Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-05-27
NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
Mr.. PoINDExTER's REPORT.

Mr.. PoINDExTER's REPORT.
We have read, with astonishment,
the very able and elaborate report of
The Hon, George PoIndexter, chairman
OF the committee appointed to lnvesli-
gate the affairs Of the New York Gus.
tom house, past and present, concluded
in April 1912. 1t embraces one hun
dred and ninety.COur pages & divulges,
perhaps, a greater number Of astound'
ing frauds that have ever been exposed
within the same compass The human
mind can hardly conceive how il were
possible for high public Gunctlonaries.
acting under the soIemnity Of an oath,
binding by every obligation to faith.
fuI discharge ol the responsible duties
assigned them, 10 so far forget the re
qUremrnts Of justice as 10 oVerstep her
boundaries thus wilfuliy n openly, as is
shown iR Mr.. Poindexter's report they
have doue. 1t is not news TO be told
that corruption existed and frauds were
practised in almost every department
Of the genera! government during the
past twelve years Of lis subsection to a
Locoloco administration, but 10 the
present case II Is even worse than the
most credulous could have anticipated.
As The report is too prolix for pubiica
ton entire, we shall notice a few Of the
most prominent facts, so that the reader
may Judge from slight estimate Of the
manner in which the public funds have
been squandered.
The first branch Of inquiry by the
committee is 10 the abstraction and mis-.
application Of the public money receiv.
able by the collector, or other officers
OF the customs, which did not appear on
their accounts transmitted 10 The Trea.
sury Department. One of the Cxpendi.
lures mentioned under this head ls That
OF carriage and Iabor-the second, sta
tonary printing, storage and other in
cidental expenses of the custom house
and the third lighthouse expenses
revenue cutters and the expenses incur,
red at the quarantine ground below The
city Of New York.
1t is stated IN The report that George
A. Wasson was the keeper Of the pubic
store in Nassau street, where goods
were stored that two privileged carts
were employed TO convey goods from
Vssels to ;hls store, and that no matter
what the haste m gbl be, none olhel
than these privileged carts were en-
pIoyed, one OF which, it was asserted
belonged to the SAID Wasson and lh,
other was known, without question, Il
be the property also Of a custom house
officer. There was sufficient proof tha
the hauling done by these carls amour
ted 10 vastly more than the reguIa
price established among ordinary cart
men-where they would have charge
but 81 and fourth or so cents, per oaC
the privileged carts received from fou
10 five dollars.
Thus, in 1888 80 and 30, the enor
NOUS sum Of SJ4430 % was paid ou
OF the publ, revenue TO George A
Wasson, for the items of carriage an
labor. Notwithstanding tho in mems
sum paid this Iavorlte individual, for tn
items above mentioned, without an
voucher or any evidence of the vaidi
OF his account other thln a mere charg
he was honored with the Office of 0epl
~ collector, having scarcely any dut
10 perform, al a salary OF $500 a yea
ln addition TO this, too be was in tn
receipt OF large sums OF money fror
the collector, loyt, Tor attending trial
on seized goods at Philadelphia, BaIli
more, and other places. Morris this al
lie was known to engross The labor an
time of subordnales, engaged at tn
custom house, for his own private ust
while they were being paid by the Go,
eminent lie also abslracIed good
from tho pub slores and even apple
10 bis own purposes, without renderin
an equivalent the coal belonging TO tn
custom house. Mr.. Pondexler louu
this man in Office at the commencemeI
OI his investigation, where he was con
ilnuod by Mr.. Curtis, until i, was di
covered by the commissioners that tt
officers under him, fearing they won
be discharged, refused 10 give testm
ny touching IacIs that could not hut re
der his implication Of guiiI, certain,
there ever was man IN the enjoyme
OF greater favorrtlsm lhan was Ih
most untrustworlhy individual, we hu'
yetlo learn bis history Ho was eve
empowered 70 transact business ilegt
ly aud unconslilutUnaty. His cas-
Dg:eeaby to the report, as regards of
Cla chcanery, is without parallel.
The nexl branch of disbursements
order, and to which we Gail the reade
attention, is the amount Of sums ex pc
ded for stationary in the various d,
partmpnls of the custom house, duriI