The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-02


The Custom House Committee met again yester-
cay morning at ten O'Clock, Senator Howe who was
absent the day previous, showing up In his usual
place.
A long discussion was entered into IN regard TO
the examination OF Generals Porter ana Babcock.
senator Howe desired 1t to take place III Washing
ton, and made IL motion to That effect. Senators
Bayard and Casserly opposed 1t with some warmth,
and 1t was finally carried by strict party vote OF
sour to TWO.
A. De L. Rogers sworn-We had a cargo OF coal
coming to this port; on arriving an inspector ap
preached me and sad my bin OF lading only con.
tanned 40 tons, whereas in reality there were 126
sons he offered TO Tx it so that should only be
charged at the former rate il would let hlm and
Two other friends OF his nave load OF coal each;
he SAID they wanted the and could TX it easily;
j objected, but he frequently came round to
me ara asked, 'Iiave you determined to
do thatf' adding, 'you had better do SOL
and such like expressiOns this occurred on pier No.
~ East river, in Mr.. ThOmpson's district; / know
ne was goverDment inspector, though did not
see nm have any badge; when he made me the
sner Mr. Miller, the weigher, ana The private
weigher were prcsent that invoice was never actu.
ally weighed by a United states Official; the meas.
urement was altogether taken by private weiaher;
%
Briggs, OF New Haven, who was receiving q con-
signment OF gas coal; he refused, ana wnen
Ms return was completed he ascertained that the
amount he received was six per cent less that was
stated III the invoice; GU another occasion had
another offer irou an inspector 10 be allowed to go
ON board sup oeiore the permit was made out II
gave him u ton OF coal; tbs, believe, customary
fol the inspectors 10 take The city Weigber's
weights and not weigh lhlngs themselves; the coal
lspoke OF at first was English cannei coal, worth
about fl2 20 per ton IN gold; could not say what
articles they usually pass without weighing; the
only ones know Of are coal md sulphur
John q. Hopper, sworn-Am the Secretary OF the
Nanonal Revenue Reform Association, a political
organization for the correction or abuses connected
with the tariff; can say nothing positively Of my
own knowledge regard TO the passage OF dutia-
ple articles lila passengers luggage frec but can
supply Inc committee with n list Of gentlemen VINO
could swear TO the i.cts. Mr.. Hoppe proceeded TO
make a similar offer in regard TO many other
abuses which have been already fully ventilated IN
she cOmmittee lie complained also OF the dscour
tesy some of The demands or payment of duties
made by The custom House. In crosse SaminatlOn
as 70 the society which he represented he said that
II mad been organized by himself and number of
merchants. and that "a thousand names OF mer-
chants were now on tnelr books Including among
others, Arnold Constable, Il. >. Jaffay, Setn u.
Hunt and Mr.. James TOT Phelps, Dodge II COY The
supscripuo1s were collected py himself and ap-
piled to any pressing purposes: had never written
20 merchants Tor money 10 influence legislation IN
Washington, but had got funds TO go Oh there
himself, and lay facts before the committee ana,
vi course, his hotel bills had been betrayed by the
association, as The could not live upon ARR the
association had existence about eight
mOnins, ana during nat Time about $1,000 or S. 900
had been coected; pecuniarlJ the ASSOCIATION
had mol been very advantageous TO him; he had
no hxed salary, but collected what ne
could; most oil the tuEds mad been absorbed
nv necessary expenses, clerk hire rent, &C |:
ne had been III the appraisers department
under MIR. Smythe, and had been legfsiated out or
once, and had been refused position afterwards,
1tlsaW la m
Of Mr.. McCuocn 10 an abuse OF the Custom House;
he attributed many q the fraudulent claims In con-
necti0n Win damaged goods TO errors OF policy In
the tariff, and specifically alluded TO a number OF
alterations that IN his Judgment were necessary in
the tarlfl law THIS evidence was OF course alto
gether outside the protested objects or the invesli
gaiion but The efforts OF the chairman 10 prevent
rne witness Tying or at tangent into these mat.
tiers were altogether valn
4 Francis NJ. IixDy sworn-nave been in the ware
house business since 1906; ut That time | had the
general order business and continued to have 1t
until 1906, when IL was transferred 10 Meyer
smith: had small portion OF 1t under Mr. Smythe
but lost all under Mr.. Smythe; IN 1869 | got the
business again, acquiring interest through sir.
Leet General flilyer and Mr.. Leet called on me at
my residence In May, 1859, anu we had general
conversation reference this BUSINESS; no pro.
position was made to me, and, though Mr. Leet said
BUSINESS: / next met MIR. Leet at Mr.. Lind
says store In John street by appointments:
had not known MI. Lindsay previousiy this paper
1.-THE agreement producedl was written by Mr. Leet,
and assented TO II; by this arrangement was to
give MIR. Leet as the party controlling the general
PAYABLE monthly; there is profit upon the carriage,
labor and storage; this money was to be given for
aucled by Mr.. Leet, but Mr. Lindsay mad some
hand In It; ] continued 10 pay tins sum until July,
1870, when the agreement expired; then lost the
business, because colonel Leet wanted Inc 10 pay
more Tor IT, and l could not DO II; Colonel
Lest put no money IN the business, land and
TO get 1t for me; | think | made some pay
ments TO him through Mr. Lindsay. but the
checks were usually sent 10 the War Department.;
don't Know Colonel Leet got the business or
what influence ne brought TO bear; supposed at
first that he was Il Iea,lye OF General Grant, but
learned Afterwards that he was not there IS no
good reason why general ORDER charges should be
ment with Colonel LeeL was based upon an esti-
mate or forty cents labor torty cents carriage and
forty cents storsge-about one-thlrd higher than
the rates fixed by the Chamber oil Commerce;
would he very glad to have the entire business at
ninety cents total Charges FOR each package, and
consider tie crowdlng OF goods INTO TWO
stores, as at present Us very great great
be great Improvement If general order
stores were established near the landing
pier Oh eacn line OF steaneTS the charges Tor storage
IN general order warehouse ought 10 be less Than
IN bonded warehouse, because the goods are
USED several Times each month; presume MIR. Grin
nell must have known OF my arrangement with
Colonel Leet; should tnlnK that at present, with
the entire business, Leet stocking ought 90 make
between $4,000 and $4,000 year; a.ter, paying
Colonel Leet very little profit renamed to me; I
could not say exactly now mucn; the total profit
storage was under $4,000 year; during the year 1
had the business from Colonel Leet the average
charge was 81 20 PACKAGE do not think that was
an unreasonable charge; inink ninety cents would
be sufficient charge at present because the busi-
ness Is now so much larger; the volume OF business
Is now very much greater, while rent and ex-
penses would not be very much higher.
q We're there any unpleasant feelings between
you and Colonel Leet when he took away the
business from you A. None III the least; we are
ON good terms sui; IN regard 10 unclaimed
packages. | think when the case IS found 70 con-
tain straw or other worthless matters there Is more
likelihood OF the goods having been stolen some
where else tDan In the general order stores; nave
heard OF allegations being made that they have
stolen In the general order stores; there nave
always been complaints about general order stores,
and the only remedy for IL Is 10 divide up the
business among "A number OF stores ana 10 let
competition keep down the rates 10 fair
rate; should thlnk IT would be very bad plan
10 lei me steanahin lines have geneIal order