New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-02

One of the most important public labors Of
the new wear will be the investigation of the
alleged abuses in the New-YOrk Custom
House. 1t has been said that the Senate Com
mittee charged with the performance of this
duty was packed with members interested in
the suppression of developments injurious to
Gen. Grants administration. We ourselves
have criticised its composition and explained
why we could not give it our full confidence.
At its head, however, is Senator Buckingham
a gentleman of whose integrity we have no
misgivings, and in whose independence we
shall be glad to believe. We shall be slow TO
suspect him of purpose to cover up wrong,
and if any such purpose shall show itself
among his colleagues, we trust to him
to cOunteract it. Whatever mistakes may
have been made in the constitution of the
Committee may yet be rectifed if it viii fear
lessly and thoroughly do its duty. The
charges against the management of the Gus
tom House are of such a nature that wise
friends of the President have no choice but
to submit them to the most rigid examina-
ton. mere suspicion of an attempt to
cover up the truth will do more harm than
any possible disclosures and we believe the
Administration Senators are now convinced that
nothing will save their reputation for earnestness
in reform except the utmost frankness in dealing
with the public and the utmost severity in ex-
posing abuses, in the party as well as outside
of it, The secrets of the General Order sys-
TEN, for instance, are destined to come out,
and it is better to have them exposed by this
Committee than elected by the opposition from
anybody's cast-off mistresses. The merchants
of New-YOrll have long story of injustice
and exactons to tell, and it is better for them
to tell it to an investigating committee of
reformers than to Democrats who would use
it with terrible effect in the Presidential
campaign. The air is full of rumors of the
completely of some of Grants nearest friends
in the wrongs which have oppressed the
commerce Of this port; and If there is to be
an exposure, it ought, for the Presidents sake,
to come from our side; if the rumors are
sanderous, let us have the credit of dis
pelling them. In word, let us set our own
house in order, and not leave That job to our
enemies.
AS first requisite towards making the in
vestigatiOn complete and above suspicion, let
the Committee keep away from the Custom
House. They ought not to be exposed to the
influences of that establishment, where the
truth is harder to find than anywhere else in
New-YOrk. The examination room must not
be surrounded, and neither the judges nor
the witnesses must be manipulated by the
officials whose conduct is on trial. Let
the Committee meet in some place near
the business center, and summon prominent
business men to tell what they know of Gus
tom House abuses. Then let them make q
rigid inquiry among the clerks and other en-
ployes in different branches of the service.
summon the Collector himself, call upon
Messrs. Leet and Stocking for their evidence,
and put few pertinent inquiries to certain
Washington officials such as Gems. Porter and
BabcOck. In the next place, let it be well I'M
derstood that no clerk shall be visited with
official vengeance for any disclosures ne may
make before this Committee. Let the Senators
give their pledge that should any man be pun
ished for telling the truth, they will espOuse
his cause to the utmost of their ability, and
hold up his prosecutors to the Indignation Of
the public.
Finally, let the investigation be public.
There is no reason for conducting it privately
if the report is to be strictly according to the
evidence. Ii is instituted in satisfaction of an
imperative popular demand, and the people
have a right to know just how the Committee
proceeds with its labOrs and exactly what it
discovers. The same reasons which Justify the
law that all trials in court shall be public, de-
mand publicity for this investigation. II is a
matter in which the community has strong
and direct interest. II is proceeding also in
which full publicity and free discussion will
assist in the discovery of truth. SECRECY, be-
sides encouraging false testimony. sosgests