The San Francisco call., 1898-12-14
GOOD RECORD
 MADE BY THE
 CUSTOM HOUSE Cargoes Rapidly Han-
 dled Here. WORK DONE DAY AND NIGHT BLUNDER MADE BY TWO DIS GRUNTLED BROKERS. Outside Examinations Are Held for the Purpose of Expediting the
 Landing O. Holiday
 Goods.
WORK DONE DAY AND NIGHT
BLUNDER MADE BY TWO DIS
 GRUNTLED BROKERS.

Two Custom-house brokers are com blaming against what they term unneces- sary delays in getting imported merchan- disc through the Appraisers department
 The allegation is made that the cargo, consisting of silks, of the Brltlsn snip Shangtung, which vessel arrived on No- yember 14. was not taken out of the Alp praisers store until a day or two ago. They also affirm that the cargo Of the Duchess Annie. which vessel arrived Oc- tober 2S. is still in the basement or the Appraisers building.
 The fact that the Coptic arrived on No- vember 21 and work was not begun OH her before last Saturday has been set forth also as a cause of complaint by the dls- satisfied brokers
 The manner in which the Overland Transfer Company is carrying out us con con tract Is another item In the cotnpldnt' and the statement is made that the com pany makes the Custom-house business play second violin to its other buSlneSs III other words that it hauls goods to the Appraisers store whenever there IS notn- ing else for 1t to do. AS a result or this discrimination 1t is said that there are DE piles of merchandise lying on the WnarVes awaiting the pleasure of the company 10 be transported to the Appraiser build- ing for examination and release. All these incidents and conditions have worried the two brokers, and they are complaining loudly because of the delay.
 John T. Dare, the Appraiser, ms assist ant, Jacob Shaen, and MT. Stevens ex- pressed surprise that the complaints should have been made. MT Shaen said that he had recently visited the custom houses in New YorE. Boston and Phila- delphia and had carefully examined their workings The result of that examination was his conviction that in the San Fran cisco Custom-house goods were rushed through more eXpeditiously and with less trouble to importers than was the case with the Eastern custom-houses.
 "In order to accommodate the mer- chants" continued MT. Shaen, 'I have been going outside appraising goods be- fore they reach the Custom house in or der to hurry along the holiday stock. 1 have been doing this for the past two holiday wares taken out at this time, and the importers are willing to wait for the other classes of merchandise. We are working until late at night and even on Sunday to obige importers
 With reference to the complaint against the Duchess Annie. Mir. Stevens said that the rule has been from time immemorial to wait until a sailing vessel is finally dis charged before her cargo is passed. She is loaded with rice, birds nests, Chinese gin and preserved ginger, not designed for the Christmas holiday trade. Owing to the present crippled state of the boilers only half the elevators in the Appraisers building are running, and there is some delay on account of that fact. The boilers were shut down for repairs for ten days recently and that is why there was some Shangtung vessel.
 From other sources it was learned that the complaints originated with two bro- kers, one of whom is known as grumbler. Barring the defective eleva- tor service, with which Appraiser Dare has nothing to do. the business of the Ap- praiser is in ship shape condition, and for correctness and expedition rank New York Boston and PhiladeInbta