Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-20
The New York ustOm. House Iuves
tig0tiOn.

The investigation OF alleged abuses in the
New York custon-hOuse was resumed this
afternoon by the Senate Committee on Inyss-
tigatoh and Retrenchment. Mr. Murphv de-
sired to correct some OF his statements made
yesterday The letter from Washington to hi IN
in regard to certain clerks in the custom house
acting with the democrats was not written nv
Gen. Porter, but by the Secretary of the Treas
uIy lie also desired to state that when he said
w. M. Tweed was unit to associate with repub-
iicans, he meant only in political sense.
during his cross-examinatiOn by Mr.. Cas-
serly, Mr.. Murphy stated that not over five or
six letters had ever passed between Gen. Por-
ter and himself; he spoke to Gen. Porter about
ten O'Clock last night about his (M's) testi.
money in which he stated that he had received
letter from Gen. p; Gen. Porter told him that
he never wrote such letter, and Mr. Bliss who
was present, stated that he knew that the letter
referred 10 came from Secretary Boutwell,;
witness sole desire in returning to the COM
mittee was TO make his testimony as
accurate As possible; witness was formerly
one OF the commission to widen Broadway:
never received any nay for his Ser vices In
this connection; his a. sOciates in the commits
sion were both democrats; the commission he
came unpopular alter he left it; his friend,
huRn Smlth, was afraid the commission would
60 intoJobbery, and wanted witness to 90 in II:
Tweed was never in his house nor he in weeds
had known i. seventeen years.
Mr.. Casserly here asked the witness II he had
reecmme nded Gen Arthur for collector of New
York, when Mr.. Pratt raised the point that MIR
murphy had been discharged as a witness; he
came here simply to correct his testimony on
several points, and he Mr.. Pratt thought the
continued cross examination Of Mr.. Casserly
was taking too much time.
Messrs. Casserly and Bayard complained that
Mr. Murphy's replies to the questions had been
"Vastve, and that had they been otherwise so
much time would not have been consumed
Mr.. Casseriy was finally allowed to mt the
question, and Mr.. Murphy stated that he had
recommended General Arthur for collector, and
had done all he could with others to secure his
appointment. Mr.. Murphy was then DISCHARGED
, MI; George N. Bliss was then sworn and stated
that ne regarded the investigation as An attack
on the admir- istration and his personal friends
and came before the committee TO do what he
could 10 defend both. He believed that he rem
resented many republicans in New York
At this point Mr.. Casserly desired the phono-
grapher TO read Mr.. Bliss statement. when MT
Pratt inquired ii he, Mr.. Cas- ;erly, hal hear,
MI Bliss. Mr. Casse-ly replied sharply that he
refused to answer that question
MI. Pratt-"Then object to the reading of
the testimony" "
Mr.. Casserly.-'Then have right n char
acteriZe the objection"
Mr.; Pratt.-"The testimony can't be read I'M
less the witness desires it,"
Mr.. Casserly.-sMr. Chairman, the Senator
from Indiana evidently mistakes his position on
this committee, and demand the reading of the
testimony"
Mr.. Buckingham, the chairman, decided that
the testimony might be read.