The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-17

as there was delay with his goods he went down 10
clerk was such as to leave no DOUBT OF the latter
expecting gratuity IN order to pu; the Things
once threatened tine clerk that II lie dld not have
his permn Immediately he would report him al
Q. WHAT Is The name Of that gentleman A.
would rather not say; we 90 not ike 10 get the III
WIN OF these fellows; they have power to give us
q. But IN TINS case bOldness mad the good effect OF
procuring the permlt-why should not II nave me
same ef1ect upon every other rasCal2 A. 40 not
know; these rascals have great power tney can
delay our goods Just az they please; we do not like
The witness was then questioned in regard to the
general order business lie thong ut that every bonded
well, though all these stores should he on this side
Of the nver 50 as TO AVOID the delay OF crossing the
Christopher Pullman. having been sworn, tcsti-
ned IN regard to the primary election IN the twenty
made MAJ against M Mr. Thompson and Diners lie
thought there MAD been loul play against nimseil
He then tessnsd 10 regard to the general afairs Of
the Custom House as 1Ohows-BliDing clerks IN the
Custom House IS quite as s nSc v INC aSs Of sne
ment merchant handed note over my desk con-
tanning $40 pill; he SAID, rnere's refund due 70
ms OF $40; there hns been mistake IN our bust.
| ness;'' ! replied, ~ receive a salary from the
! government TO do certain duties and do not ex-
Dect to make more, out II this mistake nas really
been made will see To 1t without the Intervention
OF tins $40 olll clerk who was near my desk Tod
ire thai his salary was not nail or his Income; that
clerk rs not now in the Custom House.
q. Is tue Collector kely 10 hear Of this ~ stem OF
bribery A. NO, SIR; but am confident that there
IS a great deal OF this business donc-somenmes
done. however, ought say, To induce the clerks
business sucn transactiOns are necessarily secret
but they are matter OF common report.
o. DO you think that Mr. Van Celt would cheat
at an election A. never saw him cheat: could
not say more than that; ! thought that the M
1870, defeated me- these Inspectors were appointed
by Mr.. Van Cleft
O. From what you know Of the employe s OF the
Custom House what do You think would happen to
clerk II he accused merchant OF Al attempt to
pose the only way deciding IT would be by weigh
ing the crediDiity OF the witnesses; suppose that
would depend on the moral character O, the W.T.,
O. Do you think New York merchant would be
AFRAID to accuse Custom House CLERK OF malprac-
pressed. while large ones are not; II a merchant
hurt HIM with The other clerks; the CLERKS
merchant Could not md OFT. much less hinder;
hole ana let 1t lay there for hours until Custom
| House broker called him aside and persuaded"
merchant showed simseli determined to have MS
| rights the clerks would soon cease TO annoy him;
myself, If were merchant. would go to the Col
BY Senator BAYARp-At this primary election you
have spoken OF was the Collector presentY A. Yes,
| Sir; he was there and worked actively; l have 10
| doubt that the Collector mixes in tho politics OF
other districts than that In which ne lives and mat
the clerks Ia the Custom House hold their positions
simply by obeytng the wishes OF their 0flcal cnie-
| the instructions OI the Collector.
! O. Have you any knowledge OF money being
, exacted from Custom House officials Tor political
purposcsS A. 1t Is generally understood That that
money. nut replied that knew what to do with II;
l have no personal knowledge OF m0aey being used
have heard, however, that Collector Murphy gave
an inspector $500 In This last primary election 10
| II 40 int
pate In elections out OF tneir own district; have
| seen strangers at such elections who nave voted.
by SenaIOr PRATT-ln the particular election You
have alluded to you only Crmlnate the inspectors'
A. was told by credible man that Collector MIR
phy told him that he would rather pay $4,000 tllan
lose that election.
q. We're You removed when you refused to pay an
assessment A. No, Sir: but other men have told
that they nave been discharged FOR such causes;
when was clerk Mr.. Barney Collector, who
Collectors have done; Mr.. Murphy offered me
positions; he proposed That i should be made
Deputy Collector, ana offered TO turn out another
man to make place Tor me; after lie APP
pointed he sent telegram TO me; AT The interview
MS private room ne sa ne naa oua gn IN
! for me personally; declined, on the ground That
he could not we me gye al an appointment:
subsequently, q friend having suggested that
this was u mere political trick, called Oh Mr.. Muir.
| ply aud SAID had changed my mud ana would
accept the position OF cashier or auditor this was
to test his sincery he replied that ne could not do
that for me- but that he would give Inc place that
! would not take up much OF my time and would not
| necessitate my giving up my business; then said
that would not take place unless gave the gov
ernmenr full service; did not expect That Mr. MUIR
pny would turn the men out Of the places TO make
room for mel had heard that the auditor was not
competent; think there are Offices In the Custom
House which I could not take without great prepa-
ration, but could I'LL The place OF eilncr cashier or
| auditor.
respondent for the public press; was IN the custom
| House as inspector Of customs ana clerk IN the APP
| praisers Department; was appointed on the sd Of
July, 1862 and removed IN April, 1870; OH Tuesday,
tnlln fnrfs
Office ana met Mr. Perry, a friend OF mine, VINO had
been inspector In the primary election just alluded
| to; he told me that an arrangement had been made
! by Mr. Murphy, Mr. Arthur and Mr.. Haw, and That
he signed the credentials as they requested he was
inner ONCE, where the arrangement had been
made and mad said TO Perry, ats all right, sign
the credentials" Perry had replied, you
| Haw replied, ''That Is all rights" Perry also
told that there had been repeating ana That the
election had not been far and honest One Perry
also SAID to me that certain officers of the assoca-
ton had named HIM as one OF the inspectors 10 Mr.
Haw, and that Haw had appointed him very reiuct-
anty; Perry haa signed the credentials ON the 3otn
December; 1t was altogether unusual Tor the cre-
they are always signed the night OF elections; 1
made much the same statement That he did to me.
nave the names Of three otner parties TO Perry
.. do You Know anything about the Custom
House controlling the last two state Conventions
A. was ut the last syracuse Convention Convent there
cluding the Collector; the result showed thai they
succeeded IN controlling the Convention.
| ".
| that man went round with list for subscriptions;
| on pay day / was requested to paw and did so.
q. DO you know Of Custom House people control
| ling primaries with money! A i have been TOLD
| tnat Mr. Murphy offered Mr.. J. W. Thompson $500
to carry . primary IN the Twenty-1rst ward IN his
interest; it was carried by carrying strangers to the
primary from other districts and allowing them to
vote: there - no doubt that the Custom House IL
used for political purposes aud that ndelity to party
Is a much more important qualification for Ofnce
than efficiency; the State election OF 1870 Colonel
BLISS aud number OF Custom House officials acted
as United States marshals; Colonel Bliss ''run-
| nng the macnine" IN the Interest OF Ledwh; the
conduct OF some Of The Custom House people az the
syracuse convention was verv dlsgraceful; refer
! especially 10 tho men who guarded the door, COM
posed OF the captain OF the night watch; they
| dubbed several people severely.
| z. That was exerting q very positive lnnuenceY
A. Yes, sir, especially IN the case Of Mr. Lambrick,