Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-17
CUSTOMHOUSE CORRUPTION.
Dent, Porter, BabcOek, Etc.

New YORK, Jan. 16.-At the Custom
| houseinvestigation this morning afidavits
from the Appraiser were received in dis
proof of the charge that the case belonging
to II. b. Clafin 81 Co., was not robbed
while in the Department. A letter was
read from John Jacob Rabmeau stating that
for having fearlessly testified before Patter-
sons Investigating Committee year ago
he heard he was to be removed from his
inspectorship. He also learned that he was
reported for receiving a bribe Of fifteen
dollars, whereas the $l5 was for extra SER
vices.
1t was decided to hold night sessions
hereafter at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. d 81
II. B. Clafin testified that he. had no fault
to find with the seizure business. Had no
personal knowledge of the case of his
goods that were opened. Believed the for
mer general order system should be re-
stored.
B.F. Mudgett frequently heard, during
his ten years service, of officers receiving
gratuities. Merchants stated to him that
| they paid inspectors for sending good
| quickly TO the general stores. Mudgett sale
he had counselled Grinnell to resist the
| disgraceful system of permitting adventu-
rers from Washington to get all the plums.
! Grinnell said he should. About that time
! Louis Dent, brother-in-law of the President,
| waited on Grinnell to give the general Or
der of carriage business to certain party.
That party consisted of Gen. Porter, Leet,
Lindsay, and others.
Gen. Porter afterwards come on to Grin
nell and gave an order to send goods to
Bixley's store, Bixley having arranged with
! Porter IL Co. BiXley told witness he paid
! Leet $1,000 per year. Leet was then on
! Grants staff and remained at Washington
| year after the arrangement. At the end
! of the year Leet Il Co. got the general order
! business. Subsequently Gen. Porter told
witness, in Washington, that neither HIM
| self, Babcock or Leet had anything to do
! with anything in the New York Custom
house, and explained Leet's attempt to get
| business by means Of the Presidents letter.
Senator Casserly-And all this time how
| long had Col. LeSt been receiving five
thousand a year ont of the general order
! business?
| Answer-Something about year. W.T.
! ness said Leet & Co. must be making $780,,
| 600 to 100000 year clear profit out Of
! the general order of business. Officers con-
| neCted with the compromise cases also make
outside of government pay. The political
! assessments of the CustOmhOuse are still
! continued. The payments were mostly
! made through fear Of removal.
! Henry C.. Lake testified that he was
! weigher under Grinnell, but was removed
| by Murphy; that worthless clerks were de-
tailed to assist him, though the service rem
! dered their employment unnecessary. Said
| he had paid assessments on three occasions
amounting to S110.
Christopher Pullman, cabinet-maker, was
! next examined as to what he knew of
! primary in the 18th district in the fall of
1870. He was one of the candidates for
| President of the Association. Was Gus
! tOmhouse clerk, and refused tickets from
parties known to be his (PullmaS's) friends.
| The inspectors got their backs between
| him and the table, and, as he thought, they
put tickets into the box without count. The
! inspectors were JOhE +. Lawrence, clerk
in the naval Office; Josiah +. Thompson, in
| charge Of a pOstOffice station; and Allan j.
Dennis, assistant assessor Of internal reve-
nue.. 1t is notorious fact that the Gus
tOmhOuse officers are used throughout the
city for political purposes, and that the
| clerks hold office by fidelity to the power
that appoints them. He believes the power
of the Collector would be used to control
party issues. He has heard of aninSpectOr
of an election in 1871 being offered $500 by
Murphy to carry another prima mary
Chas. S. Grant, Clerk in the Appraisers
Department and at present reporter and
correspondent for the prses, stated that his
friend Terry, Custom House emplOye told
him of having been offered promotion in
January by son Of Arthur, Murphy and
60. 60 ,,F,
elections that was repeating at the election
that was one Of inspectors, and that he
finally signed the returns in December; he
also told the witness the returns were fraud
ulent, and that the pressure on him TO sign
them was made by Arthur, Murphy and
Howe.
Decamp. lawyer formerly employed in
the Naval office, testified to being removed
by an order from Washington after Muir
phys appointment, and as he understood,
on representations sent to Boutwell, by
Murphy. Grinnel, the naval officer, gave
him notice, stating at the same time that he
was one of the best and efficient officers and
as good Republican as there was. Wit
ness said he was President of the DIST dis
trict Republican Association, and refused to
give persons appointments designated by
Murphy as election inspectors.
The committee then adjourned to meet
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where they will
hold day and night sessions.
o, Shame! Where is Thy Blush?
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-There is no
foundation to the rIrmors that the officers
on duty at the Executive Mansion will re-
sign on account of reports from the Custom
house investigation,