New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-25
rOD 4 VIEW CTSTOu HOUSE.

A NOW Custom House is needed in Newly ork.
If is not needed By NcwYork. but by the coun-
fry This municipality could get on comfortably
forever with building which is utterly unfit
for cnnloyrs of the National Government,
,rons,ctino fin, business If the United States
to work in. In fact. New-Yorl might be selfish
" incred. If higher considerations did not IN
,erycuc. 70 have The old structure preserved for
it possesses some historical and much architect
u,ol interest II is certainly grand, gloomy
and peculiar" and coed deal Is gained pro-
vilcd more is not lost. by the defence OF su'h
an cdincc from the rlva@rs or progress bu'
this +, not a case IN which ii is proper To foster
4 sentimental impulse. The cost would be too
great In this building. which hitherto no effort
has availcd either to reform out Of existence or
to reconstruct into something less inadequate
f,ur-d(tbs Of the custom business of the country
is done If on the whole il has been we'll done
the credit il all due to public servants who. in
the face of manifold Obstacles. at the constant
FISK of health and at Il large cost Of lifr. have
forced their tasks through TO completion day
after day and year after year.
The history Of attempts ut remedial legislation
is long and melancholy. Every official IN the
Custom House, and efcry citizen whose occupa-
ton takes him there, knows that II IS dismal, IN
wholesome. inconvenicnt and unfit in general
and in particular for the purpose TO which II Is
devoted 1t always has been unsuitable. and It
must inevitably become more continually
There is 10 disagreement among competent wit
ncsscs rs 10 the facts and there Is now. we he
lievc. no difference of opinion worth considering
rs 10 the cure of notorious evil. Patching I'D
and building over will not answer. \ new Gus
tom House IS IN imperative necessity for the
propcr transaction Of the country's business at
this port Some persons who have T.oSt ear
ncstly supported this proposition have favored
another location. but they have not made out
their case The judgment Of experts is that the
present site is as good as the structure which
occupies it IS bad. and that there the now Gus
tom House ought 10 be built
We are glad 10 note that Congressman Quigg
Of this city. has introduced bill in the House
providing for this great National requirement.
and 10 learn that h. j. hopeful ~ It's passage ut
this session. Three commissioners to execute
the project are named in the bill. and this feature
of II we do not altogether approve With its
main purpose. however. we are wholly in sym
patl!y. and We would rather see II become a law
without amendment than take It's place in the
long LIST of fm'lcSs efforts to remedy great
evil Many evidences II Il strange and irrational
hostility to the metropolis defarr th' annals -
Congress. and We suppose there are members
Of both houses who may be abb" to discover some
source of irritation In this measure. They ought
however 10 hc capable If understanding that
our citizens. whether in public or in private lifr
who earnestly advocate the construction ~ a
new Custom House AT this port are not seeking
10 enhance Ia. distinction Of Ncwlork. but 20
help the Goycrnmcn, 10 obtain facilities cSS'n-
ial TO the efficient transaction Of The peoples
vast business