New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-26
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY, JANUARY &c, 1871

have, without exception endeavorcd repress evil
but the crews are said to be almost open and shameless
vioators OF the law The general order privilege at
aened to the stores has without doubt furnished oppor
unities for smuggling which the sInuggers would other
wise have been without The theory of the law forbids
that any person having an Interest In unclaimed
ehandse should permitted 1t I'm custody after
landngT and the effect Of the privilege granted has ii is
claimed only confirmed the wisdom of the makers OF the
The Customs officers also complain that the course of
the agents and employees Of the Cnard line has
The Company has never fulfilled the obiisaton Of the
law of 1sis which required paw the cost Of trans
portauon OF merchandise from Jersey City NewYork
and the expense has always fallen the importer or
on the Government. The conduct Of its employees dur
ing the late war toward Government officials is de
Scrhed as being almost unbearabe. Lewis Hops,
George Eaton, and Anthony Youmans formerly inspect
ors on the docks Of the Cunard line testified before
Congress Committee that insults OF every conceivable
nature were heaped upon them. especially during the
dreary Jeers at the ruined Republic Joined per
sona annoya Of the most exasperatng character
The privilege Of having general order is worth
between $50 and $4,000 year to the Cunar Company,
and il is said by those who have all facilities for knowing
that the Company by giving peculiar and perhaps hardly
warantabe iavors to certain large importers, has oh
tanned their influence To aid in securing the renewal OF
It's ancient privilege II is also alleged that lobbyist by
Ihe name OF Cornwall has been placed in Washington at
salary OF 5000 year. ~ look after the interests of the
COMPANY, aud that hls efforts have had recent and
noticeable result.
The Collector claims that the Custom House officials
'sfu py large majority OF The importers III thet De
cslo That permission 10 The Cunard Company TO return
again 10 the general order business will Inconvenience
the Government officials and will not aid the importers.
long standing abuse Of the Custom House bae been
has recently occurred viii probably he made test for
the decision Of future The steamer Alcppo. of the
SunaTd line, which sailed some days since reserved on
board 500 terces of beef after her manifest had been filed
out and sworn TO by the captain After her departure,
allowed TO insert the entry the shipment Of beef in the
manifest Although previously such regseas haa gen
orally been granted. this refused on tine groand that
no ateraon could be made in the sworr statement OF
the captain Il the vessel without his knowledge and con
sent On the appeal u the Company 10 Secretary Bout
well, the decision of Collector Murphy WAS sustained, and
the case was referred back IN him for final action The
he lazy -1fh
ment OF $500 and the seizure of the vessel untl the he j.
paid The danger Of such transactions Is evident when
il j. that IL goods TINS shipped from English
ports the safety OF the revenue here would depend upon
the honor of the Customs officials IN those ports ls
decision il not understood 10 be directed especially
against the Cunard Company but THU particular case Is
10 he used for the correction Of very general abi-e.
With reference Ia certain charges brought by Mr.. Pat
terOn in the senate Tuesday, II IL stated in behalf OF
Collector Murphy that the Subcommittee on RotreDch
appeared 10 evade opportunities to Obtain correct
Information In regard 10 CustOmHOnse Affairs For eX-
ample it is stated that senator Patterson agreed
form the Collector Of the results Of his inquiries
sundry important matters that opportunity might he
afforded for correction or defense before he filing OF
report the Senator is said omitted to carry out
the agreement Senator Patterson referred in h speech
To 10 Inspectors Divisions in tine CusiomH House in
each of which he said there an excess OF three
Inspectors employed at salary OF NGO each
In reply 10 this is said that there Inspectors
Divisions IN the CustomiioIrSe that there L. therefore,
for such computation; that there is not
cess of ipspeetns employed and that inspectors are paid
s. day. and not salary Of 5000" Under the admin
istrtiOn OF Collector Smyhe appointed by President
Johnson the name Of Old appe-wOman actually
borne upon the rolls for several months. stated by
Senator Patterson, and she drew pay 10y proxy. The
person responsible for this transaction was WelSler
James L. DOOite, jr., OF the ex-senator OF that
name II Is further said at the Custom House that
Weigher for time carried the name OF favor
lite dog upon the rolls, and drew pay for him.
The following remarkable passage in the speech ~
Senator Patterson emhOdes confession on the part ~
a steamship agent which deserves, II would seem. a
special inquiry: IAN agent for foreign steamship line
testified before the Committee that, only week before
last he had paid $500 OF bride 10 the Inspectors 10
get his vessel discharged and that only last year he
paid over $4,000 in the same way" The dec AIRED policy
OF the Secretary of the Treasury has been TO
nc the severes penalties upon the giver rather than
the receiver OF brides and the following circular
published by the Collector Of the Port the 18th "
April. 1863:
instructed BY the Hon Secretary Of the Treasury under date
employees under all from
valuable
whatever to them liquors wines cigars Se
TO
IS Of the act July s 1856 to wit Liability 10 indictment
a peuIeutiary, lot exceeding three years.'