The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-17
NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
E1-COllectOr Murphy Tcstifying Before the
Senate Committee Of Investigation.

Business-Where Tammany's Downfall
Was Discussed - Why Horace
Greeley Was To Be Nominated
for Governor OF the State.
WASHINGTON, March TO- 1872.
The Senate New YORK Custom House Investt.
cation Committee met this morning.
TESTIMONY OF Ex-CoLLECroR MURPHY.
Ex.Collector Murphy, being sworn said:-He did
not now hold any public ONCE; he entered ON the
performance OF his duties as Collector of Customs
Of New York on the 10Th or 2lst Of July, 1862 and
they terminated on the LIST Of December last
Having replied to questions as to who had charge
OF the storage OF unclaimed goods or the general
order business, he said he had been IN office but
month or TWO when he closed Mason Co.'S store and
sent the goods to Leet Stockings store; he closed
the store OF Mason & Co. because report was
brought to him That goods were on the market and
being sold at very low price, and that they were
traced to that store; II was found after removing
and checking the goods that over two hundred bales
were on the Custom House books that were not In
the store. Mason then disappeared and has not
been IN New York since, 10 his knowedge;
ton with the Custom House officers;
there had been no consultation with the
ject-none outside the Custom House; none or the
parties above named ever used any influence with
nun; last IAN ne was IN a, Porter ana Babcocks
Boutwell, came in from room leading 10 the hail.
WHAT PRESIDENT GRANT SAID.
The President said 10 him:-"Mr. Murphy, there
Is so much noise and scandal about the young man
Leet, III connection with the general order
having been connected with me during
the war that l have come TO the
&c a Mr. s a 'sr On
Leet originated with the steamship company for the
purpose 6f getting the business themselves; in his
opinion Lect Stocking conducted the business
WELL and he did not fee! like giving way 10 the
steamship company; there was no order from
obligatory on the Collector to continue the storage
to Leet 4 Stocking; witness felt that he could
do what ne pleased on the subject
THE POLITICAL OFFENDERS REMOVED
On being lnterrogated on the subject Of removals,
General Republican committee, he said his lmpres.
sion was that owing to articles In the newspapers
the dictatlOn OF Tammany they were removed
Orders came from the Secretary OF the Treasury to
the Collector and Appraiser. and as he heard. to
the Postmaster, that II any members of the General
Committee had acted as the newspapers described
they should should be removed. If he himself ald
1t was not thought necessary to send him
one. Mr.. Van Cleft one OF the parties
in the Navy Yard and his removal was made at
the instance OF the secretary 0r the Navy. The
20 OF e eaT1es naS qy o. MIN
fluence OF Tammany before he made any removals.
Witness answer was made by letter, and he gave
the names OF those he knew to DE corrupt. Witness
had heard OF a man named COrrigan, but had no
possible reason for desiring his retention In the
service. The President never spoke 70 him about
Corrigan.
DISCUSSING THE DOWNFALL OF TAMMANY.
He remembered having an interview with General
Palmer IN the fall of 1870 In his office; they mad
talked pleasantly about politics, and suggested
united effort to crush out the Tammany Ring. He
that witness said he would mention the matter to
the President; Ne remembered q subsequent
was present with Palmer; the conversation
became general and he thought 1t turned
but one loea on that subject, and that was favor
able TO Horace Greeley out II he had his steps to
Greeiey's nomination would be Tor the best interest
OF the republican party; what Townley said about
Corrigan was absurd, entirely untrue and made out
or whole CLOTH
COLLECTING THE POLITICAL TAX.
Money was collected In the Collectors Office for
political purposes from subOrdlnates; the amount
collected IN his once was from seven thousand to
thousand dollars and from all the other offices
the aggregate was about tnlrty.six thousand dol
lars; no one was removed for not contributing; he
made eollections for political purposes; he knew
that months pay had frequently been taken from
pay mad been stopped: thew mad been " snsS
to recover the assessments made the suit had been
brought 70 trial. out the Judge dismissed the case
without allowing 1t to 60 the jury.
He Is stockholder IN bonded warehouses on
Atlantic dock but none OF the general order goods
reduction OF the customs force In New York, It
should rather be increased; there were not IN MS
time doors enough In public stores for goods.
HORACE GREELEY FOR GOVERNOR.
The witness said that senator Conkling had never
applied 10 him to appoint yb0dy IN the Custom
House. on being asked what result he struggled
to Obtain IN the State Republican Convention ne
replied he did all he could to have Horace Greeley
all those from the custom House acted with him;
IN 1871 he did all ne could to keep the officers
away rom the c0nventi0n he did not re-
collect promising any Offices TO delegates
1871. nor did ne remove any one; nor did he employ
any money to afIect those conventions; one Oc-
caslOn however, he did use money; there was club
called the "Grldley Club,n In which man named
troled the majority OF the club, who were working
men, and, on application, ne gave $780, with
promise o. mOre this investment Of money was 10
aid the rival OF Grtdley to defeat him In his
ganizatiOn
HIS INTENTIONS WITH THE GENERAL ORDER Busr.
Witness said 1t had been his intention to arrange
the charges OF the general order business through
the Chamber OF Commences; he mad Deen IN Ofice
but lew days when man named Colonel Corn
well, q lobby agent at Washington, threatened him
with Oil kinds or things IN tue strongest language
II he did not restore the general order business TO
the foreign steamship companies; complaints are
sometimes made OF the loss OF packages after they
have been landed; In such cases a thorough ex-
animation Is ordered, but, general thing, there
Is a failure to discover the Offenders.
owing TO the position OF the seat occupied by Mr..
Murphy and the lOwnesS OF his voice mis- testimony
not at all times distinctly heard at the report
ers table. The reporter Of the committee sat next
him, and therefore mad better opportunity to hear
him.
without concluding his examination the commit.
tee adjourned I'LL MONDAY morning.
unurc