New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-07

i PERRrD.
The evidence shows III, mode OF the transfer OF
this contract. Tho previous ho'eis Iouuo ~ u, ces'
sary To Introduce Republicans as psrt owncrs hop
irg tbe,ehy 10 palm the thing upos his Ad ninisri-
t;an They etae distinctly thit was their object,
aid they sought TO arra'E, in such way M to
,ecnre n rem, wal. Accordingly the law Once o.
| E,rr,v Il ,tl-r g. Parsons was sought. The trapa-
/ scion was roffimly a stsm. One or Two Of the
Democrats went out md Republicans were inclhded
ia sa.ie the bounty. Mr. D1ter WA the professional
aiyi.er He saws $4,000 MS ne nominal priee
Mr. Simon Stevens aid ooo-half: lie evidently ava
not sovauce the money, for Mr. Stevens had only
on. i,hth OF tho profits. Mr. BiSby, former
owner bad three, i2hths eiill retained. tha; ex-
plaips SIR Stevens's oue-bnif. MIR. Wyman. the
cseosiblo PARTNER, evidently did not own the o'hor
ha forlbe evidence shows he took 40 inieIet IN me
co,tr,ct pover went near the bu6iorss: did not ad
vunc, any money. Who, il fsct, OWES the other
brlf is sin mystery. Mr.. Butlers creek was given
for 81 {, O0O, Mr.. Wyman ,hare. Mr.. Butler dew
Mr. W ,ma1's share Of the protte aud he twears:
"My knowledge 0. him (WSmau) led TO bis being
selected with the consent OF all pares TO act as At
torncy IN CONJUNCTION with Mr. stevens. and to take
the transfer jointly with him.. IL was q on suppo ed
thu, arrape euent wouli secure tsrenewu, bet when
he matter was considered by Secretary Cbaee be re-
fused to give it further vitality. One very serih-
cat crcuu stance Tending TO throw some light on
the question Of real inter- ct liz ttis 10 the fct
that tho contractors had such unlimited control over
Collector Barney. II. w. BlatehfOrd. esl testiies
10 tire fact of Nc. 5svcnss euIre control over Mr..
Barney 10 remove any clerks who said augh agaiost
dis contract. will not point this evidence; every
one who reads IL can do so Some one was interested
in The one half for which the $4,000 check Of ME.
Butler was given. evidently DOT Mr.. Wyman; and
Mr. Butlef does not gay II vas himself. Under Mr.
Shell, Nclnlire, BXby g. Co, The contractors, hal
| large order stores the North River ride. By the
| lasi shuttle Messrs. B xby g. Co. were suffered 10
retain them. The Collector has the selection Of she
general order stories. IL appears the Demo
cratic Fl IN were informed that unless they snrren-
dered part Of the contract they would lose the gen-
eral order business. Tho suggestion was potential.
Some must have SPOKEN TO them as by authority
IRON Mr. Barney.
Mr. BUTLER's TESTIMONY.
| Great tendorn IS WA shown 80 Air. Butler by
| the members Of tho Committee who examined iiu.
! True an oath was administered, but be vas asked
| only three Quesiions-iiIr, his resitcnce; second,
| il he had read the Testimony OF the Com'niltee
and third. il he would like 10 make u statement.
Cou any thing be more agreeable And although
Mr. Buter spok- OF the parties ia interest whom he
represented, yet he was not asked who were those
parties. Trying 10 suppress the evidence was Dad.
holding tie sssiuns IA tie Custom House, IN room
furnished by the parties arraigned, where persons
would go with much reluctance TO furnish evidence.
was bad but, il possible, the manner Of examining
Mr.. Butler was wore. In jnttce TO mysef, | must
say | was not present. at the examinations. The no.
gotianQ OF tins contract IN Mr. Bsineys law Office,
aud the CcnlrUl over Lis removals and appointments
10y The contractors, making allegiance 10 this con-
tract test Of fitness for Office, seems expcsbie
only OH ole theory. II no otter good Results than
the abrogation oil that cottract, mich bas been ac
comphsl'ed for Mr. Barney in January stated That
| il would save So 900 annually TO tho Treasury.
! There can be- no doubt that the contract system
would cave st more If properly let 10 the lowest
| bidder, and not given rs % Uward TO personal and
political iavorites.
GENERAL ORDER STORES.
The remaining subject OF inquiry vas rs to the
general order stores. There many bonded ware
houses In New.York City. but few general order
stores. This branch Of business some districts Is
very profitable and sought for keeny. Every v,s-
eel, one day after arrival 10 entitled 10 discharge
goods under general order, and the stores recsiv-
| lug tuch goods bear the namej AVID a., goods on
which duty is not paid taken in the short space OF
| one day must Of Necessity 10 into these stores,
notwithstanding the merchant could have them
stored in "a bonded warehouse for bali the price.
| The proof is that general order charge IL Ia many
cases double that OF bonded stores. 1t is to the
interest Of the Collectors friends that goods
should be hurried iuto the general order stores,
and Of tho merrhants to prevent it, These general
order stores in the gift OF the collector and hc
eau drtfbute them interest or friendship dictates.
Mr. Bruce, deputy collector eDdcavored 10 convey
the suppression that the collector could I've guilty Of
no fayOr,tism, that he had no power Of collecting.
lie said bv direction OF the collector the goods 40
in every instance into tho store OF the dis
triet;" whereas Mr.. Barney swears that he does
select, and has n prfnc,pc which governs him.
that the location shall be convenient to the place
where tue goods which 20 10 tho general order stores
are landed, &c. While the fact ia that IN som.
d,trcts he does mol even make the sele rion, boun
| tilully bestowing upon tLose who have stores
and DO not intend TO have any, but sells tho privilege
TO men who have.
NOVEL MODE or FxTORTIoS.
These parties have extortod 10 son,e csses thirty
per cent from thote who formerly had the business
in order 10 retain IT, OF this there can be doubt
the evidence is abundant. So that MIR. Bruce Ia
wrong when no alleges tho nearest store nHH be
ekosea. Mr.. Barney "a wrong when he Gays he N
itcss and has RUE f,r selecting while tho truth
il lie places the privilege IN irresponsible hands, and
they yepd it TO thor who wi submit 10 tho vac
| ton. such men would probably sell their country
in the markets Of the world, if they could give u
title. This practice never prevailed under any other
collector Mr.. Barney knew Of these extortlons;
at least, he WI written 10 upon the subject, and
never checked the abuse; and thirty per cent was
pad by several merchants as u condi ion of ENJOYING
the business-a sale OF Office OF the Government for
which Mr.. Barney long ago should have been
crven from bir scat in the customs. lie must
have known it; it WAS his duty to know.
| lie knew the persons to whom he gave
IL neither owned nor occupied stores, and did
not intend 10. Hu ough, - have known ii was
only to be used as q means OF wringing money
from others. Let say bore that II hns not been
pied TO contradict much Of the evidence taken
| in March. It wus known 10 the revenue oflcers;
and their attempt TO contradict portion aud not
others leaves lie cOncn,on Irresistible That it,
tndiction was impossible. l have already alluded
~ the disagreement between the COMMITTEE aud
myself. l also regret that the Committee should
uaye delayed making hLal report TO 70 late h day
that il impossible to have il printed and acted
upon by the House at this session. OF course | |
could not obtain consent 10 make minority report
until the sjority mad reported. The report wa.
promised for hatlIdav the StL teu IL WA deferred