The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-04
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
First Meeting Of tho Investigating Committee
Examination Of Witnesses Fairly
Under Way-The Unreasonable Extor-
ton of the General Order Business

The Senate Investigating Committee appointed to
take evidence In reference to the alleged abuses OF
the Custom House and make q report thereupon
met yesterday for the first time at eleven O'CLOCK
In the rooms OF the Collector. But little work was
done yesterday, though the session was long one
and did not adjourn until hal.past TWO O'CLOCK.
The committee consists OF Governor Buckingham.
of Connecticut, chairman; Senators Howe, OF Wis
consin; Pratt Of Indiana; Stewart, of Nevada;
Bayard, OF D2laware, and Casserly, Of California.
The first business transacted was the question
OF whether reporters should or should not be
admitted This was debated with some warmth
for ten minutes or quarter OF an hour, but finally
q decision was rendered In favor OF according the
privilege General Arthur was also invited to take
seat at the table, and became therefore, as 1t were
an er-oDsoto member OF the committee.
The first witness called was Mr.. James, who
stated that he was general order clerk and had
charge Of the general order ONCE, and was pre-
pared to produce all books and papers in reference
thereto MIR. James was warned that he would soon
be required and must hold himself in readiness for
examination.
Mr.. Clark. the Deputy Collector, in answer to the
committee, stated that full and exact record was
kept OF all Official proceedings OF the Custom House.
Mr.. d. G.. Jayne testified that he was special
agent OF the Treasury; he was sorry that
to-day he must depart for Boston, but ne was
Wiling to give the committee every Information In
his power; he had assisted at several inquiries and
are seven agents beside himself in New YORK; Il is
spscai agsnSy serycs Giyidea into sixteen as
this district but he did not belong to Colonel
Howes department.; the charges are preferred in
cases where false weight ad other fraudulent prac-
tlces are discovered ana on which duties are due
to the governments the District Attorney informed
Of each case and warrant for the goods PLACED In
the same that passed the Custom House; this Is done
by marks and the entry In the books the District
some othcla connected yitp TIE Custom House; the
1ss applied S 1sS s 81 At5, SteS 1ss R s
BOOKS 's and papers connected s With the case
The Custom House claim less than $500 are ra
quently settled by compromise but the witness
ss Ss;T ssss sss s aa Saas
value Of the struggled goods il inofe than the whole
course, In sucn case compromise Is effected; the
Collector, Surveyor and Naval Olcer have power to
arrange cases where the sum Is under $500; there
are three ways IN coming 10 settlement: first, by
the COurt second, parties confess Judgment for the
amount; third upon application to the secretary OF
the Treasury or making an orer 10 make comprO-
MIR. Rudolph Neustadt was the next Witness
ping broker, and that about the 9Th of November
he received at HOboken, by steamer Main, from
Bremen, three small packages ABOUT feet
by Or feet; they were taken to tho General
Order once ana Left there; two days afterward one
Of the packages was sent Tor and 81 so
paid for the storagej week after the
other packages were sent for, when IS
was demanded for the storage; the witness applied
to Mr.: Williamson Deputy Collector, and Mr.. Rus.
sell, Storage Agent, but botn gentleman said That
the charges were oil right; the Witness could not
see any reason for such 0vercharges and therefore
made Complaint; the 81 SO ana SIS were charged for
leaving the steamer the boxes were placed
on the dock and examined by the Custom
House officer; not having o permit for them
In his BOOK he marked them &c. on
and the cartman coming up took them to the gen
era Oruer oice; after this witness called and paid
for them stated before; such cases were not un.
common; mauy merchants complained Of these un-
reasonable cXortions; witness had been In his
present business ten years.
The investigation was then adjourned until ten
O'Clock this morning.