New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-06

o. Do Won believe that It extends throughout the en-
IL extends TO our Office Internal Revenue. know
nothing about the Post0hicc Department. . ~
O. DO you believe that Department 10 exempt n Nv
O. Do Won believe the officers Of the Customhouse are
used for party purposes A. believe the ac' 10 ho'oi
@ DO you believe can hold office in the New,
York Customhouse and be independent IN the expression
Of his views party mattersf A. On the contrary,
know he cannot retain his place II tho irenn "no n'
asked for his appointment is independents In 'ne
sion OF his views. 49,,
Q. Then he is a vicariOus sacrificed lISughterJ A.
O. Have you known efficient and worthy oincers als-
what Won have mentonedi A. cannot say positively
believe It rumOr, and on information -. .Ao,.
tcSe Of ONCE Is submission to the win OF the dominant
faction Of the party in Power A. Ye 81 mot oa ay Se
they have appointed don't think any one can us
Your party advocates the principles OF the Repnb
can paTtyf A. Yes, Sir; always have BEEN
PROFITS OF THE DETECTIVES.
O. Have you ever had your attention as a journalist
attracted the large amount OF gains obtained by ue
tective oficersi A. Simply in a general way; have
tried occasions TO get the particulars OF cases
in which such said have taken place. tho
special agent OF the Treasury some deputy under MIN
discovers that fraud has been detected on the
he goes 10 the merchant whoever he may DC VINO mas
detected the fraud aud let's him know he has obtained
the knowledge; he then demands share OF the prohs
fSe a%ssins in 1t t ' G}y common that
@ s g ars t tee ~ eeea aee% and e de-
eciiVe are compromised in that manner, and are coy
cred mp by payment made into the private pocket Of the
agent his deputy have no evidence to support ths'
but only suggest the fact. . .,
speca agents the fact OF their power 70 seize
without any preliminary OF any o.
that is one OF the conditions Of their successful opera
tons. l., .uhto, nm borest
and innocent merchant has been compelled to pay unar
threat Imprisonment aud seizure where DO wrong n5
such instances and yet cannot call to mind any lhhs;
only know there have been such cases bo vas
O. Can YOU give the name OF the person VINO was
asked to apply for return OF duties on railroad ren Oh
A. The house OF J. 9. Kennedy 4 Company, one OF the
leading houses Of this city, and the 1act Was So
Gated 10 me by Mr. Kennedy, the head OF the Tn IN re
ury think some light will be obtained by an eXhnna
or six weeks ago in the United States Court, IN wch
one these agents who acted In great case Oh Ia
an1 vas brnchf 10 testify that he himself had been
slayerader and smugger and felon guilty OF some
other crimes and that he had passed immediately from
arrest az suugger into the service OF the Cneu S'aeS
as a special detective. ~ C,,
ernInent vet A. have not heard Of his removal ne
was in the service and was continued IN whe uhueE u
o. What was the name of that case \. cannot re-
member IT, but can find the record OF the case AUG can
correct the statements am Informed by unlnpeaet9
authority that mistaken In saying the agent was
in tho Customs service TO have been III the
general service Of the United States Tor the uetecuon
0fcounterfeters at least lie 10 useu III 'h"'
the present time.
Mr. Pratt-Q wish TO inquire Of you, Mr. Lewis how
many Customhouse officials are c0nnect1u %s'H ,"if
business of Inspecting tne Daggage VI p"S'ouSoi' q"
do not know; very large number
PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY.
O. Where is the practical difficulty in correcting the
abuse or which you speaki is there any difficulty in lind
ing honest put in that place A. Yes, Sir think
there Isl think there is a difficulty in finding men who
are beyond being tempted at the pay which the Surveyor
is able TO give those inspectors.
O. Do yOu know what the pay OF that class OF inspect
ors isl A. have known, but forget; even forget
whether they are paid by the day OF by the oO cannot
@ Did understand to say to the Committee that
political characteri A. That is my understanding Of
O. without any reference to the personal fitness of the
ap5oned for the place and business A. should say
without sufficient reference; yes, Sir.
O. Let me ask you then 10 explain how It happens that
there are now officials in the Custom house here whose
down. A. suppose there is difficulty in accounting
for fact SO necessary in Regulating great institution
cal branches Of work whose services are absolutely
cessary and who must be retained from year to year
sneak Of the common OF officers, who changed
with every political Administration rs is notorious
speak Of political dSI tbo, t class %
officials inspectors OF 6ageage are rotated out of office
NeyTYork which have heard so often that presume
every one here heard it, that the office of Inspector
Office senator Of the United states and have heard
some say that 10 is harder to get.
O. DO you know what number Of inspectors are em
ployed IN the Custom house A. no Sir DO not know;
| nj a
that Is my impression and II Is very vague impression
at best.
Treasury which states that there 2s9 inspectors at
thus port beside inspecresses; they get com
nd the spectresses Of s7es the salary Of an inspector
is therefore, about S4O0 81 300 year; is not that
salary high enough 20 in that class OF the
vice so that he would he above tcmptationl A. That
salary should consider low Tor such respOn
sble duties and utterly insufficient 10 protect man
from pecunary temptation.
@ Is your opinion then that that the fault is in the
putting the compensation OF that
so low A. should think very desirable for the COM
pensatOn TO be raised but II 10 that the terms
compensation the compensation looks inadequate, aud
yet the office is very much sought, aud that fact alone
which is not included in the salary.
FRAUDS IN REBATES AND COMPROMISES
O. You spoke Of the amount of duties that was eunded
damaged goods and great abuses in thst-can you
state to Committee what amount OF duties or about
what amount refunded for damaged goods during
the last fiscal year, \. No, sir; at ALL have no
knowledge the subject; account Of the remark
made by Secretary Boutwell, at that time which
have already cited, suspended all inquiries The sub
iect he having told that was engaged in am invcs
figaton which believed would devTloD AM the fcts
much more satisfactorily than could do.
O. You spoke OF compromises. Can q COMPROMISE Ice
effected after seizure has been made or suit nsnteJ
without the consent OF the Solicitor OF the TTeasuryi
made without the formal approval Of the Solicitor
seizure has not BEEN reported TO the office OF The btr
Attorney. apprelend no difficulty in making private
although, OF course, az uplpwfUl compromise.
WHO LEvIEs ASSESSMENT
@. Now in relation TO assessments made upon en- !
poyes the Customhouse by what authority are these
assessments made A. They made, as understand
IT, by the authority OF the Committee which, for the time
being, represents the party organization aud administers
the funds.
q. A Committee that is raised inside Of the Custom
house, among the CusOm-hOuse officials a. | believe
IL has not been usual TO raise that committee within the
C1stom-house until very recently