Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-05

The novelty of the occasion drew a very large
crowd to the executive mansion, but no persons
were admitted excepting government officials
and members of the press.
1t is PROBABLE that the Japanese, having now
opened their diplomatic business, will immedi-
ateY devote the greater portion of their time to
ITS progress. The programme of their enter
tainmentS has not vet been suggested by Gen.
Myers, who has their comfort in charge, and in
that matter the wishes of the ambassadors will
be consulted.
At three O'Clock P. NJ, the embassay held
reception at their hotel and accepted an invita-
ton from Speaker Blaine to visit the house at
II o'clock Wednesday.
In the evening James Brooks, of New York
gave a reception and banquet in honor of the
embassy, at which speeches were made by
lwakura, Mr.. Brooks Gen. Banks, KIDD, the
imperial counsellor, Governor Ito, Minister De
Long, Mr.. Mor, congressman Wood, Sergeant,
Kelley, Dawes, and Kesr, and Major Ben Perley
Poore.
THE NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE INvEsTIGA-
TION.
The senate committee of investigation into
alleged abuses IN the New York custom house
met this morning in the room of the committee
on Pacific railroad. Senator Buckingham pre-
sided, and all of the committee were present |
except MIR. Stewart, who was not returned from
bis visit to Utah, and Mr.. CaSSerly.
Gen. Horace Porter was the first witness. He |
gave an account of Col Lects retirement from |
the army and engaging in business. propo- |
sitiOn was made to Leet TO take the management |
Of CamerOn'S Lochie iron works at a salary of |
S250O per annum, but he preferred going TO
New York and having a connection with the |
custom honSe although the president did not
approve Off
Col. Porter read copy of a letter which he
had witten TO Col. Leet, expressing disapproval
OF the president in strong language, on the
ground that it would give rise to stories about
the completely of the administration with the
reported Jobs in the New York custom house.
Col, Leet, when he next came to Washington,
complained of this saving that his having served
faithfully on the presidents staff during the
war should not prevent his obtaining civil
position which any citizen had right to apply
for. He put in bid for the labor contract at
the New York custom house, but not being the
lowest bidder, failed to receive it. He then APP
piled for the general order business, but neither
solicited or obtained any assistance from the
president, or any one at the White house. In
deed, he had been engaged in it for several
weeks before he was known at the White house.
The witness, Gen. Babcock and Col. Leet messed
togcther-unhl the latter resigned his commits
sion-aS officers are i'll the habit of doing for
purposes of economy.
Gen. Porter showed the accounts of their mess,
of which Col. Leet paid $3.50 The highest
amount which he paid for any one month was
s5956. The mess received no part of any in
terest in the general order business. Neither
Gen. Porter nor Gen. BabcOck knew that Leet
was connected with the general order business
| when he was in this mess
| Gen. Porter next Overhauled the statements
made by MIR. MIDGET, and not only presented
| that person in an untavOrable light, but showed
| up the duplicity OF the subordinates of eX-Col-
lector Grnnell in pretending that the president
| controlled the appointment of clerks in the New
| York custom house.
| A letter from Collector Grinnell to Gen. Porter
was read, bearing date May Sd, 1870, as fol-
| lows:
q know that you are not in any way inter
| ested in any contract given out here, and
neither you nor any other person about the eX-
ecutiye mansion has ever intimated a desire TO
be interested"
Gen. Porter, in a letter dated, May 4th, 1870.
| to Leet, saws the president remarked to him on
| a trip TO West Point on the 2Sth of April that
| he had heard so much about corruption in the
| custom house jobs, and the influence brought to
| bear in getting positions, etc, that he would
| never appoint any one who had been around
| him to position IN custom house, no matter
what his qualifications. In speaking about you
| tLeet) he said, 81 don't know who told him that
| you ought to accept Cameron's proposition,
| for though he believes you as pure as any one,
| vet he would never consent to have YOU 90 to
| custom house. He said the attacks would be
| constant, and injure both you and him. He
| fells just as | have always felt about such mat
ters. You can now judge of the situation and
| act accordingly"
| Porter, in a letter dated July 18th, 1870, to
| collector Murphy, says: You are about to enter
| uDOl lDG uullSS Vi COlleCIOT OI customs III new
| York. Many persons in seeking office may use
the presidents name or mine in urging their
| claims. | wish to state to you distinctly at the
| outset that.nO one is authorized to do so. Many
! friends Of mine, whom should be very glad to
| oblige, have imporuned me to write you letters
| in their behalf, but | have persistently refused
| to add 10 your present embarrassment by SO
| doing. You will never hear from me on the
subject of offices. My only desire is TO see you
| so distribute the patronage of your office as to
| render the most efficient service to the country
| and the cause of the administration.
| In another letter to Murphy, Oct. 81, 1870
| Porter says: | am directed by the president to
forward you the marked portion of the enclosed
newspaper article. While the president does
not for moment suppose that you ever uttered
the language it imputes to you, he deems it well
to take 1.-THE opportunity to say that
If any persons have been employ
ed in the custom house upon rep
reservations that they are his particular
friends or fayortes, he hopes they may be dis
charged, and that if any persons ever apply for
positions under you upon such pretences he re-
quests that they may not be employed.
In reply to the question as to what Office he
Gen. Porte0 held, the general said he was sec
rotary to the president. 1t was an office partly
civil and partly military. He was still an
officer in the army, and was colonel, with the
Orevet rank of brgadier general. He is assign
ed to duty at the executive mansion. His pay
is the pay of army rank only. He has no other
the president to Leet, addressed to Grinnell,
Porter said Leet stepped out OF the presidents
room aud showed it to him. 1t was understood
some days before that Grnnell was to be col
lector of New York. Leet gave him the impress
sion that he was going into the warehouse bust
ness, and wanted G:iunell to send government
stores TO him. He did not know the precise
terms, but it must have had reference to the
general order business.
Having been asked whether, in the summer
Of 1871, there was an interview between A. T.
Stewart and the president at 9th Avenue hotel,
Porter replied that he recolected it. Stewart
complained Of alleged abuses of the general or
der system. He supposed the president had the
same knowledge of these affairs as he porter
had, but did not know with certainty. He had
a conversation with Stewart on the same sub
ject but could not say whether it was before or
after Stewards conversation with the president
Gen. Porter having been INTERCEPTED as to |
the correspondence betweeniLeet and Lindsay, |
touching the acquisition of San Domingo and |
speculatons herewith, said he had no knowl- |
edge of such speculatons. He had never had |
social intercourse with Lindsay.
Gen. Porter was under examination more than |
five hours. The committee adjourned till to. |