Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-04
SPECTATOR.
OF oFFICE.noLDERs.


portion Of the testimony taken before the
Investigating Committee of the House Of
Representatives,, at New York, which al.
lords iodisputable evidence of ",he patron
age ofthe Government" in that city, being
hsbirually and systematically brought "in
conflict With tho freedom of elections" Are
not III ese abuses, and do they not require
reform?
ARRNr s. De. PEYsrRR SWORN AS A
WITNESS.
Examined by Mr.. EHise.
Question. While you were connected
with the custom. house, do you know wheth-
er or not the officers Of the custom were
called upon TO pay any part Of their salaries,
or any assessment or tax thereon, for party
orpoIitical purposes! yea, state whether
you have ever, and when you have made :
ny such payment, and state the motire upon
which such pny menis were made.
Mr.. Wagner ohjecting To the propoun,ling
ofihis interrugatory, called Tor the yeas aud
nays.
The committee decided that the interrog-
a,ory should De propounded. Yeas~Nies-
srs. Curtis. Dawson. Harlan, Smith, Wise
The in,errogatory was then propounded,
and the witness gave the following
Answer. The Weighers were called on
topay $40 each for the support OF the cleo
ton, and when declined, Mr.. Vanderpoel.
the Deputy Surveyor, observed that l ought
to consider whether my 5 500 per .nnnm
was not worth paying SIS for. Under the
impression that il was The price for my sit-
uation, paid it. The above occur red during
the last spring election for charter officers.
During my holding Office, tor about five
years, | was occasionally called on but al
ways declined until within the last two years.
Question. Is the office of W eigher, " hich
yen held, regarded as one under the United
States, and The salary Of which was paid out
OF tho Treasury of The Unied States?
Answer. !4strerly paid out of the Trea-
sury formerly commission was allowed
IN the amount of good. weighed. The of.
flee is one held from the United States.
Question. DO you know whether other
subordinate officers besides yourself in the
custom house we're called on or required 10
pay such tax or assessment upon their salaries
for the use of party and political purposes?
Answer. Only by hearsay, as it rega rds
the other officers, but I saw many Of the
Weighers pay the tax of Sl5.
Question. Was The money thus collected
from you and others TO be used Tor political
purposes II yea, for which of The then and
present political parties?
Answer. II was intended 10 be used to
support the election OF persons attached 10
The present Administration.
Question. Who collected the tax from
| the Weighe-s?
Answer. MIR. Vanderpoel.
Question. What Office does MIR. Wander
poel hold in the custom house and what his
salary?
Answer. AT that time he held the office
OF Deputy Surveyor. do not recolleci the
amount OF his salary. | believe he nov
holds the Office OF Appraiser.
Question. Had he book of the names Of
the officers from whom he collected, or had
he list of them?
Answer. A list.
Examined by Mr. Harlan.
Question. Are you acquainted with Will
liam M. Price, late District Attorney of the
United States? yea, plsase to stale whe-
Their he was regarded, before and after his
appointment, as man worthy TO be enlrust.
ed with the collection of large sums of mo-
Dey.
Answer. I am acquainted with William
NJ. Price, late District Attorney and an
swer the question in the negative.
Question. Was the last payment ofSl5,
referred TO by you in your answer TO The
third question, paid before or since the pres
ent Collector (Mr. HoyD came into Office.
Answer. Since the last Collector came
into Office.
Question. Were you removed from Of
nee by the present Collector? Ifyea, State
when, and whether any reasons were assign.
Ell therefor, and what they were.
Answer. l was removed by Mr.. Hoyt,
lthe present Collector, } but have never con.
descended TO ask the reasons, and mus: :,
therefore, he under the necessity Of referring
10 The Collector, who is now present.
ABRAHAM b. VANDERPoEL SWORN AS
WITNESS
Examined by Mr.. Wise.
Question. What Offices have you held in
lhe custom house when did you comment CO
10 hold them; what the salaries OF Offices
held by you?
Answer was appointed TO the Office Of
Inspector OF the Customs in May, 1929, at
~ ,O95 per year, and held il until 1886.
when l was appointed Deputy Surveyor, al
VI 800 per year, and March, 1888. appoint
ed Appraiser, at $4,000 per year.
Question. Do you know whether The Of
iIcers OF The CUSTOM house have ever been
called on 10 contribute sums of money 10
party and political objects? What officers
Lave been so called on; by whom for what
amount; with or without regard 10 their
salaries OF office; when did they Contribute;
" They refused, was any iotimsiion given
'hst their refusal might occasion their reno
val; what amount has 80 been contributed
and collected, and Tor the support OF what
m