New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-24
THE cUs1oMHoUSE INVESTIGATIONS

THE GENERAL ORDER AND CARRIAGE BUSINESS
FEEING OFFICIALs-CoLLECTOR MURPHY DIS
PLEASED.
The Investigation of Custom House affairs
by the Committee Of which Senator Patterson Is CHAIR
man will il 10 expected, be brought TO close to-day
with tho examination OF Special Agent Jayne, Col
lector Murphy, and Naval officer Grinnell number
Of witnesses were before the Committee yesterday
including Appraiser Palmer, sndry inspectors, clerks,
and Others two or three CustomHouse brokers, and
several importing merchants The inquiries or the
Committee have lstterly been chiefly directed 10 the
operation OF the general order snd carriage systems
thou gh the Appraisers Department has received share
OF attention IL is ascertaned that the Committee has
reached conclusions such as will no DOUBT UT IN mate
rial notifications OF the general order and carriage bns
ness introduced under the administration OF Mr. Gflnnc
as Collector It having been shown that the system s IN
adequate. No fault however Is thereby attached 10 Mr.
rinncls administration, il Is found, upon close ex.
ANIMATION Of figures that in respect TO the amount OF
general business efficiency, Mr. Grnnels not only
great Improvement upon preceding adIlh1S'ia'olf'
II become clear in the coure of this investigation
never before that there must be reform In the sys-
ten Of inspection the aeknoWedgemeht ny lie ~ In,
specoTs generally that they receive heavy ices from
10y the Government points 10 a growing evil which VIII
demand attention from the Lawmakers. Although the
certain departments allowed to remain until "a
accommodate generally, the brokers WHO require special
handsome fees 70 tnS cerE, Tor extra services At
O'clock the inyarable rule II that the Offices must be- Va
I
but II IS not believed to be safe 10 permit The aceptncf
of fees bonuses considerations NJ any KIM Tor tht
rendering OF extra official services By public oncer-
senator Patterson states that long standing abuse, nav
been found I'm every direction in which inquiry has been
pressed. The Appraisers department is credited Win
having made the greatest progress toward REFORM .
The Committee has usually held It's sessions Ia the
room furnished for such purposes az the Custom House
but during the present week 10 has received witnesses Ia
rooms the Fifth Avenue Hotel. This change or loc
ton has been referred To rs indicating thI the memDs
OF the Committee we're nimical 10 Mr. Murphy The
Collector himself in fact, expressed TO Senator Pacr
SON. last evening" his surprise ut the change, renar
that the room at the Custom House well provided
convenient for Hne .ses aud Afforded iacltes Tor ret
erences and examinations OF records slch as cO not
e rnioved at an uptown hOted IN sort of star Cla
her lie phraSed it, senator Patterson said that there
was not the slightest ground for the unaEOabe htef.
enCes which might have been drawn; that be had not
th faiute, concern in the fcud" between tho New
York Senators that il had seemed to tho Committee 10
b proper comply with the request OF numerous per
sons who desired TO testify before II, but who were
averse to doing under the immediate observation oil
Custom House officials that, moreover the uptown To-
cation was really much convenient for many up
town merchants whom tlro Committee desired to hear.
Representative sheldon OF the Committee SAID that inc
Committee could not have ignored the wishes OF mer-
chants who desired to give their testimony privately,
and that privacy out OF the question at the Custom
House The Collector seemed, nevertheless, 10 be some
what aggreycd upon the subject. ana regarded as an
-urd 10 suppose that Custom House officials would or
could "persecute" anybody on account OF testimony
thar they might give. Senator Patterson said that Il
was new thing that the inquiries Of the Retrenchment
Committee regarded as assaults upon officials
Whose departments examined; and that 10 Was u'
mat 10 the Committee 10 give Crcdenco OF attention "
rumor, of II DdIie invest cation.