The New York herald., 1871-02-21
CUsTcnT HOUSE AFFAIRS.
Taking Money Not cor'uption-rhs Tenor 4
tho Coming Report Of tho congressional
commIitso : Three Opinions
OF Ccl.ector EugpAy.

the Fifth Avenue Hotel. AmCng those examined
were Colonel Leet owner of the Greenwich s.rest
general order store; Deputy collector James and
Warehouse superintendent Russell. But there mas
bcen nothing In the evidence thus far received -
Justify The assertion tnat frauds OF formidabla
nature have been prevailing at the Custom House
surveyor Cornell SAID during conversation with
the HERALD reporter that he does not consider tho
money received by the inspectors as coming unaer
the nead OF bribes as II was merely paid for extra
services rendered to the steamship lines. "Besdes,p
said Mr.. Cornell. "snall amounts were sent In en-
veopes TO the private residences OF these Inspectors
without bearing any Indication US to the names Of
the persons wno sent then.r
1t Is said to 30 quite evident that tits
A FoREGoNE CONCLUSION
with two members Of the committee to make an "a.
verse report against Collector Murphys admnistra.
sir., pairarsnp 4" hove NJ ,,cIsST
Ourn.v. - -, .s~"S up ~
mind on the genera order business. lle holds thae
this privilege should be restored to the Cunard and
Bremen lines. s-~s-
The Custom House authorities think that lie naa
been innuanced in this matter hy the testinouy Of
Mr. A. T, Stewart anu hi. Franklin, Of the Cuaar1
line.
Thss following conversation took place between
MIR. shelaon one OF tho meuibers OF the Congres'
s,onal committed and HERALD renorter, relating
to ths pending contros.sy, ana WIZ serve as aa
index to Mr.. Sheldon's mind y" "ea .1saiu " .ns "
suit OF the Investigations - &syy,S--.-
"weli. MIR. sheldon" beyan tie reporter nov
is This investigation progret@ebasggs" ~
-"there would have oee2 no trouble about e1s
Custnm House only Collector AIurphy has brous shs
upon himself 10y his
He wants TO take revenge upon the Cunard CoN9-
pahy ior conpaining O ms afnitrary acti9n 70 tue
Secretary OF Tho Treasury. ocoarse ne is bound 70
ENFORCE The sans rigid rules against the other Unest
but ne does IL all out Of splic against the Cunardera.
| think there are legitimate causes ior conpixant
against Murphy.n
'.Wny SO, Mr. SheldonG"
'Does he not Try ell sorts OF difnculties n
the way OF RAPID transportation and TRANSACTION al
Dusnesss Tue geaoral order business ought to bs
restored TO those hues walch formerly mad IT, In.
stead OF MS law qaDDlo he olgnt 70 meet the im-
poriers anu the steamship iines nah way and try -
conciliase ali interests WHAT II the owners q
those two lines foreigners They have as nuct
right to these facilities Tor the rapid discharge u
ter carsoes ~ II they Were Americans
these lines over The Others y,
.ilr. A. 4. Stewart does not think 80. ana his
opinion alto have some wclght. i can ien yo1
tiis-Stewart Is dis9usted witl. Collector Murphy,
ami ne makes no secret Of II. When stewart waA
fuud he replied TO President Grant, Yes ara gOllG
TO subscribe tue $1,000 which
COLLECTOR MURPHY HAS ROBBED
me Of think aurphy is too much OF politlcianf
he Is all the time wlre-pull.ng.n
.'fnen you tnink. Nh. sheldon, that he is not tna
..weil nv candid opinion is that he is not Its
ony MS personal popularity With President Grant
adverse report against his adm nistratIon.n
IL suppose thai will Kill hIns"
(Nlth sly WINK at. rep0fterl-"I don't knew but
what is might wen try. HIS removal Is only 8
question Of ume and GRANTS personal Partially -
him won't save 1iin.n
''Nhat Is your onllon. Mr. Sheldon, regarding thu
issue OF night reruitst"
81 tDinK this Is another Instance OF Murphy's oD-
stinacy Even the law Of 1893. on wntcn he grounds
his refusal. leaves the Collector margin OF discro-
ton on this su lecs. III unIar suppose that the
gigantic commerce ana steamship traiilc Of the
present day be governed by the obsolete reulae
tons of 1870. IS tell you, Murphy tries to revive
this law
OUT OF PERSONAL SPITE
against one OF the steamship liacs.n
TAe views OF senator fattetson, who takes pretty
nearly the same ground as Mr. Sheldon, were ScS
forth IL last Fliday's HERALD.
Tue HERALD reporter called yesterday on Mr.. q.
Benton, one OF the three members OF the Congress
siona co in.teo IN order to ascertain his opinions
following conversation ensued.
s,tr 20 you tiiA Mr. sent9, ti'ere was any neces
tisauon. or wasIt merely q political move against
Collector MurpEyf
"Poiitics had nothing to 90 with the matter.
There can be No dount that reforms are needed IN
the CUSTOMS service. although may say that Coz
sGor aqrPy s has ans mis- best to promote the IN
SHOW soon are you going to make report Of this
'We shall probably make Joint report to tho
Senate or 70 the House 1--WE have not decided which
Of the two) by the end OF week: but as Congress
WIN soon dissolve no ac'lon VIII probably be taken
IN the matter until the next Congress moeis. Ycry
likely the committee will return time hereaflsk
Is not anal; but slall be a member OF It, as uy
term expires, and have declined renomlnatton."
'.What Is your candid opinion, Mr. Benton, ab0u1
Collec, or Murphyr'
MR.. MURPHY GIVES SATISFACTION
to the bulk OF the merchants. The testimony tnuD
lar received has In no way impaired my favorable
worker and has the interests OF tne government Is
heart lie has not yet hal u fair tral.n
lyon know Mr.. Sheidon's views regarding Collec-
q think there Is much personal or political AMI
mus mus 10 what Mr. Sheldon says against the Col
''rhen YOU don't avree, Mr.. Benton, with the
committee on the general order business question ~
IL nave not yet formed any decided views on tho
subject, but do hold win Uolee tor Murphy, that
one or two steamship lines should not obtain undue
advantages over the others. am Tor fair play.
There Is no denying that there is room for Improve
menG and ior one would suggest some reforms Ia
the customs service; but thin. Collector Murphy -
quite as anxious Tor this as the coinnlttee.n
..How about the fraudulent pracLces-I mean the
bribes wnic oncals are SAID to have received from
steamship agentSr'
'.Of course the government has been defrauded
under all administrations, and Collector Murphy 10
more responsible lor it than was Mr. GrinneI.
But candidly think that the testimony only shows
that Custom House officials have received presents
for extra services and facilities ven 70 the steam
ship lines in the rapid discharge Of cargo.n
theory regarding the issae OF night permits ~
"The Secretary or the Treasury has also already
Is Tie correct one and think So too; there is ne
legal authority for issuing night permits except 10
Cases OF damage TO vessel OF cargo"
Would you sign al adverse report against col
lcctor Murphy2n
al have not examined yet all the testimony An
can say Is tnat the evidence thus far received
would not warrant my doing 50. frankly say that
do not entirely agree with senator Patterson ard
Mr. Sheldon ON the pending questions and II
should come TO the conclusion that cannot conSct
ent0usly sign the report prepared BY Senator Patte
son shall present q minority report to the Ho1sat
MY opinion is that Mr.. Murphy enjoys the confidence
or President Grant, who hau the welfare OF the pub
c in his eye when he appointed him 70 the post Of
OF Collector
The members OF the committee have left for Wash
ngl0n, but will be back tomorrow TO resume the
Investigation.