The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-06
NEW YORK HERALD SATURDAY JANUARY le72-TRPLE SHEET

self passed baggage the inspectors were utterly
shameless IN exacting brides; once came WIN
some invalid ladies', IN 1885,! and al the reques. o.
the of1cer came and said:-"The proper thing for
you to 40 Is to let me put in blank entry; !
made a call upon me at the ONCE, and gave me
10 understand that he expected present; every
plants are N now universal; another department is
the Appraisers Department; nave little lnIorma-
ton that is direct, but that little ~ convincng ~
my side yesterday afternoon in leaving here, two
young men, fellow passengers on the Car. and rom
their conversation, also evidently Custom House ON
know what we mean by sampling cigars: that means
stunning our pockets as full as possible; tnat Was
SAID In me hearing Of the coa1@cIo5 a aave
now practised IN the Appralsers once at the ONCE
OF Judge Noah Davis. and the committee may refer
honesty the exception; the third department
know anything about Is that for reminding duties;
neay told e ns he had met custom House
broker who said 10 him, ''iou imported lot OF
goots certain time ago; you have put IN no claim
"They were not damageo;' the broker answered,
'Tnat's no matter; give the claim to me and win
the goods we're railroad iron, goods which were in
capable OF being injured; ! saw Mr. Boutwell, on
TINS subject, and he told me that he mad examined
many cases OF this kind and had not found one
which was not tainted with fraud; with regard TO
each one OF these departments do not know that
corruption is the necessary result OF the politcal
management OF the Custom House.
psa go for 'ss Mr. Fssae Ss furniture and
q. When the man, In 1867, asked Tor present did
you give It TO himf 4. Yes, sir; mentioned 1t 10
particular inspector, but the systom; think Mr..
Wakeman called on me about 1t, and he assured me
iaas yas the only passenger VINO had ever COM
Mr. wakeman, who was present. here interfered,
but was at once stopped by the senator's.
q. How do you account for abuses 30 notorious
escaping the notice OF the heads OF departments
now u " that tnat which Is known to everybody
sse St9 fan to TO the cer whose
how Tit ID that passengers may know all about u
and 30 circulate the knowledge among the general
veyor,
Q, some three days ago you did make com.
A. on the contrary; Secretary Boutwell, told me
mat It was very dinlcult thing to DO; TO devise
remedy Is wei worthy Of the best attention OF the
Here the Senators en- nadsse acknowledged the
compliment by a bend Of the head, while the crowd
OF spectators and the reporters INDUCED in .
Q. You know, however. Of no attempt having
been made after that complaint to remedy the evip
Q. Then you have no knowledge other than news.
paper information A. No. Sir; and That i suppose
O. Then you 40 not look upon newspaper inior.
nation as knowledgeG A. Well yes, SIR; and OF o
g. have you, as the recorder Of daily events been
able to ind single case IN which one OF these mul-
utudinous frauds IN the Appraisers office has been
punlshedY A. on the contrary, j have not only
not known such q case, but have known Of the
most strange and unaccountable omissions to pun.
ish even proved cases. o.
efficiently by one conviction than by ten thousand
settlementsa A. Well, no, sir; an offlcer 30 pun
ished would only be looked upon as an unlucky
O. Then CRIME detected would be looked upon
simply as misiortnneY A. ! think tnat among
Custom House officers, from generation to genera
ton, there is very low standard OF morals, and
CRIME would certainly De so regarded among them.
have influenced the last Republican Convention and
the last election for Speaker in the LegslatureY A.
nave no reason to doubt 1t; do not know 1t my
O. How about political assessments A. / have
heard OF them constantly.
z. And Of officers being discharged II they re-
fused to pay themR A. Only by dismissal from their
place.
federal services A. In the Internal Revenue service
yes; do not know whether that Is or mol the case
IN the Custom House.
q. DO you know whether men can hold theiI
places here II they differ IN political stripe from that
OF the authorities A. That IL notorious; l have
never heard II doubted; not only tnat out man
pointed are independent In their Criticisms; know
cases Of that KIND.
submission to the political opinions OF their supe
riorsr A. Yes. SIR but my evidence on this point
worth little; am but an echo OF universal rum0r.
q You think, then, that political appointment
arc preJudicia TO the public service2 A. Yes, Sir;
think that permanence OF service and adequat
salary are absolutely necessary 10 secure reform
OF the frauds have alluded 70.
Q. DoyOu know anything OF the pronts made b
the special agents OF the Treasury who make thes
seizures A. special agent sometimes goes 10 tn
fraudulent merchant and let's him know that he
aware OF the contemplated svindle and offers {
share the pronts; state this simply US matter 9
common belief
q. Does this arise from the power OF these detet
tives to make seizures without making any preiim
nary eXamlnationY A. That Is OF their fac
ties Tor corruption; but have heard OF cases i
which money Is made by threats oil seizure only;
have heard Of honest merchants VINO have bee
vlctimiZed In this way.
The committee then adjourned till this morning.