The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-03-28
From The National IateiHefncer, OH inr.
TAXATION OF OFFICE.HOLDERS

TAXATION OF oFFIC E.HOLDERS
Our attention his been directed to the
following portion of the testimony taken be.
fore the Investigating Committee Of the
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, al New York,
which affords ludsputabIe evidence Of "lhe
patronage Of the Government" IN that city,
being habItually and Systematically brought
" in conflict With the freedom of elections"
Are not these abuses, and DO they not re.
qulre reform!
Aren't 5 DE- PEYsTER swoRE As WITNESS.
Examined ~ M Wise.
Question. While you were connected
with the custom. house, dc you know wbclb.
er or not the officers Of the customs wero
called upon 10 pay any par, of their saa-
RES, or any assessment or tax thereon,
for party or political purposes If yea,
state whether you gave ever, and when
you have made any such payment, aud state
the motire upon which such payments were
made.
Mr.. WAGNER objected 10 the PROFOUND.
ing Of this lnerrogaiory, and called for the
yeas and nays.
Tie committee decided that the inter-
rogatory should be propauuded. IcaS-
Messrs. Curtis, Dawson, Harlan, Smith,
Wise-5. Nay--Mr, Wagner.
The lnterrogatory was then prop9unded,
aud the witness gave the following
Answer. The Nelghers were called on
to pay SIS each for the support Of the elec-
ton. and when declined, Mr.. Vsnderpoel,
the Deputy Surveyor, observed that ought
10 consider whether my 81 500 per annum
was not worth paying Sl5 for Under the
lmpressioz that il was the prlce for my sit
uaton, paid it. The above occurred dur
ing the last spring election tor charter eli.
GERS. During my holding offiCe. for about
five years, was occasionally called on bat
always declined unii within the last two
wears.
Question. lsthe office Of Weigher, which
you held, regarded as one under the nlted
States, and the salary OF which was paid
out Of the Treasury Of the United States?
Answer. Lauerly paid ou, of the Trea-
sury formerly commission was allowed
on the amount Of goods weighed. The
Want - btC AtfO ifttI Aft GHlteu Suites.
Question. DO you know whether other
subordinate officers besides yourself 10 ihc
c2stom-house were called 90 and required
10 pay such tax or assessment upon their
salaries, for the use Of party and political
purposes
Answer. Only BY haarsay, as it regards
the ether officers, bot saw many Of the
Weighers pay the tax Of SIS.
Question. Was the mopsy thus collected
from you aud others to be used for politi-
cal purposrsl If yea, tor which Of the
then and present political parties!
Answer. Ii was Intended to be used to
support the elections of persons attached to
the present Administration.
Question, Who collected the tax from
the Weg$ersl
Answer. Mr. Vaaderpoel.
Question. What office does Mr.. Van.
derpoeI hold in the custom. house, and what
h,s salary?
Answer, At that time he bold the office
Of Depuiy Surveyor. | do not recoIlect
the amount Of his salary. | believe he now
holds the office Of Appraiser.
Question. Had he book Of the names Of
the olhcrrs from whom he collected, or had
he a last of them?
Answer. A list.
Eroniaed ~ lr HriIn.
Question. Are YOU acquainted with WI.
liam NJ. Price, late Dsirc' Attorney of
the United States Ii yea, please to state
whether be was regarded, before aud after
his appointment, as man worthy to be en-.
trusted with the collection Of large sums Of
money.
Answer. am acquainted with William
III, Price, late District Attorney, and an
swcr the question in the negative.
Question, Was the last payment of SIS,
referred to BY YOU 10 your answer to the
third question, paid before or since the pre-.
sent Collector Mr.. HoyU came INTO office ?
Answer. Since the last Collector came
into office.
Question. We're you removed from of.
fee by the present Collector! lfyea, state
when, and whether any reasons were as.
signed therefor, aud what they were.
Answer. | was removed by Mr.. Hovt,
(the present Collector but have pever con.
descended to ask the reasons, and aust,
therefore, he under the necessity Of refer.
ring to the Collector, who is now present.
ABRAHAM L, NANpERrorL SWORN As a WITNESS,
Examined bg Nr. Wise.
Question. Wha, office have ysu held in
the custom house When did YOU commence
10 hold them; wha: the salaries OF offices