The times., 1899-05-24
WAKEMAN INDICATED.
Investigation of the Port Appraiser
mt New York Concluded

nt New York Concluded
The commission composed OF Special
Agents George w. Whitehead, George W.
Maher, and Burton Parker, appointed by
the Secretary of the Treasury to investi-
gate charges of maladministration at the
appraisers stores at New York, has sub
mitted its first report
While the officials of the department
state that the details of the report will
not be made public at present it is under
stood that certain charges preferred by
| Einstein. Wolff g. Co., Hoffman Huber &
Co., William Myer & Co., and Loeb &
Schoenfeld who are among the largest and
most important of the manufacturers of
embroideries and laces at ST. Gall. Switzer-
| land, all having houses established in the
United States, form the basis of the inves-
| tigation thus far made. The charges re-
| ferred to are in effect that there has been
| discrimination, Inconsistency and delay in
, the appraisement of the merchandise of
! certain importers. and that methods not
| contemplated by law have been resorted
/ tc in fixing dutiable values. incidentally
! other matters connected with the apprais-
| er's office were considered and reported
/ upon by the commission The report
| which is quite lengthy and accompanied
| by several hundred pages Of testimony.
shows that the investigation was most thor
ough and impartial.
The commission finds that Appraiser
| Wakeman has administered the affairs OF
his Office in an energetic manner, and
that he has been governed by honesty of
purpose. The opinion is expressed that
consigned goods have not paid their full
measure CT duties at the custom house;
that invoices of that character afford a
fruitful field for officers who are on the
alert to detect and prevent underra,ua-
! tions, and that no mistake was made
when the subject of embroideries from St.
! Gall, involving imports of the value OF
$4,000 annually, paying 50 per cent. ad
valorem duty, was taken up for cons!dsra-
tion. But the commission condemns the
methods of appraisers in vogue during
the early part OF 1898 as improper. Ap-
praisements under section IL OF the Gus
toms administrative act, by taking the
selling price in the United States as a
basis for apprasement, is declared TO be
the direct cause of the complaints made
The view is expressed that the letter of
instructions addressed by the depaI tment
TO appraising officers March s, 1898, au-
thority cited by Appraiser Wakeman in
justification of his action, is broader in
scope than section IL itself because of
the direction given such officers to apply
the section mentioned to all merchandise
subject to an ad valorem duty, while. in
the opinion OF the commission. the law
is applicable only whsn the dUtiable value
cannot be otherwise ascertained. St Gall
goods having a market value in the
country whence exported to the United
States an appraisement on any other basis
or to take into consideration selling
prices in this country, was without au-
thority of law.
1t appears to be established that.
through faulty and inconsiderate methods
/ of appraisement inconsistencies and ir-
regularities in valuation have occurred.
| the result of which seems TO justify the
belief expressed in the charges alleging
unjust discrimination. Specific evidence
was obtained in many instances to sus-
tain the charge of unreasonable delay. 1t
is shown that after hearing both sides to
the controversy, entries, invoices. etc.
were examined, and from them alone were
the facts determined. This silent testi-
; uony demonstrates that goods OF certain
importers were in instances, largely ad-
vanced on appraisement, while similar
goods of other importers were passed as
invoiced.
The report states than an assistant ap-
+ praiser has exposed invoices OF one i'm
/ porter to a competitor in business and
, that the same officer has in other ways
, violated the rules of the department BY
: disclosing the secrets OF business concern
ing which he gained a knowledge through
his official position.
/ The commission does not agree with the
contention that it is violation Of law for
Mr.. Wakeman to hold both the Office OF
appraiser and that Of Secretary of the
American Protective Tariff League In the
opinion of the commission Mr. Waksman is
, not engaged in any commercial or mer-
camille business within the meaning OF the
statute but his connection with the Or
, ganization referred to while holding the
Office of appraiser involves a question OF
propriety which 1t Is not the province Oi
: the commission to decide, especially as his
q appointment to the office of appraiser was
made, it is assumed, with full knowledge
of all the facts
/ The manner in which the enquiry has
+ been handled by the commission is com
S mended by Secretary Gage and Assistant
t Secretary Spaulding, both of whom are
! much interested, as they desire the busi-
r ness of the department in all its branches
| to be conducted in an absolutely impartial
manner.
= There are other matters which are under
o consideration by the commission. and fur
| ther reports will from time to time be
[ made 1t is believed that the result OF the
t enquiry in progress will prove beneficial
! alike to the department and to importers