Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-24
WAKEMAN'S APPOINTMENTS
OF THE NEW YORK
BOARD OF TRADE PROTESTS.
Says Examiners Have Been Selected
Who Are Not Familiar With
Their, Duties. :

A delegation from the New York board
of trade and transportation, headed by
John NJ. Peters. chairman of the commit
tee on the customs administrative acts, and
Daniel McKeever, chairman Of the crock
cry committee. had conference by ap-
pointment today with Secretary Gage and
Assistant Secretary Spaulding, on the sub
ject of recent transfers and appointments
made by Wilbur F.. Wakeman, the ap-
praiser of merchandise at the port Of New
York. Specific mention was made OF the
case of Examiner Levy, who was stated
to be an expert of thirty years service in
the examination Of mirrors. glass; leather,
gloves. etc. Mr.. Levy has recently been
transferred to the docks to examine per-
sonal baggage. and Mr.. Mcdonald, a
clerk in the office OF the American Frotec-
tive Tariff League. with no experience
whatever in the examination and appraise-
ment of goods. it is alleged, was put in
his place.
Another case is that of Examiner Har-
rls, who for some years has been an exam
liner OF French china, earthenware, glass
ware, etc. For number of years before
this experience he was connected with the
manufacture Of similar goods in New Jer-
sey. Mr.. Harris has also been transferred
to the docks to examine personal baggage
In MIR. Harris place Mr. Wakeman it is
said. has app intei a Mr.. Groves, who was
formerly an examiner of textile fabrics, but
who resigned eight or ten years ago. 1t is
said that he has no knowledge that fits
him for the particular work to which he
has been assigned.
Still another case is that of Mr.. Phelps,
who was transferred from the docks, where
he had been a baggage examiner, to eX-
anime dolls. toys of all descriptions, musi-
cal instruments, etc. 1t is declared that
he had no expert knowledge of these things
as should be the case
The case of Mr.. Michaels is also referred
to. He is said to have been in the storage
business, and was recently appointed by
Mr. Wakeman to examine all merchandise
imported from Japan. This covers an i'm
mense number of articles from decorated
china, bronzes metal ware and various
other items to paper toys. Mr.. Michael
succeeds Mr.. Ward, an expert Of many
years experience In this line of goods,
who was sent to Buffalo to examine goods,
coming there for the exposition.
The Law in the Case.
All of these changes, it was contended
by the delegation. were inimical alike to
the interests of the government and to i'm
porters. Attention was called to section
294O Of the Revised Statutes, which pro-
vides for the appointment of examiners by
the Secretary of the Treasury on the noni-
nation of the appraiser. 1t also provides
that no person shall be appointed such
examiner who is not at the time of his ap-
pointment practically and thoroughly ac-
quainted with the character, quality and
value Of the article IN the examination
and appraisement of which he Is to be en-
ployed."
The delegation contended that clerk
employed by the American Protective
Tariff Association, an examiner of personal
baggage on, the docks, an examiner who
eight or ten years since examined textile
fabrics, and a man engaged in the storage
business do not come under the provisions
of the section quoted.
The committee also stated that the COM
mittee on foreign commerce and the reve-
nue. laws of the chamber of commerce Of
the state Of New York, of which Gustav
H. Schwab is chairman, was in full accord
with the views of the committee of the
board of trade and transportation, and that
Mr. Schwab had already written the Treas
ury Department on behalf of his commit
tee protesting against the changes that
have been made.
Secretary Gage and Assistant Secretary
Spaulding assured the committee that the
matter would receive immediate considera-
ton at their hands.