New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-10

RIVAL IMPORTERS
Washington Sept 9.-secretary Gage. in letter
| 10 the President has recommended that Appraiser
| Wakeman. OF New York be not removed from his
office and the recommendation has been approved
| by the President. The Secretarys letter reads as
follows:
Treasury Department, onse Of se .l "a,
Washington, September > Ky, "a,
70 the President: I have the honor 10 submit
| herewith a brief synopsis Of the Tepor, OF tme
committee appointed to examine into certain com
plants and charges against the Appraiser of Gus
| toms In New-York which has been computed ana
The report approves the Appraiser an honest
and capable officer possessed Of courage, ana
! Jealous in the enforcement of the law. It, now
First~That In the complaints concerning the ON
! broderies cases thoro Vas good ground for the
allegations of DISCRIMINATION and that th" charges
socond-It finds that the charge of undue delays
! In appraisement was justified by the facts brought
Thlrd-It finds that in certain cases the Effort Of
! the Appraiser To- ascertain values OF tpods ~ We
/ taking prices in the United States AZ basis for
valuation was nor cogf9Im3ne 10 tne ,h (r
| since, in the opinion on me commission l"' ir
eign market value Of goods so treated was aS'er-
Fourth In the charge made by certain importers
Of tobacco the Commission ends that tho importer
destroyed by careless handling, ana mat IN me
opinion of the Comm -sion. TOO many Of sucn g"pNs
have been ordered into thu Public Stores for e~-
Fifh~I finds that the complaints Of certain I'M
porters Of nursery stock were JUSTIFIED IN ma
exanin2tions werc DELAYED ana the goods importer
suffered more OF less injury th"r"iroW
SHFRWOOD's REMOVAL RECOMMENDED
sxth-It finds that Assistant Appraiser Sherwood
wa. guilty Of showing invoices OF certain met
chants ~ their rival importers and recommends ms
The Commission reports. as part ~ H. hnaing,
concerning the Appraisers Office ihai III 'ain"t
will keep well Informed OF all detuu involved IN
/ tho uscertainmcnt Of dutiable values. ana III ne
.-ff. IFI
stances are invoices submitted to him. except ".e"
so appraiser can altogether escape criticisms
II his duties be performed In strict COM NM
~n E n e. SnI Minds diner Controversy
As to The Appraiser himself he is In the prime
Of lie and ENJOYS perfect health He is able. ener-
getic, and has been literally educated mere y y
praisers store which might induce the conclusion
that the present Appraiser does not pos33esS soc h
division is to some extent independent by reason
~ the system under which assis,ne it tlls,-
are appointed should have weight ID pass''ts y1T r
mont We have seid that the Appraiser y sIer .
his fondness for Introducing systems has
sometimes been INDUCED without care luly SSP"-
In the opinion Of the committee. It Is worthy TO
be- considered whether the relation Of the Ap-
kIs ofcisi infios WiihoGt deciding that question
the report concludes 1T IS certain tat ~, h pt
Of New York. If successful I'm such degree AS VIII
merit general commendaton. VIII nave nun UNI
4
Tho Appraiser 10 whom the report OF the Com
mission has been shown. traverses the same at
! some length He denies that any intentional dis
inconsztencies in valuations may have occurred.
} Satisfied Of gross and sweeping uuderEaluauonS
in lace embroideres IL was not easy TO locate We
abuse or determine precisely tho extent Of II. He
claims that through the action taken by him under
rocted 10 the benefit Of the revenue and to the
advantage Of honest importers; lie admits Vex.
atious delays IN appraising goods put pleads lnat
these were beyond any ones control In some case
| TO the public stores occasioned largely by violent
a S 2 5d 5nd gW i of tho 30
sion. that his method OF ascertainng values in
rules he makes a plea OF legal justification, the
time conditions and circumstances considered.
WAKEMAN ~ REBUTTAL
And thus with many words OF explanation or
6 b '2 I So or S
unfavorabe to his official record. | do not think
The report Of the Commission goes to show that
the Appraiser Is an honest capable. energetic ana
in certain matters which were the subject Of in
vestigation he failed 10 show he qualities Of pru-
dence tact and discretion tnat were 70 be desired
plants which appear 70 be due $50 far they are
justified 10 the failure on his part 20 exercise these
commendabe qualities will operate TO heget greater
prudence ard care I'm future ADMINISTRATION.
Certain # is that the positive qualities with which
he IL ACCREDITED by the committee, ana Wnlcn ne
has well illustrated in his general administration.
port Of entry Ike NewYork.
! 40 NOT hesitate 20 recommend that he be con-
tnued I'm his honorable office, and agree with the
Commissions report I'm thinking II desirable that
he separate himself from official relation TO the
Tariff League. and ! quite confident that 4
suggestion to this effect Will Dee kindly received and
acted upon by him.
| concur also with the Commission in the opinion
thar Assistant Appraiser Sherwood should be re-
moved
In fact. request from the Appraiser for the
removal OF Sherwood as examiner filed I'm this
Office prior to the appointment ~ the Commission.
Respectfully yours, L. J. GAGE. Secretary.
a petition was presented 10 the President yester-
day for Mr.. Wakeman's retention I'm office II was
signed by representative importers in all lines Of
business from all ports OF the country. we'll as
large number of Senators and Represen tatives in
Congress