New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-02
TwENrY-THIRD DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
GEMS. PORTER AND BABCoCK TO BE EXAMINED
AT WASHINGTON.

AT WASHINGTON.
At the opening of the session yesterday, MT.
Howe fvbo was absent Wednesday when the work OF
the Committee was Tesumedl said; MI Chairman'
notice bp the evening papers of yesterday that the Com
mittee voted TO summon Gems. Porter and BaOcocK
here from Washington to testify. wish to say that,
while conceive it the right Of those gentlemen to be
called before Committee if they ask it land under
stand they do yet DO wish 10 enter my most sol
emu rcnoustrance not to say protest against staying
here while examining the City of Washington. have en-
tcrtained hope from the beginning That should i've
long enough 10 return 10 WASHINGTON and to resume my
labOrs in the Senate must do that between now ana
tic 4th of March 1872 when my term VII expire 6Gt II
(ludnc 10 VIM I. Perkins, weigher in 1869, who
desired 10 give some the Committed and in adj
examined shan forcco that hope. 1 conceive
what interest they have in coming here TO he e%amed
what interest the Government can have III bringing
them here, and why cannot well take their testl-
mOny when return 10 Washington.
Mr.. Chairman Will state to 1lr. Howe that when the
letter Gems BabcOck and Porter read the desire
item aud to meet their views and wishes and 1t
thought they could the better and more readily tcs
not know that there was any particular desire 10 near
Mr. HoweEWcl it is my special desire to hear them
in Washington rather than here.
Mr.. Cdssory-I heard no dissent from the view that
as the Witnesses the subject with regard TO which
gen. B3bcOc. and Gen Porter are likely T. be exam
bc for hoso two gentlemen well as the two preceding
witnesses that the Whole Of the testimony on That sub
Mr., howe moved that the proceedings of Wednesday,
and that they De permitted % testify before the Com
Mr.. P.atf--We iaye been in session % days and Il
NIGHTS, taking testimony, and We ought TO be aDie b!
this time to see TIE bottom o. these alleged custom
house frauds am ANXIOUS TO return to Washington.
have accumulation Of 200 letters. many OF which re-
quire my attendance there laVe sat here patiently and
AS uncomplaiuiHely as / could. This examination can
DE conducted at Washington consistently with or duties
there Senator's We prosecute our Investigations
in the and in the evening and attend well
the regular sessions Of the Senate aud occasionally have
the future vote for every tends restrict
STAYING here came here Witn an earnest al pun rr SSe
lariues corruption in the Custom-hopse service we
havp been here patiently nearly month"; and feel as
Hft s3uc fnrJhcr anima ted discussion the Yeas and
NAYS were taken on nv Howes motion, and it was car
rcd-Ycas Nays Nests Bayald ana C"'scIy Young
ia the negative.
TESTIMONY OF A. DE L. ROGERS.
Mr. Rogers was the writer OF the letter Published yes
terdav concerning a CustOmhouse officers attempt to
extort coal. lie testified: When the coal arrived, l
went on board the ship and was met by W. y. Clogs,
who asked what business had there; | saw that
he was an officer, and told him l had come to
see the camel, and to learn when could get Il
he asked for the permit gave 1t to him; them
Of the captains room, lie said: "They have
more than the bin of lading shows; think there is
40 tns but there two three OF us who want
of this camel, and if you send load apiece to ou
house will make this 40 tuns 90 at l2C' the amount
your bill Of adnc; told him couldn't 90 any s9el
weGheT employed, to whom we PAD 10 cents tuh q
weigh and take care of the coal, ana let nm a1te
four times about This; Have you conclude
yet to give me that camel = !, At times be
do - he said Il do mt make difference about you
weghS We cam ge when on T coal was WEIGHED ~
weigher, the ships clerBwLO seemed to be very
.Ts return agreed with his-126 $4,000 tuns about
month afterward we got notice from the CusomhoaS'
10 nav dues on about eight tunS more; paid no aten
ton 10 the notice. and were notified second time
The Chairman-Who is Mr.. Cloysi A He called him
self Cusouihousc Inspector ,,,.u,
@ Had he badSei A saw none Dut ne had all inc
Wos there any one there the part of the Govern
IDcnt Wcghcri A. There Mr.. Munler, who claimed
weighed ten or twelve tubs that first came out
represented heard, James NJ Thompson, the United
senator Is yard-You say another Invoice served
in me same wayi A. Yes sir; Mr.. Benedict Of New
Haven had a Shipment on the same voyage IRON Iiggin
he was SIMILARLY approached; refused make any
arrangement ana ms cOal was SIX Per ttlt oc1
w Taf S6tg "eSDS' return" - was i'''' 1' ~
@. DO you know Of other aud similar practicesl A
Three years ago an Oilcer proposed tOet me uOdN some
coal without permit If would give him "a tun.
plSned TO Mr. Bcnedict, the Deputy surveyor and he
recommended Inc TO come before the Committee
TESTIMONY OF sOHN c. HOPPER.
John C. HopperLsecretary OF the National Revenue
Reform Association said had been in correspondence
with Mr. Boutwell, about impOstons upon merchants in
this city IL matter Of the baggage ring Mr.. Madge
had been sent by the Treasury Department to confer with
him. and Mr. Madge wenc away expressing himself per
satisfied and saying That the abuses should De
corrected This was about two three months ago.
Mr. Hopper's letter the Baggage Ring has been pub
lshed in THE TRIBUNE. Mr.. Hopper produced list Of
names Of present and discharged inspectors who could
verify all that was stated about the baggage abuse
A COLLECTION
Mr. Hopper instanced another phase OF robbery Mr.
Kesser of the firm Of Kesscr & Co., called upon by
stranger who proved be Nj. Hartley, Of the firm
Hartley, Chase & Coleman CMessrs Chase Coleman
residing ia Washington Mr.. Hartley Informed Mr.
Kesser there duties 10 be refunded to Kesse
CO.. MI. Kcbser entirely ignorant Of it, but very
naturally expressedhs desire 70 get whatever belonged
to him He opened a correspondence with the Treasury
department and. In due time, wasi informed that II h
would call ut the CustOm-hOuse he would get his money
he called AT the Custom house. but put of from dal
Is day In the mean time Hartley was calling upon MN
saving he could get 10 in few moments; MI hehsIcr
finally, compelled 10 put II In Haflleys bands
when the money Immediately collected, Tor Whlci
Hartley charged five per cent; Mr. Hartley is said TO b
the Assistant secretary Of the Treasury at wash
ington: this happened about year ago
MPUDEST NOTICES.
Mr.. Hopper said the merchants complained OF tn
impudent notices they received from the CustOmhOus
authorities IN reference 10 unpaid duty balances her
chants paying 10 the Government hundreds Of thousand
Of dollars year duties, receive summary notice TO tb
effect that II balance is not paid within eight days
will be placed in the hands Of the DistcAttOrncy fO
collection Such balances as often IN favor Of III
rnerchant AZ they In favor OF the Government
are necessary result OF the Custom-house business br
poufweU Informed Mr. Hopper that such notices wcr
unknown 10 him; that the Department prescribed
notice simply calling the attention OF merchants 10 th
fact and req uestiDg early attention ~ IT, which wal
rroner: Mr.. Hopper produced Original nOtces sncb NJ
WIRE preserved, and those that were ID use mere WIN
me threat 10 place the matter In the hands Of tho DIS