Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-19
CUSTOMIIOUSE CORRUPTION.

New YORK, Jan. 1S.-The committee oi
Investigation Of the Customhouse frauds
had Collector Arthur before them this
morning. He denied having had any con.
sultation with Collector Murphy and au.
other at which an attempt was made to in
duce an election inspector to sign false
election returns.
& Pulasky, cigar dealer, testified that two
and half dollars a case was charged fol
the general ordering Of his cigars, also as to
losses of his cigars.
o, B. MattiSOn sent communication
from Utica, requesting permission TO sub,
NIT, by affidavit, which was refused. Mat
tison intimated that the letter presented to
the committee on which the subpoena was
issued for his attendance, had been received
by him at Utica, but Senator CaSserly pro-
duced evidence, showing that MattisOn was
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel when the sub
pHna was issued.
BY party vote a letter of Beckwith's
was admitted as evidence denying the state
ment in the testimony Of Greeley that
Beckwith's vote had been Influenced at the
Syracuse Convention by COnkIiug.
A table Of statistics showing imports, per
centage Of collection, etc, was sent in by
Collector Arthur.
Surveyor Cornell testified that he has
been at every State Convention for ten
years. There were six officers Of the Gus
tom House at the Convention Of 1871 as
delegates. Probably forty or fifty Custom
House officers were there not delegates.
In his opinion no Custom House patronage
was used to control the State Convention Of
1871. GTeeley's statement that a hundred
lI,rrga
is incorrect.
Witness was handed notice, said to have
been posted in The CustomhOuse, calling on
clerks TO pay half per cent Of their salaries
for the past year, and signed by Murphy.
He pronounced it a forgery. He admitted
that there was a contribution for political
purposes last fail. The officers paid about
two per cent on their salaries, but he said
it was al voluntary, and the officers felt a
pride in paying 10 support the party. Has
never known a man turned ont for non
payment, though some ten per cent object
or decline from inability or disinClinatiou.
Witness, in reply to questions from Sena-
tor Baynard, said that VIM. Case, one Of
his inspectors, was arrested On an accusa-
tiOn for allowing a cargo to be transported
TO the railway without examination, was
indicted and lailed, and was removed to
another position under Murphy.
At the night session Of the CustomhOu use
Committee, Luther @. Till0ttson, importer
of telegraph wire, testified that he received
$40 bundles Of wire per steamer, in October
last, which were three days in the general
order store. 1t was billed Sl2g.26
for cartage and storage. He went to
his friend, the Surveyor, and protested
against the eXactiOn, and by General
Arthur's Intervention Subsequently he bill
was reduced to SI0l &c, which was still four
times as much for labor and three times as
much for storage as first-class bonded
warehouses charge. Through fear Of gene
raj order charges there has been paid sums
TO inspectors to detain goods on the pier.
He arranged to pay S25 to an inspector to
detain his goods that came by the city OF
Washington on the 9th Of January. j. c.
Bloomfield, who has stores on Dey street
told him he paid an inspector in q similar
way.
Mr.. Howe moved for q subpoena for
Bloomfield, and an order TO bring up the
Inspector who took the SO.
A long debate followed. Mr.. Bayard
protested that the inquiry would be blocked
II gentlemen giving testimony Of corruption
were to be embarrassed by bringing UT
officers TO Tefute them. The Committee
were not trying the officers but nquiring
into the system.
Mr.. Tilottson stated that it was with re-
luctance he stated the facts, for il wouId
bring on him and other merchants the
odiUm of the officers.
On a vote, the motion of Howe was car
RED, and the committee adjourned.