The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-01-07

cided Conkling nor Fenton man. The
heads of bureaus, collector, appraiser, am
naval officer set to work 10 make removals
Of subordinates.
Q.-You are resident Of New-York n
long time, / believe?
A.-Yes; over 40 years.
Q.-ls 1t new thing in York poll
itics for office-holders to use their patron
age TO assist their party2
A.-No; not to act against the opposite
party; but 1t is different as concerning the
opposition Of one faction against another
within the same party. 1 do not know Of
the custom-house interest being exerted to
any such extent as since Mr.. Murphy be-
came collector. AT the convention in
1868, witness believed he was nominated
as a candidate for governor, but was de-
fcated by the Conkling men. The custom
house influence was first felt at the con-
vention of 1870. Mr.. Murphy, the col
lector, then practically decided the ques-
ton OF the candidate of governor in favor
of Mr. Woodford, but the trial of strength
between the Conkling and Fenton parties
was on the appointment of temporary
chairman.
Senator Howell Is your experience
.hat every otiiceholder under every party
felt himself as free to take part in con.
ventio nsas if they were not Office
holders
A.-No ] am pretty sure Mr.. Grinnell
did not make himself prominent while
collector, though when private indvid-
ual he was very active and prominent in
our conventions.
Q-Werc Mr. Merritt and Mr. Conk.
ling less active in politics when in the
custom-house than before?
A - Decidedly, as regards our diff
ferences between ourselves the in
Auence Of the custom-housc was used
to control the two last conventions.
and about 80 custom-house officials,
including the collector and naval
officer, were assembled at Albany. ! do
not know who does the business of these
officers in their absence. ! have informa-
tion that Mr.. Murphy used regularly TO
assess his employees per cent, for polt:-
cal purposes, and believe it. | under
stand an assessment Of per cent was
made the other day TO get up serenade
to Mr.. Murphy. Laughter. A party
within party controls the patronage for
their own benefit. Before Mr.. Murphy
become collector, the offices were about
fairly divided between the two factions,
but after his appointment the officers were
coerced and alarmed into concedng to the
views of the dominant faction. / know
one federal officer, Mr.. Samuel Maddox,
deputy collector, who, l believe does not
reside here. / think il is q very great
public misfortune when an officer must 90
out because one party comes in and another
goes out still more when an officer must
90 out on q matter of difference of hue
within party. | am informed, as stated
in Il leading article in my paper, that
many gentlemen would freely give evj-
dence to the committee if It's session
were in another place who would be deter.
red by fear of personal retaliation from
coming here.
To Senator Casserlv--I believe Mr.
Alvand would have beaten Mr. Smith BY
/ IA votes for the speakersb.r but for fedora
/ ofiiceholders controlling the legislativ,
organization. have heard the general
| order business complained os. One office
4 Of the custom-housn complained 20 m,
that he had 10 pay an assessment of $40 &
the serenadc of cX-Collectol Murphy
The witness added that he believed tn
question of the reelection of Gen. Gran
had something to do with the removal
, f.o." tbo ouetVu-hCusc.
! In reply TO Mr.. Howe, the witness CAV
an instance of how the public service
sacrificed to the interest Of faction
showing that men had been let off duty t
mingle in party politics, and that men al
appointed who are very useful as baI
room politicians. but good for nothing q
government cfficials.
To Senator Howe-I believe Generi
Porter and Mr. Babcock were sharing tn
proceeds of the general-order busines
Ny informant is Mr.. Chas. A. Lamon
l24 West Thirty-fourth street, and
mentioned to me the name of VI. Lindsay
who knew something about it.
To the Chairman-I believe there ar
men employed in the custom-house VIII
are not valuable public servants.
wouldn't like to mention their names, a
it would be only my judgment. believ
there are employees here latterly than ther
used to be.
NJ. Greeley when asked whether
made any difference TO man where h
gave his testimony, if it was all to be pull
lished in the newspapers, said he believe
it would. Gentlemen would volunteer
testify if the session was held elsew here.