New-York tribune., 1872-01-16

O. What happened Ia thc COnF htOhi ~, old no,
attend tic Convention the duties Of the yard compelled
me remain home even n had been dsp0sod to 20
after that Convention came iipthe 9o"t%Gno % o 'e & ~
Murphy two occasions III relll"n 10 uat SUD
sbeI u c ~ woud consent TO leave Rufus f. Andrews
Off the County Convention tcket; ioh MN "Oni" not
that had spoken 10 Mr.. Andrews 9D tc suIP.c OF ne
had TO me, and had given my word hat wo9d 40 wtt
/ could have him 80 the county convention tichcJ
troubled about MIR Andrews going the ticket that
there were two tickets run mt the primary oI neega ~
10 the Comfy COnVentiOn--One ticket known ~ Inc
Custom house ticket Murphy ticket, aud another
ticket headed by myself at the primary there was qnc
contest and Mr. Murphy said In the room that evthiS
to two or three gentlemen that ho would have me 10
moved before Saturday nights this was ON Mohday
evening.
O. What the relative strength Of those two PARTIES
in that district A. The ticket headed by myself poicd
considerably 100 votes and tho ticket known as tho
Murphy ticket pollcd S3 Mr.. Murphy and Gen Arthur
were both In tho room that evening Of the primary and
Mr. Murphy stepped up to Of the Inspectors, Mr.
Josiah W. Thomson, and had some GOhVefsatoaa n
with him, which Mr.. Thomson told me. lie lntOfmen
him that IL worth great deal To him 10 carry tht
primary that evening; subsequently learned rom n d
Gentoman that Mr.. Murphy had authorized HIM 10 gye
Mr Thomson $500 to throw that primary that evening"
he had authorized Major Willard Bullard to offer Mr.
Thomson $500 to do what no could toward giving DIN
O. On that occasion were there many Custom house
officials prcseni A. Yes SIR go2d many, as nave nave
not residents Of the district or even OF the cy Brooklyn
people. 3, nj. -.
was this 2 A. Twenty first Ward, XVIIfth Assembly
District within 10 days, think, after the primary
again learned that consultation had been held IN the
CustOmhOCSe in relation to removal, or rather the
subject OF my removal seemed to be settled ana u was
to who should have the place friend Informed me OF
the consultation, and that evening went 10 Wahngt0n
again and saw Commodore Ammen; no tCll Inc he
thought unnecessarily troubled ab0ut the mater,
that he was confident the transfer or removal W0H not
take place without consultation WIN NM tiIa was On
October 26; the day before my suspension
sTEANGE CONDUCT OF PRESIDENT GRANT
q tIIow before il that Mr.. Murphy made
the threat that you should be removed before Saturday
night A. l think 1t was about the middle OF October
that tho primary took place perhaps the 18th OF October
Commodore Ammen volunteered go to see the Presi-
dent with me himself; he went over to the Preadens
mansion and learned that he was particularly engaged
with some gentlemen the Commodore Informed me tnat
ne could not remain and that he would Introduce ne 10
ntrod%eci To- he Predcn as soon as possible aud that
he wOud inform GEN Dent tof biz desire in he matter We
taken by Gen Dent into his onlce, ana APT Ahcn
told him there ia my presence that there seemed to De
desire the part OF some New York people 10 nay me
removed or transferred, but It was MS deslte oh%t
should remain at the Broolyu Navy ard; Con. Dcnt
asked If there were any poIlc@l GIotd5,d7 td hin,
presumed that was the occasion OF IT. lie asKcd
me II the proposed coalition with the Jimmy
can party had anything do with it; told him pre-
sumed that was the principal rcasOn-lhy relusu sd
no that he thcught the President was phrtlc9-
larry anxious that that movement snIad co Idcef, .tc
nut that he would introduce me anG / could e staio
case; my card vas sent III; II,ni%eG % ci11e ]
or
out that the President iad gone OUT MGtE VA 80 w.
next morning early before Il, with friend lio WISH
ngton and sent IN cart ana sat .llfle IRE in in
hour an hour and 1at ana tne sie az w., Vn 3ft
came with this writing on 1t REFER 1r van 'it
and Mr. King to the Secretary OF the Navy am ylu ln
the PIE ,deuts handwriting proHlclIy lho tiau, IT, 70
King told me that WAS his writing went lhlue9at
informed hy him that the President had decie}
10 suspend under the tenurcoi-omoo Id" o,,
asked the Secretary Of the Navy II there were any
charges, and Thought from his mann r. d11s n ho be
ehot to mike some reIy, when he sad that peIhh ne
'd & Say S not I've witbkeld Tor day two, that
perhaps wOud resign and he sal3 ne Wtu, i
decded that | could not resign, ana SO INFORMED Iue
Secretary by letter; it was on Ihursday tHat 7aw MN
dTccd arrived ri the NavyYard and was given TO me-
Jar AS can lecOicrt now, the history Ol my case
MR. VAN CLEFTs SUCCESSOR.
O who was pvt in your placed A Norman strattOn.
Q what was his bu'.nessi A. A lawyer
O. Practising his profession here in the cityf A res
Sir
O Had he any knowledge of the duties Of tho pace'
A. do not know anything about thot am told ne was
n graduate ot a polytechnic schoo, at Troy.
o What was the cuaracter OF tho duties there A;
Yards and Docks aud his duties were 10 supenend the
construction Of all buildings, docks ana dry doch, abu
the repair Of bindings Keeping TIE SlIIet" al" AVENUES
I'm Order the buildings. &c ,,
ed'.. of a technical characters 4. Yes, sir.
O. Calculations and knowledge OF the science OF
~ DmTng mi. lcrod had You any official connection
whatever With the New-Iork Customhouse A NO.
q Was Mr. Murphy in any way officially connected
VIZ vo"r official duties did not lead you in contact with
him In any way az Nli' ~ 1o' "' > Why "' '
% ~ ho was your immediate official superior A. The
Cnt,,r,andant Of the Yard, Rear Admiral GQdOn -
q Thc whole of this anslctOn conducted by sir
.rnIi ifics within partyi \. regarded It so. .-.
O. DO You understand that he came in as Colector o,
the Ports with the desire OF controlling the ana
hat he had been invested with patronage TO 90 so a
Ii tod me lie had been appontcn IeGeg tna' nc
srntnd the Administration, and that ne Wuieu 10 oec'n
suited in the affairs of the party IN this city.
POLITICAL PRESCRIPTION.
Senator Bayard read a poron OF the resolution OF In
oury nstrucng the Committee to inquire into the use
Of the patronage tho Custom house for political pur
no.os and asked do YOU know anything further that
will eniceu us on the subject do you know other in
stance IN which the power OF arbitrary remOVal
has been introduced IN the interests OF parry within
d rty A. Yes Sir; knew large number Of removals
o. state who they were, the Office from which they
wera removed what influence suggested their IemOval'
and The cause for tl A. know OF the removal OF Mr.
George r. COachmon Of the district IN MhIJn Iesuo,
from the position of Gauger of the AAAld COliectlOn
District Gnternal Revenuc also, IN my own ulSulct
gentleman ny the name OF Contant, removed from INC
o. How long did Mr. Rlghmire continue to enjoy his
Object A. Twelve or fifteen days; he vas AlloinCcu POINTED
shortly after the primary and after the COUNTY CIto @
ou he WIS II moved he removed some dhys pciore
was there also in my own Ilstrlet one ~
tyn and sampler In the Appraisers Depaiment
by the name of KuOX; they were not remove" "u'' W
den Palmer was removed. however ,,, .os stote
O. Removed for what cause a. am 9t ap,g 80
buf ed AT the time it was for POlll'l n
b"ad ~ bathing else; they recOminendeu ~ n't
f os nj rrs and presumed that was the rea'oh 'ne'
- me- mo matter Of prejudice eNteh1s not on,! ~ ~
ms indivdun removed but 10 those whom ~ P rs,,1
hes rirndy feelings towards A. ie'' 0H' N'''
10 1nn 1d Ynn attend the state Convention A went
u" o. t % many people there in the interest OF Ine Cu5
,o,l b,usei A. Yes. Sir; | met great many feu'i"
~ Mere there many OF the subordnates of the Custom
hon',i a. ~ nG A They seemed to be there busily at