New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-12
CUSTOM-HOUSE FRAUDS.
MORE DAMAGING EVIDENCE AGAINST THE
GENERAL ORDER MONOPOLY.


GEN. PALMER ON POLITICAL TRICKERY IN THE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE STEAMSHIP
MEN-EACH LINE OF STEAMERS SHOULD HAVE
ITS OWN GENERAL ORDER STORE
The Senate Committee resumed it's session Mt tho
Astor House Yesterday and industriously continued
its investigation into Custom-bouse abuses Fewer
idle revenue officers present than on the preced-
ing days but "Deeoyn Bliss was promptly at his
post and laborcd zealously to give the evidence a
coloring in favor of his patrons and employers
Numerous communications received, naming
witnesses or volunteering testimony TO prove fraud
and corruption in departments hitherto uninvesti-
gated, or to corroborate the damaging evidence al
ready elected. Among others, Christopher Pullman
offered to testify concerning the political machina
tions Of the Custom house officers in controlling pri-
mary elections, and c. f. Smithson called attention
to the extorons practced emigrants by the Castle
Garden Inspectors.
Ex-Appraiser Palmer the first witness, named
several competent officers who had been discharged,
as he believed, without any fault their part, and
then gave an account of his experience with
Weigher Thompson, testifying positively TO prop
osition from Thompson to aid in making money
ont of the merchants by corrupt of Palmers
powers in the matter of allowances dam
aged goods. This proposition peremptor'v
refused; but the offender after obtained his
appointment, as Weigher through Murphy's infu-
ence notwithstanding the fact that Secretary Bout
well was made aware of4Thompson's character. AZ
to thefts from the Appraisers stores, Gen. Palmer
thought the heaviest losses complained OF occurred
before the goods reached those stores. He was
decidedly OF the opinion that compromises with
violators of the revenue laws served to encourage
fraud, and that smuggling should be punished by
positive penalties.
Gen. Palmer also reiterated his statements Of
"Wednesday he M
ply in Corrigans behalf but said he hardly believed
that the President really made a request to have
Corrigan retained, notwithstanding Mr.. Murpby's
assertion to that effect. Senator Howe declared
himself quito as skeptical as the witness
concerning Mr.. Murphy's statement Of tho
Presidents wishes. The removal of Nash,
| Coudant, and Forbes for failure to support
| the Murphy faction also inquired into further
and the question of Tanmany complications with
Republican politics in this city was extensively dis
cussed. "Decoy" Bliss furnished series Of ques-
lions ngeniousy designed to develop proof Of SYM
patty between Gen. Pamer's friends and the Tam
many leaders. The witness finally protested against
! this, and made direct offer to prove the COM
plicity of Bliss and his patrons with Tammany that
| the volunteer member was for abashed, and
the subject was changed.
In conclusion, in answer TO the question, What
kind of General Order system would you suggest
Gen. Palmer said: II would make all the bonded
warehouses general warehouses; and let the goods be
carted to that warehouse which is nearest to the
point where the goods unloaded You get less
carriage then, and you have system by which ono
warehouse would not have any advantage over
another. You would then have lower rates and
lessen the price of goods because finally all this has
to be paid by the consumer
John s. Williams, agent for the Liverpool and
Great Western Steamship line, testified that he pre-
ferred the present order of things 20 the old General
Order system, and claimed TO be unaware that the
rates had been increased. that merchants found
any cause of complaint. He frankly confessed,
however, that he objected to the old system simply
because it gave to certain steamship lines exclusive
privileges which he thought should be enjoyed by
all the lines equally, or "a now. by none of them,
and he further believed that it would
be great convenience to merchants il the
propretors of steamship lines permitted To
have bonded warehouses under their own charge
made General Order warehouses John G.. Dale,
agent of the Inman line, had something to say in
favor Of the present General Order store bnt like
the previous witness preferred that each company
should have warehouse of its own.
Francis w. J. Hurst Managing Agent Of the
National Line of Steamships, liked the present sys-
TEN better than the old one, because it left tho
various steamship lines a footing of equality;
but thought it would be of benefit to importers and
steamship men if each line could have its own
General Order store. He further developed tho
fact that at free stOres7-i g., those not
under Government control-the rates of storage are
one-third less than at the General Order stores.
Gustav Schwab of the firm Of Oelrichs & Co.. agents
of the North German Lloyds Bremen line of steam
ers, presented O written statement showing the
superior safety, cheapness, and convenience Of tho
old General Order stores, and demonstrating that
the present exorbitant charges are, ultimately, q
tax upon the consumer. In Mr.. Schwabs opinion,
the matter must be settled by an act Of Congress-
granting to every steamship line coming to this port
the privilege of letting their agents bond ware
house to their docks possible or Of using
the nearest bonded warehouse already in existence
present monopoly, by the evidence of the steamship
men, failed utterly the apparent preference of some
of them for the system now in force being due in
every instance to the fact that it impariay denies
privileges previously granted to few favored COM
panies, while they were unanimously in favor Of O
system which should allow each company to
have its own General Order store.
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATIONS TO BE REJECTED
CORRUPT wEIGHER.
At the opening of the session the Chairman
said Mr. Cornell had given the places OF abode Of the
persons In his department requested yesterday by tho