The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-15
CUSTOM HOUSE AFFAIRS.

The InvestI9ntl0ns Contlnued-Tho Nature OF
Recent Disclosures Not Yet Ready for Pub
Observation-Disclosures Brokers TO be Exc
poscd-New Regulations oil the Treasury
Department ON Withdrawals or Goods from
Bonded Warehouses.
That there had been gigantic frauds practccd In
the customs branch or the national revenue 10 un-
doubtedly true. Investigations which have been In
stituted, and which are still pursued with CON-
mendable energy, left not shadow OF doubt that
for years past the federal Treasury systematic
ally robbed OF hundreds OF thousands OF dollars.
Tne WORD systematically" Is here used with full
propriety, inasmuch as the guilty parties had re-
duced their practices 10 perfect system that Tor
long time they carried on their nefarious robbery
OF Uncle SAINTS strong box with complete security.
Their audaelty MAS commensurate to their shrewd-
ness.in deyising means to cover up their frauds.
And 1t was, perhaps, merely accident or 1t may
have been provdentia nterpostion. that the frauds
and the modes OF their perpetratlon were detected
al all. All this the general public know full well,
and also that wnen once detected the authorizes
sIrove 10 do their duty, and brought such or the
cases IN winch the evidence Was SO overwhelming
as to insure conviction, speedily into court
Out Of this arose the general CRY OF the "Custom
House being sink Of corruptI on" that at no Time
previous to this were fraud and roguery IN that
branch Of the Federal revenue 80 glaring aud 80
numerous as &C present, and many other similar
and exaggerated charges. the truth Is alleged to
be- ana with solemn asseveratlons OF entire relabil-
lily, that all the systematic fraudulent robberles Of
tue Treasury were perpetrated prior to 1859, and
SAID to date back TO 1869 and LOGS. Wnle here aud
there attempts OF fraudulent entries or Withdrawals
Tor export OF consumption are detected, the present
system Of surveillance Is believed TO be 40 perfect
that 1t is quite improbable, anu out barely possible,
STILL tho vg ance OF the chiefs OF the several Bu-
reaus has not sIackened ana whenever found neces-
sary, new precautions are adopted 10 protect the
Thus new order, by authority OF the Secretary
OF the Treasury, was promulgated Yesterday IN re-
bonded warehouse. Under this order another set Of
samples ia TO be furnished to the appraiser whose
duty 1t is made to compare this with the samples
handed IN at the time the article was imported and
entered In bond for warchouselng; and only, II
another appraiser every hlng is found to be Correct
the Withdrawal OF the goods from the warehouse il
to be permitted. This new order Is said TO have
been quite unpaatable to the Importers waO CON.
p am That 1t interieres with the freedom or COM
merce by lnterposlng unnecessary decay to the
revenue officers, after they mad been duly appraised
the duty paid aud everything else the law demands
strictly Sompneu a., VIII. Inc revenue oheers now
barrier, guarding the trea sury aud stopping another
leak through wnlcn DISHONEST importers lnignt en-
Another evll practice already briefly referred to
In the HERALD, Collector Grinnell IL determined to
have crushed out TINS consists IN the habit
Of political leeches and hangerson. pretending
to have influence with the appointing power eX-
torng and actually Itching from the poor clerks, Ia
threatening TO have them removed instanter unless
the money SO exacted Is PAID, either at once
on the appointment beng made, provided the victim
Is the possesS0r Of the amount or can borrow IT.
otherwise pledge or security be given Tor It's pay
ment in monthly insralments. Two sucn cases nave
been crcumstantially brought to the notice Of the
Collector. In one the sum OF $500 was exacted to he
paid. Tue new appontee, with more courage ana
less apprehension OF the threars OF the YAM
pires. applied directly TO Collector Grlnnell and
told him all. THIS gentleman had heard 1t
rumored tnat such things were done, ana
was but glad OF the opportunity to try IN
TINS to ind out VINO the recepients
OF The extorti0n money was, Mr.. Grnuell presented
.he officer with $500 out OF his private funds and ad
vised him to pay the money over to wnoevef mad
asked for It, but be careful to get receipt and bring
the receipt to the Collector, out say nothing about
IL IN the meantime AnoGher similar case that OF q
Waterman with 81, 900 salary was also laid before
the Collector THIS Waterman had to pay seventy
i've dollars to man who claimed 10 have influence
TO get him appointed and to have him removed
again unless the money was paid. This receipt and
tna Tor tue 1900 read alike, appear to be IN the
handwrlghtlng ana run about as fOllOws:-"Re-
ceived OF Mr.. - the sum OF - dollars for John
D0e.r The Collector is pretty sure that his suspi-
cions are upon the right persons but yet only
underilngs or agents seem 10 have appeared as the
collectors Of money, and until it 10 ascertaned with
certainty who .John Doen IL 1t not thought advs-
able 10 institute any proceedings.