The Democratic advocate., 1872-01-27
The New York Custom House Frauds

The editor Of the New York Nation thas
summaries the results of the last week inves-
tigadon o. the frauds in the New York Gus
tom House:
The investigation into the affairs Of the
New York Custom House has continued du-
ring the week, and the evidence s too yolu-
minrus to attempt any summary Of 1t. The
general result, thus far, may be said to show
that the merchants are divided 10 opinion as to
the merits OF the general-order system that
there are abuses in u, as In all other depart
nents, but Of comparatively small magnitude,
the greatest Of all being The uss Of the business
TO bsstow valuable sineeures on political par
usans, who do no duties and pretend to do
none. Think ofa position in the gift Of 4
Republican President which enables a man to
pocket from $50, 900 to 100000 a year Of
money levied on New York merchants, while
living in Warrington, Europe, or where he
pleases, without the performance OF single
act, beyond the appointment of deputy or
partner, and which an army officer has held
under General Grant while drawing Govern
mont pay as a clerk in the War Department.
There was nothing more scandalous than this
under the old regime in France. This SGO, 600
or SlOO, 900 ought, OF course, either To go into
the Treasury or not be levied at all. There
has alec been an Overwhelming amount of ev-
idenee as to the grossness OF the corruption
which prevails among the weighers, apprais-
ers, and inspectors, and, indeed all other OIL
GERS who come into contact with passengers
and Importers, and can bestow fayors or inact
annoyance aud delay also, US to the general
employment Of Custom House officers Ia elec-
| tioneering work, aud as TO the use OF the pa
tronage for political purposes, now to defeat
the Democrats, then the Rentonites, and so on.
| The testimony OF one witness, Mr. Van
/ Cleft, who was dismissed from the position Of
surveyor in the Brooklyn Navy Yard at MUIR
| phys instance, showed that, as We have all
along asserted, the President, while receiving
with proper JUNCTION the report of the Civil
| Service Commission describing the shocking
abuses OF the service, was supporting Murphy,
| as representative OF the Administration" In
this city, in decapitating" such officers as
Murphy selected TOR removal, either as his
| personal eneinies, or as enemies Of the Adm in
islration, and otherwise supporting that
worthy mau TO the fullest extent ia commit
ting the very outrages which the Commits
sion was denOuncing. Van Cleft, though not
subordinate OF Mnrphy's, was removed on
his mere nod, because he opposed him in
ward politics; and the President refused him
hearing. Its proved, moreover, that the
leyying Of assessments for political purposes
continued In full fOree under Murphys rule,
having reached in his day pitch OF efficiency
aud produc tiysness unknown before. We
hnd, however, that we were 10 some degree
mistaken as to the nature Of the Mysterious
Power which sent " the papers" levyiug the
assessments to the Custom House. Whatever
y may have been in Mr. Grinnel's day, in
hurphy's, Il nHw appeara, it was the illustri.
Gus Tom" hmself--hesh, blood, and bones.
so late as November last he levied two per
cent on the salaries Of the clerks, presumably
Tor election purposes, but he did not deign 10
say for what, any more than the Grand Duke
OF heckienburg- -Schwerin deigns to tell his
/ subjects what becomes Of their taxes; and be
levied by common order, without the aid Of
an invisible hand, nocturnal apparitions, or
any other ghosuy apparatus. This has been
brought to light in coinical way, by the
commencement Of u suit against Murphy aud
Cornell, The snrveyor, by one Shean. an ex-
inspector, who paid the assessment, but was
nevertheless dismissed, and would now like
to have bis money back.