New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-04
MR.. MURPHY's REPLY TO SENATOR PATTERSON,
AND WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO.


MR.. MURPHYs REPLY TO SENATOR PATTERSON,
AND WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO.
TO ths Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: What THE TRIBUNE styles an "infor-
NAL reply" has been made by in behalf Of Collector
Murphy to that portion OF Senator Patersons recent
speech which alludes 10 the affairs OF the NewYork
CustomHouse. This reply Is also called denial and
10 those who read Senator Paersons remarks
It may seem one II s however only OF those some
times very useful answers which, by grayey contradict
ing what has not been asserted dstracs attention from
what YVES really said and conveys the impression that
fase charges have made and that they are fatty
oontradcted This evidently the impression pro
duced upon the editor Of The TRIBUNE when ne wrote
The Collector Informally repes to Mr P.,on, ,sees 81 Lei
f fsse d s . sa It an sf"' '''' '''''
Senator Patterson said:
had '2IS q ss ss S Of s5e The e So "a
NsvYOrk We aslei him there were y'Is 3sn ~ NOS ]
wee three eg 10 eco d, $40, ,, so @ sppt nua outside
Low se hey reeve. % Al .,, ,,s 81 ss not s.
& lie Suse. ~ heir once nd they receiving $4,000 for doing
nothing mOruiHg and report Them ives and 20 az
SEIZE, to the department living eut tn. oorary II oos case
an Old apple so"sn Who sch sp a. e @ % ,oa b. poIy
as :, wssSsr. lLsughierP
To this it is replied that:
Their. arc no spscsors Dronf il he Custom House has
there Their no basis 'r suef oospniaton th i Do an
eIGss ms esor :, ~ T5Ssr he .dtrsos Of Collector
appointed BY President Johnson Toe n Of an o Ss
actually borae upon the rolls for several months rs al y at
Pa pay by PROXY The pon rssPonee ior .hs
thit further ssd the Cussomiu hi, the ame segner
pay bin"
This is an evasion by substituting "InspectorS Dlyi-
sions for Weighing Divisions and inserting the word
salary" which not used Now, even If Senator
Patterson had inadvertently used the terms Inspectors
Divisions and salary" (Which he did not dol the sub
stance Of the charges would have been the same Mr.
Mnrpbv and all others cOnvorsant with Cust0m-House
business would understood perfectly well 70 what
was referred and the reply quoted above would still oe
an evasion But 10 those who read Senator Pattersons
speech this reply would be taken a. an admission rather
than denial while those who read the reply only II
will appear that, through ignorance or malice Mr. Pat
terson made charges which false, and they viii
therefore dstrst all his statements in that connection
Again, the informal reply says
" stated that ared to inform the Collector Of
the results Of s Hlae, on I-n M be he N NJ g,Se
report. omitted 10 ogi the scene1t
Such an agreement made, and AIN permitted to
say that it has been violated The inquiries In the
sundry important matters which are referred to- IN
Guiding those in reference to the General Order System
completed and no report on them has been mae
Senator Patterson while speaking in reply to questions
other Senator's repeatedly refused to discuss these
matters because as he then stated that testimony had
been taken only side. Before the Investigation s
concluded, Mr. Murphy viii doubtless have ample oppor-
tunity for any corrections defense he may desire
The practice Of bribery mentioned, but the
Inspectors who testified to its prevalence and admitted
that they themselves habtualy accepted brides, were
men whom Collector Murphy himself selected to give
evidence before the Committee. Il was not supposed
that testimony which eliminated the witnesses who
gave 1t would be considered pnrts, or that Mr..
Murphy would desire to offer any defense IN such
case Some matters of general notoflety were also
spoken OF, but the money subject on which II was
thought Mr. Murphy might wish to offer explanations or
corrections, not even alluded TO- II, however Mr..
Murphy supposed that in fOrgenulness or violation or
his agreement, Senator Patterson had exposed in his
speech al the evils and abuses the Committee had dis
covered in the CustOmHouse he may well have thought
that the examination was, as it is called, very
superficial" and he viii find out his mistake before the
invest CATION closes.
1t IL also said:
reference charged brOrsht By sr Paterson
the senate on Ioesay 1t sisie N eeht Q. Coeo, N1Ia
opportunities Information IN reg'rl TO Cus;om-iOGse
a1Ars-"
Collector Murphy aud other officers OF the Custom
House know that this statement is not true The Com
nittee went directly to the CustomHOuse, informed M
Murphy Of the purpose OF the investigation, and in the
presence of himself Mr.. Terwillger, and Others exam
ned such employees Mr. Murphy susge 'ted were most
capable Of giving them thorough understanding OF the
subjects under invests cation. Mr.. Murphy was then
told that the Committee proposed 10 take evidence Of
some OF the merchants and afterwards to receive further
testimony at the CdstOmHoue AS before stated, the
investigation is not concluded but can assure the Col
ect0r the Committee have not eyaded. and will not
eyade any opportunity for obtaining correct information
Collector Murphy seems think that the Investigation
aud the speech Of Patterson designed as
attacks him and his administration Of the Custom
House. and hastens TO defend himself before he is
sailed There no to believe that anything Of
the kind intended. Senator Patterson was speaking
on the Civil Service BILL aud in illustration Of the evils
inherent in present system Of appointment men
toned OF the abuses existing In the NewYork Gus
House, which The TRIBUNE says would be startling
were they not and well known" In reply to
questions from Senator Conkng, Mr.. Patterson said
that he did not suppose that the higher officers OF the
Custom House were OF the existence u many OF
those abuses until he informed them Of and he did
not think the present Administration was at all worse
than previous he further stated that the response
bity for the evils complained Of rested mainly with our
system Of appointment and that change in that system
would be the only eectual remedy The object Of Son
ator Paerons speech and the appointment OF the Gem
mittee was the improvement Of the public service by
the exposure and far possible. the reformation Of
the abuses which have gradually crept into 1t. Ia tho
discharge of the duty imposed upon them which IS by
no means an agreeable one or one TO I've sought they
expected that the Collector Influenced by the same
tiyes would aid them with his sympathy and CO.
operation They are met, however by several "inlOx-
nal replies" differing some what in detail but sne
in and purpose, which excuse or deny the
istence of notorious abuses pugn the motives and con
duct Of the Committee, aud are evidently dtsgned To
embarrass their investigation and dscredit ter report
In Of these replies IL Is stated that pay master,
commended by senator Patterson has made sume os the
Improper payments complained o. | am ursd that
this the first intmaton mat Senator Patterson has re
cey Cd Of anything OF the kind. he has recommended
NO whose integrity he had not perfect nadence
and II one Of them has subsequently, proved dRhonost
which he has believe he has- desire to
excuse or defend him. 1t is the duty oa
the paymaster u maze paymsnts IN accordance with
royls which are made up and swarm by tho
proper oficers- He h2s means Of knowing whethir
they correctly made not, nor any authority
change them, and II fraudusntly placed UPON
the rolls the responsibility ress with those whose duty
was to make up the rolls and who having the recns