The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-02-25
NEW YORK CITY.
TuE CUSTOM HOUSE NYEsrIaAnoN.

NEW YORK, February "a.
The investigation Of our Custom House
affairs by the committee, Of which Sena'
tor Patterson Is Chairman, will, 1t Is ex'
pected, be brought to close to-day, with
the examination of Special Agent Jayne.
Collector Murphy, Naval officer Grinnell,
and o number OF witnesses were before
the Committee yesterday, including ap-
praiser Palmer, sundry inspectors, clerks,
and others-two or three Custom House
brokers and several importing merchants.
Inquiries OF the Committee, latterly, have
been chiefly directed 70 the general order
and carriage system, though the Apprais-
er's department has received attention.
The Committee has reached conclsion,
and such rs will result in material mOdi-
fication of the general order and carriage
business introduced under the administra'
tion Of the former Collector, 1t having
been shown that the system Is inadequate.
1t has become clear there must also be re-
form In the system Of inspection, the Gus.
tom!ofllcing officials, now In vogue, being
among the long.standing abuses. There
being considerable feeling between the
Committee and Collector, the former have
removed their room for holding sessions
from the Custom House 10 the Fifth Ave
nue. Hotel. The Collector seemingly re-
gards the inquiries Of the Retrenchment
Committee US IN assault upon the officials
whose departments they have examined.
Senator Patterson states that long.stapd'
Ing abuses have been found In every dc.
partment in which inquiry has been d.
rected.
THE GREAT COAL CONSPIRACY.
The papers this morning are bitter In
their dGnunciation Of the coal swindle,
and term 1t merely conspiracy Of the
capitalists to crush the workingmen. The
contents Of all the coal receptacles in this
city and Brooklyn combined gives only
one ton for every twenty persons at pres
ent, and there Is no prospect of any more.
GrOcefymcn and small dealers are selling
coal to the poor ut from 25 to 80 cents a
bucketlul, or about $2S per ton, all the re-
suit Of the conspiracy on the part OF the
coal monopOlists and railway companies.
II the supply Is not increased In a day or
two ton Of coal may yea be worth $25
or $50 In this city. Some companies claim,
though they have only 200 or 300 tons In
their yards, they arc willing 10 sell to the
poor at ordinary prices Generally quite
n time clapses between tho sale and the
delivery. No doubt the present crisis
arises from the determination on the part
ot the monOpolists TO destroy the miners
union In the coal regions. The mining Of
coal has been actually prevented by the
enormous trcights charged by railroad
companies, and these rates will continue
until'tho miners come to terms. In several
instances yesterday and early last night
disturbances occurred; freezing men,
women and children making raids upon
the carts transporting coal. The supply
In Patterson, Hudson, Newark, and other
nelghboring cities Is almost exhausted.
The steamship Nebraska, from Liver
pool, has arrived.
Coal has been retailing to-day at 80
cents per bucket, about $28 per ton. Sew
enty.tive miners at tho Hallets Point gov.
ernment works, Astoria, left work to-day
because Gen. Newton refused TO remove
superintendent disliked by the miners.
REJOICING AMONG THE GERMANs
The dispatch received late this after
noon stating that the treaty Of peace had
been signed, caused many German flags
to be raised on buildings In this city and
on steamersat HobOken. Tonight prom
ises 70 be one OF general rejoicing among
the German citizens.
The subcommittee appointed toiselect
experts to examine into the acts Of the
Methodist Book Concern met again this
morning, and renewed their labors. The
session was secret. i.'lii i.-.d