New-York tribune., 1899-04-12
rpEIMPORTERS' COMPLAINT
.y IN PASSING GOODS AT THE AP-
n,,1sER's STORES AND IT'S REMEDY.


ra,,or Of The Tribune.
10 ' tn. meeting OF the importers at the head
81 ~ the Merchants Association on Thurs-
eaA,, reported In The Tribune Of the following
@ :, ,s hoped may result In providing remedy
cs,.sa actual and avoidable delays and abuses In
W., 10 the passage of goods through the Ap-
c'-,s stores There Is undoubtedly much
faH. ,or complaint regarding delays that are
f0,x,v unwarranted. and that cause endless
Fl. and annoyance. rs well as no little loss 10
r''nor,er Ne one who has been engaged in the
p.r+stion Of drygoods fails TO realize the i'm
"F.oe Of every days time in getting goods
po'-s the custom House at this season of the
~nxn huyers are clsmorous for immediate
!,r,rv and when failure to comply means not
os r.s Of sale with accompanying profit. but
ohH ,,-souentIv serious sacrifice In the end, es-
no' ~, uron fabrics Of fancy character.
peo ,0ost natural that merchants should protest
-, what they regard as unnecessary delay on
art of the Custom House authorities. and
tH % hsve no doubt. taken the wisest and most
tne' course Of redress in appointing commit
ene. fuu mower 10 make investigation and take
'~ .,osd,al action as they may deem neces-
So Nothing Is moro certain than that the APP
s3''. ard all the officers of the Public Stores will
F,.o,oo the investigation and gladly AFFORD this
",,,ss every opportunity to obtain the fullest
s,,,,ion and will value any suggestions from
.Nh representative body of merchants that VIII
,..,a The delivery Of goods under examination.
r -. effective this investigation must be wlde
-..oh,n, and thorough The undisputed fact that
-. mass through the Appraiser Stores IN Bos-
y. and other smaller ports Of entry In TWO or
-. days can nave no possible bearing IN COM
100 with existing conditions at this great i'm
f,,,e csntre OF the continent. 1t is well known
p. so- more packages are ordered TO the Public
s.ss IN this city in one month than during
-. year in the port OF Boston. II is equally well
'rdsrs,ood that the force OF examiners at these
poIls s,n -. IN Ncn-York Then again, there are ex-
sminations and there are examinations, l..
H. rms investigation the committee VIII Keep III
IN AZ ,Ss fact tnat by recent decision the Coz
incHor has to order 10 the Public stores not only
cneenth Of the packages on an hVe'ce W T", bs an
soulvaIent proportion OF each class OF gooas tndt M
- ,nvoice represents Il Is apparent that TINS ac-
,on frequently must REQUIRE Ine as.d Inc o. im
ortsr and the additional labor imposes upon the
ehsme ehsmners IN order to facilitate the delivery OF
Ids 10 the merchants. have voluntarily WORKED
iO.s kss, up up with their work During the recent
rressre OF business the Appraiser directed all the
Examining force to extend the hours on SATURDAY
week vS ins '"@A .vn.-,.no.
how impossible it is during q rush period 70 enter
and ship merchandise with the usual prompiitude
Issn Isne an Unusual rush period at the Appraisers
stores for more than sixty days past is fuliy IN
importations 10 sec 70 what an extent the business
ias Increased former seasons, notably In cot
fabrics Xhere
ages entered for consumption has been In excess OF
tie same period Of 1898 by more than 90 per cent
4 pertinent inquiry for this committee Will be
whether the present corps Of examiners Is ade-
ouate to the largely increased business OF ne
port especially that considerable number
have been Withdrawn fer the examination OF pas
tsnsers' baggage under the new regulations. They
will no doubt embrace in their inquiry the delay
IN the delivery OF merchandise from the docks, OF
which the complaint is so frequent. This might
also include the cause % much difficulty in
getting the packages promptly TO the examiners
rooms after they reach the building. With two
or three thousand packages A day coming into the
stores during the height OF the season II is not sur
prsing that one is occasionally mslaid as was
bly, the in the instance mentioned by an
Importer at the meeting. where there was delay
OF nearly thirty days.
This committee with their practical business
experience. will no doubt be able TO sugges: some
Improvement in the present methods that Will tend
TO obvate the difficulties Of the situation and pre-
vent all undue delays In the Appraisers stores
that obstructing the business OF the importers
il will be a consummston devoutly wished by
the customs authorities as by those who are seek
ing 10 effect IL through this committee.
New-York. March 81 1899 LINERMORE.