New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-28

The investigation now in progress before Soiicitor
Jordan, at the Custom House, concerning alleged
frauds in the disposition of prize-prOperty, was COM
menced at the instance Of Provost-Marshsl Draper,
who ia the principal complainant 10 the premises
The charges embodied in the complaint, and which
Will be made the subject of searching investigation
are that those having the custody and disposition OF
such vessels for the benefit Of the csptos and the
Government, have become illegally interested in
their sales, and have made aud are still making large
amounts of money thereby unauthorized by the
character of their ofhce-that such parties have
made themselves irresponsible, lodging such pro-
ceeds Of the sales in the United States Treasury as
they deemed TT and applying the residue for their
own beneit--that the captors have been deprived by
this means Of their jus. proportion of the proceeds OF
these sses-that portions of the cargoes of captured
vessels have not been accounted for, and that many
articles, among them large number of barrels OF
rcsn, bags Of coffee cigars &C., have been distracted,
and no account given thereof
Soon after the war commenced Messrs. H. II. FL
lott and E. II. Owen were appointed Prize Com
nissioners, whose duty it was to examine all prize
vessels, make report of their character aud ap
praise their value and that Of their cargoes' Inc
matter then went to the Court, where FRANCIS d.
Upton, who was appointed Government counsel lor
ali the oepors of the various prizes, represehng OF
fcers and sailors moved for the usual decree lbs
having been granted, tie custody and sale were con-
6ded 70 u. s. Marshal Murray. AT the outset Mr.
Moray employed Mr.. Simeon Draper as auctioneer'
bis business in the premises being simply TO "cry
tie properly. His fees were q per cent. The fol-
lowing statement shows the total amount Of commis
sions which Mr.. Draper received auctiOneer from
August, 1861 till November, 1862, i'll selling prizes,
exclusive Of revenue cases ana under the con
fsestion act, which amounted TO $1,000 or $4,000
more:
Schooner Henry Middleton slO--comInsion for ,elns
.ch.ous Mare 20 81 schooner Major Barbour 10; cargo
chooner arOnne S53 % schooner Stephen Hart 90
sS 25 schooner Joanna Wnrd $40; cargo Of A J. View
sy74 O5; schooner Sarah snd Caroline $50 os schooner
Arpes $40: schooner Joanna Ward Sl59 AS schooner
Major Baroour. $lO94 49, schooner NopoeOn 81 csIso o.
schooner Napoleon sls 45 schooner EaeIon sS 10
Anna a55 59 schooner Lucy C. Holmes $Ocsrso Of do
500 schooner a. II Ward Ss So Of do s+s5 70
Actor S.s cargo Of schooner Gszee Sl03 l2i cargo Of
schooner Gpsy s24 O. Of schooner Pioneer $50 u
eAo Of schooner JEus Webb, 29 So of schooner
GO seIr h6n sss7 CO sohr Flash sOcargo Of same
SIS cargo Tbos Watson $40 AZ cargo Annie 900 %
sso o Of schooner New Esse 500 81 schooner General
j Pinckney soi cargo DO 4s So esIgo steamer Stettin
isnen s2C7 SO: schooner Albert so; cargo DO, $50 IS
ss ch995Sf f'ds0 S ~ I cargo .cHSSPt o.
HiAwaihe so4ll sSi schooner Annie sophia soi ssrg
Stewart sic cargo do, SIC IL; schooner Maria so
cargo MeNe se3 AZ; schooner Venus. sl+. 50
:s:: .c5oon s f S S. i bss Of so
iO9 Of nee IS! u.s. cargo schooner GondsT $3.50 u
John Gipin, 80; steamer Anglia, $50; steamboat
Scotia slO Oiis Robert Bruce, 41Oi schooner Rover
Lizzie. sos cargo Bdt,h Empire, So 7O cargo Il. d.
Jehoson s97 o. eargo H. G. Brooks +lSS az cargo sodad
FslcOneI slO; cargo do, $50 n schooner VeAsco $40
brig Il. c BIOokes slo seh0ousI sAAri SIC S-'t0 40
Mr.. Draper's charges were the same as those o
ether Mapshars auctioneers before the war; bu
while the old auctioneers Of peace times do moi ap
PEAR 70 have enjoyed very lucrative positions, ia
business since the war began, from prizes, &C., hs
been very heavy, and, of course, at 30 large pr
ceptage, highly remunerative. Last Fall, the attel
ton Of the Navy Department was called TO thet
enormous commissions by the decision of Jude
Spracue Of the U. s. District Court of Massachusetts
who ordered that hereafter in prize cases the au'
tioneer should have one-eghth of per cent in lsrg
GALES. and not to exceed one.half Of l per cent o
any small amount.
The subiec. of a change in the rates Of commissio
was brought up some time in November, when tn
order of the Secretary Of the Navy was received
Mr.. Draper, however, went to Washington, and Of
his return stated that the Secretary had arrange
the matter; that bis commission would 80 ca a
usual snd that in few days the Marshal would &c
his instructions 20 that effect. Upon this ststemen
Mr. Draper was permitted to continue his sales, an
retain bis commissions heretofore. But no in
nructions arrived, aud after waiting some week
without receiving any, the Marshal reported tn
facts to the District Attorney, and declined to allow
Mr.. Draper who in the interim had accumulate
and retained over t., 500 new commissions 10 MAKE
any more Gales until he should comply with thu
regulations OF the Department.
Pending the settlement Of the dispute, and be
fore another suctioneer had been appointed, Mr.
Upton COUNSEL for the captor addressed letter K
the Marshal reminding him Of the large number o.
wrs OF renGt,oEi eapoEas then il bis bands anC
suggesting that
If this desy in the execution Of wits Of sale hA, any
lton 10 the emFOs Hent coupsnaon Of suetoneer
tine that It should be - and finally Terminated
Under the letter the
invsribe rule hereafter Tor yOn person
employed auctionesr upon whom yon rely The
cause you IL the responsibility make return the
Gay Of ats sy1snt an whole 81 IN part OF the gross amount
and await all othJrs ait
remuneration We shall then 10 witness that sbsuro
snomay IN prize proceedings Of pilots aud owboat men,
WAsser ltorskeeper shipksepeTI and sDosrs all ava
Ing fhal adjudication for tks compensation and the
MaTshss whose duty ii Il pIoperty
sold the highest BIDDER deductnK fesDing and
sppopTaing from The proceeds the HE claimed
eSupeHsnon ia the aggregate exceeding that Of III The other
essis con.biEed"
The same day MarsAal Murray officially notified