The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-05
has at second hand, think Mi. Lamont told me

tnas AZ SECOND manu- thuk MI. LamOnt tOiu me
that
Q. You said that you think there are merchants
who would TESTIFY 10 another place who VIII not
dence elsewhere who Will not volunteer 10 come
here.
The Custom House who are now holding ohice here
present number Of Officers al the present Salaries
would do ali the work now done, and as well as II
Is now done, and that The rest might be dispensed
WITH
Q. are there moro employees now than there were
in Mr.. Grinne.l's time A. | think there are.
q. What Is the amount OF power exercised by this
band OF federal officers on the republican oreaniza.
ton IN this Slater A. Enough to reverse what
would have been its action during the past lew
years II 1t had not been exercised
chism.
James Corrigan sworn--I am night inspector:
saw ana man i come from hoSoken with two musical
Instruments; seized them and took them to the
o. what evidence nave you that they were snug
gled9 A. The man told me himself that they came
from H0bokcn; he told mo that they came from the
was on Saturday; ne chad had the Instruments covered
up; he came from the Barclay street boat and
barge once; there arrested him. asked him all
about II ana he told me; let him go and told him
tom House and S claim nsS he has not come Tor
them.
was In the General Stores once, and before that
was one of the underkeepers on Backwell's ISLANDS
nave made seizures Of this sort before; did not
know that il was my duty to make written report
Of the seizure; made three seizures Of this Kind
stairs made the report ana signed it; when /
MAKE seizures give no receipts to the people from
wen Iny are very man a
handkerchief only over Them
through The Interpreter that he had bought those
instruments from Mr.. Saenger and that he was
ready 70 prove ~ A.. I had no such lnrorma-
N ha
interpreter gwen to ME; told INN II the goods
were not smuggled he could get them at the Custom
we get half OF the value Of the seizures made; got
the place have on the recommendation OF Mr.
General Arthur was next called, ana was re-
guested TO furnish memorandum Of the names
S'ny na Monss Of FL Ss IN s %
clerks We're sometimes employed when the work
gets behind; all the checks for sa aries were for
twenty years signed by the auditor, until within q
few months when the Collector assumed the duty
of signing all checks; fo1r or i've hundred clerks
paid by separate checks, signed by the Collectors Tor
the other employees sum Is drawn III gross.
John 7. Lindsay, sworn-l cannot say anything
only know that have been told that subordina,es
share their unlawful gains with their superI0rs;
some officials have told me that they have been
sesscd for political purposes; the amount OF those
assessments was two per cent; that Is my impress
sion; know Mr.. 0rinnel opposed this system, ana
IN one or two cases paid tho money himself rather
than insist on Its being levied my information is
that the assessments are inside upon all officials;
most confidential advisers; am q merchant ana
manufacturer; have never held any onlcia pc.
sition.
Nj. Lindsay then entered into a general explana.
ton OF the carriage business, and said the excuse
for the charge to the warehouses in West street was
that there had been good deal OF thevmg; the
promise was made that The charges should In no
case be greater than az the regular bonded ware
houses; the goods then Of course came to the gen.
eral order stores.
O. what are the advantages and disadvantages
OF the general order systen7 a. There are some
where the rates are established at reasonable price
and are no higher than at The bonded warehouses 1t
Is good system.
O. What is the necessity for the ystem? A. YES
sells coming In and wanting TO get away especially
steamships, must have some place TO store their
goods, as they cannot 90 through the Custom House.
e. The objection then, Is not against the system
isclf9 A. No. sir; but against an extortiopate
manner OF carrying It out
@. Have the charges been kept down TO the mini
mum fixed by the Collector? A. Reports were
To- IS mad been CHARGED FOR ' snSe pScap ee os
storage 6ity.one hours; an investigation was az
once made under Collector Grinnell into each OF
g. AS a matter Of fact, We're the rates fixed by
Mr. Grinnell Increased pv Mr.. Murphyf A. know
about II only by hearsay; have no Information that
the charges have been Increased.
Q. Have you any. knowledge OF presents being
houses? A. Only that there Is common rumor OF
that being the FACT and three cases OF the KIND
under Mr. Grinnel
o. Is the management OF the Custom House su.
bordInaed to party necessilies' A. Yes, Sir; have
no DOUBT OF IT,
Q. If man were now In the Custom House and
moderately expressed views differing from those OF
the party faction now in the ascendant would he
be removed A. | 90 not know about the present
Collector.
q. How about under the regime OF Mr.. Murphy'
A. DO not know anytE a00u6 tha sir, OF my
Q, For what purpose was there any assessments
made under Mr.. GrlnnelS A. think one was
made for the election for Governor and another was
made 10 be used outside or the State-m Connec-
ticut; on the latter occasion Mr.. Grnnell paid $1,000
rather than allow the assessment to be insisted
upon with men who were unwilling to subscribe.
g; Wnat power was mere obliging tne payment
Mr. Grnne Was onnosed 1a ali ss
this kind; think these papers were circulated BY
variOus deputies.
Q. Was there any danger OF any clerk being turned
out II he refused TO pay itS A Not by Mr.. Grinnel,
but by others.
Q. what otherss A. The Naval Ofcer ana the
Surveyor the Collector was OF course the ultimate
power, subject to confirmation by tue Secretary Of
q. Then, though Mr.. Grnnell was opposed to the
system. the system was too strong for hlmH A. Yes.
Q. BY whom was the proportion assessed on these
cannot say that the same kind Of subscription
papers were sent 10 all other branches Of the federal
@. Did the two per cent assessment cover the
entire year? A. think that was single assess.
ment; think that was early in 1869 or 1870:
q. Did you ever know clerk to he turned out for
O. Wien Mr. Grnnel broke up the general order
stores in Hoboken ne transferred all the business
one store In est street, a. Yes, sir believe so
1t was store that through from street to street.
@. DID he appoint any other storesG A. ! think he
, did before he was removed
Q. Who established the rate OF storage for bonded
or general order goodsY A. believe II was estab-
lsned by law under Mr.. Smythe.
O.. Did Mr., Grlnnell fix any price for bonded
goods? A. III there was regular bonded ware
house charging fifty cents q package, the same
price was hXed for all general order stores: the
order Affirming that was made about the time when
Mr. Leet took charge OF part Of the general order
business.
q. Who was Mr. Leet A. A citizen of Pennsyl
vania; he was not citizen OF New York al the
time lie was appointed 10 this BUSINESS: he was ap
pointed by the Collector In pursuance Of lnstruc-
lions; was told that he came from Washington
with recommendation TO Mr.. Grinnel; there wa a
also letter Of Introduction from secretary WASH
burne
Q. 1t was nlank commission to get something
good A. Yes, Sir.
q. lie was not In any way as that time connected
with the business OF this City or state? A. No, SIR