New-York tribune., 1872-01-30
POLITICAL JODBERY.

MACHiNAfIONS OF THE CboIOMo OrfNhho'
Horace Greeley testified that the Custom
house officials Travelled over the State and controlled
| tho party. and that no had heard OF scores II
not hundreds OF these officers who were regu-
Iarly paid and kept 1T work in the interest OF the
dominant faction; prior to every Convention
hoy went their respective counties TO control the
election OF delegates the Convention. and to great
traVor,ps Ga%SS the State aud cOcrcos the cleo
veyor Cornell and Naval Officer Latin were especially
active nifty sixty Custom house men were at Albany
and controlled by their influence the organization or tue
legislature" Mr. Greeley believed they controlled 1t
by promising Offices and threatening the removal OF
officers; the result Of CustomOuso influence was che
election of Henry Smith as Speaker instead Of Thomas
AyorG when If they had rcTansd % a%ay the cSnqay
man, and the latter Fenton man"
prnGte.d in the interest Of the castchoaso faction by
ppImary election held in Inc Fall Of 1870: "Mr Murphy
offered to turn ont in the Custom house and ap
point in his place, u would COOPERATE with hIm in
S afpass.% psaG sa Of IN hs s Opinion
patronage used 10 control the action OF the syracuse
travelling through the State on political missions,
although admitted that 80 or IS who bad country resi-
denccs were allowed to home and attend to thor po-
tical duties; most Ihe 30 in his department who
attended the Syracuse Convention had occurred regular
tons there were only II New-York Custom officers
Albany, far as be knew; he did not know o any any
that the CustomhOuse men who went to Syracuse did
Sna TO cs' OSnea m a ers Sn
large delegation Of Customs officials at Syracuse, and
they We're simply preventing persons not delegates
from gaining Admission 20 the Hall lie freely avowed
II believe" he said that the friends Adminrtr.
ton in Office on all proper times and occasions do what
| they can 10 sustain the Administration
POLITICAL PRESCRIPTION AND FAvoRITlsM.
Mr. Greeley testified that about 100 officials dis
missed, either because they Fonton men, an
example such might be; this had occurred since
Murphy was appointed Collector; the first change was
Murphy's appointment In place OF Mr. Grinnell /; the
latter not known DO Fenton man. bnt the former
was decided Conklins man Murphy was Known to bo
| wa; removed from office 10 make room for Grnne
While Cornell was retained Surveyor; Gen Palmer. a
tpinHol Who was about half and naf, was inaly re,
moved from the Naval Office 10 make way for decided
eqa nf M
ts Mr. n bad n%a
whtclaw Reid testified to large Number OF removals
solely for 1acOns ASng os EoSs Mr nSS
In the Naval Olce who removed against Mr.. Grin
except that he would not act with inc Murphy faction
Geo H. Van Cleft was aso suspended from his position
Was re9nred by an order from Secretary boutwell, to
tent cfcers Mossrs Forbes Contant, and Nash solely
because they failed 10 vote IN accordance with Mr. Muir
phys wishes. Mcssrs Waldorf and sizer, Examiners.
were also removed for failure TO codporac with the
Custom house faction. On tho other hand Charles H.
Heiser sampler OF liquors In the Appraisers Depart
| ment appointed the recommendation Of Charles y.
Spencer and dismissed for dishonesty by Gen. Palmer
was promptly appointed to place Ia the Custom house
| BY Collector Murphy.
| A RAsCALLY WEIGHER-POLIrICAL ASSESSMENTS.
Gen. Palmer testified to a proposition from james NJ
| Thompson. at that time Harbor Master 10 aid In
making money out OF the merchants by corrupt OF
PaRers powers IN the matter Of allowances damaged
goods Thompson said that the amount that could be
obtained by giving large allowances Of damage would
greatly increase my salary, and If would arrange with
him and let him 20 the importers and arrange with
them ho would divide the amount that would be obtained
rejected tho proposition. and communicated the facts
TO tho Secretary OF the Treasury through friend OF
mine but Thompson subsequently appointed weigher
| in spite OF my protest"
James Elliott testified that while he In the employ
Of wegher Thompson HE "paid political
OF $b ont Of 81 received this just before election
Thompson collected IS piece from dowu there hc
was up for Office IN Assembly District and had to he
elected at all hazards be took gang roughs up there
armed with clubs TO intimdate voters; they die nj
belong the district at ALL they all voted there except
| tho foreman and they carried the election" James
| Klley also employed by Weighcr Thompson, testified
that ie told by Thompson that he must contribute
IS towards election purposes; Thompson told mo he
was taxed himself aud e supposed IT right TO tax
ali his men think would have lost the job II had
| NOT paid the money" weigher Thompson, wheD exam
| ined denied the assertions Of Gen Palmer.