takes final action. except wien
the matter goes to the United states courts ms
final liquidation l. extended In red ink ON The entry
pertaining TO each Invoice. and Is the only rcoru
anywhere existing OF the Collectors ultimate action
The AppraI.er's and the General Appraisers records
show only what the advances IN each Office ma
te Collectors Office alone has the liquidation" record
Mr. sIagoncs Ignorance I'm this respect creates sus
picion Of parallel Ignorance I'm other matters.
And aprppos, what Mr. llnGle's present pOh'
tics, siurIily Republican up "a Mr.. Cl'Ncnnd > UNI
II i, said thnt h. pleaded for retention h''"u'' 81
IL rod relative to certain mortgage Interests, which
lis removal would imprrl. Changing again under
Harrison. l. hc u convert or q pcrN.ri li9t no" II
was openly said IN IT," early part oi tiis year. p'!"T
Mr Cnrlisr's deviation. that MI Ilhrlr M"liu run
iIs oftcr Ih,. prediction seems verified. Ihrr"
e. sfory I'm the literature Oi political iurhcoas Wh'n
Inc Infamous Jcilrys Wa GA tho wool suck. lh"l
ON. of hi, genus n,scycrdi'd his lnNhiy IN 'h"''
words: III forget my king. may my "oh l9rE.t
me-" TO which JcilryS rbrG fTre" aGy "'ho las
see Won damned HIST lTOldH'' ou' e'p1.,t.' ~,
II present application JtNI'S' 'h'
York. June Is, 1919.