The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-06
The N. Y. Custom.IIouse Inycsti.
cation.

again before the Congressional Committe
this morning. lie denied tho testimon
Of VIM. Haw, that Haw had never state,
that he (Haw) knew Of the officials 20
ing up town to obtain perquisites 10
passing goods. Lindsay offered copy o
the agreement between Col. Leet Grant
I,p'Otege) and Bixby, by which the forme
was to have fiIty.six hundred dollars
year for his influence in sending the gen
eral order business to Bixby's store
Leet often threatened to have Grinnel
removed if not given more money.
Lindsay stated his reluctancy to make
further disclosures, as he was challenged
last night at his hotel, but could not say
who challenged him, or whether the
challengers were officials. Lindsay fur
ther testified that he wished not to bc
understood as stating that Gems. Porter
and Babcock were in the General Order
business with Lcet; they were in the
same army mess in Washington, and
Leet complained that his share of the
profits were not sufficient TO pay hisshare
of the expenses Of the mess. 1t was
understood that fifteen thousand dollars
wouldn't pay the expenses Of that mess
that the purposes Of the mess were eating
and drinking.
Lindsay, in reply to a question, said
Leers pay lrom the army was $3.50, and
he used TO say that was not enough, along
with $4,000 from General Order business
Leet's letters TO witness were generally
dated at the White House. Witness
stated that Grinnel paid him $1,000 OF
$4,000 for his services from his own pocket.
On being further examined by Senator
Casserly he stated that Mr.. Grinncl and
himself frequently spoke together about
the system Of leading men in the commit.
nifty using their influence to get men ap,
pointed to the Custom House, and then
making associates Of them for such inllu.
ence. He had no reason to doubt that
such practice exists; he heard there
was collusion between the General Order
interest and the shipping interest to hurry
goods into General Order stores so as to
subject them to charges. Lindsay said
Stocking would call here from Washing
ton with letters from Senators Morton,
Spencer, and others, TO Collector Grinnel,
who in consequence gave the lucky Stock
ing the position Of superintendent Of cart.
age under salary of$9O0O.
Examined by Senator Pratt-Lindsay
said he believed the practice existed Of
warehousemen paying Government in
spectors who draw regular salaries from
the Government; he had this information
from Grinnell, Leet, Stocking and others
he did not know why these payments
were made, unless it was that the inspec.
tors might hurry goods 10 the stores.
Lindsay did not think it wrong for him
and Grinnell TO draw up Leers appoint
ment, signing his (Lindsay's) name in
stead of Leets, and forwarding tho profits
to LeCt In answer to the query, which
was guilty: he who commits fraud, or
he who helps the fraud and then covers
it up? Lindsay said he saw no fraud in
such q proceeding, though tho public
might have the right TO complain. He
admitted that the object OF himself and
Grinnell was 10 cover the matter up in
case it was overhaulcd by politicians.
Still he considered Grinnell good officer,
who would do nothing wrong. Laugh
ter.
Mir. Collins, an importer OF teas, know
Of no irregularity.
w. Redmond, an importer, testified to
the seizure Of his books and q demand for
5000 alleged to be due, but he never paid it.
G. G. Eastman, a member Of the AS.
,sembly denied the statement OF Mr.,
Greeley, that he was influenced by Custom
House officials to vote for Mr.. Smith for
Speaker, or that he (Eastman) had been
told by Gen. Ketchum that he must vote
as the Custom House magnates directed
and never told any one so.
c. F. Lewis, managing editor of the
Eocniag Post, testified that he was aware
Of personal misconduct by the Custom
House officials. The Surveyor has sus
pended a number ofinspectors of luggage
who are in the regular habit Of exacting
and receiving bribes from gentlemen
bringing luggage to this port. A gentle.
man told him recently that five hun,
dred tons Of luggage came on q
Cunard steamer not long since, and nearly
every passenger had to get his baggage
passed. He was informed of the Iuspec'
tor receiving $50 from Gen. Semau, whc
had brought furniture over. The witness
recollects in 1867 when he brought some
invalid ladies 10 the Custom House, the
official was shameless in asking bribes; ar
inspector passed all the luggage through
for him and then demanded present
Not u passenger comes TO this port who
can't relate similar cases. The number O
instances in which the Government la.
been de(rauded in the Appraisers Office
shows corruption, as would be proved by
the cases on record in the District Attor
ney's Office. J. s. Kennedy told him tha
having imported railroad iron a brokel
requested him to allow him to put in
claim for damages and they could divid,
the money. Kennedy said the good
were incapable ot damage. The broke
replied "No matterits the regular course
but Kennedy Indignantly declared that II
December, 1860, tho witness and his sis
ter came from Europe, and her trunk wa.
passed bywithout inspection. Next day
the inspector called for present and go
it. District Attorney Davis could sup,
ply the Commission with plenty Of eVi
dcnce Of fraud in the Appraisers office
Mr. ntuia alsn mnntinnhl ihnt he had {