New-York tribune., 1872-01-16

| n pxn,ain IN what way yOu could have poen u" J."
former Jointly with others. A. In maJorIy VI 0''o
| mora than one person claims ~ iDormer
| q rxplain by describing case A. MT a KNOWS o"o
Goo, ur u knovs another fact tho two faots pun W
ce,bor mako case against third party MT ana nI'
Il Jointly communicate the information 10 tno t, "a re-
al On Thai nroeeedings are had and penaty ~ 80,
covered that is distributed. and they appear Oh '"0
record as the two parties enen han two nformorsi A.
have known where there hayG pe'i ,
appeared upon the record thlnK II ~ ho'
the case that there three or lOlir ~, ooAc fact
O. what IL tho nature or inp3rlGtII " case
Who determines the state OF facts on when ne can Co
In informeri A. That may Do ~ here IL no
Court or 10y Secretary OF the Treasury ~ t 20
application tO Court while the FUNDS arc IN Ino ~ tbs
Of the Court 1t is determined 6y me seeros S a. 20 be
Treasury. the Collector uniformly directs al cias W po
aed in 3a ojce II there are conflicting claims he trans
miis the Secretary Of the Treasury tho i"c'S anu no
O. ia and both claim nformants oaimng Jol9tly
who aPportions the amountf A. Inc Secro~Iy' "i'uoo
@. on what basis Ia the apportionment mado' A. 30
| far "a know, IL IL equal portions 9, A., ~
o. when more than one ini0rmer shares Ia Ino pro
cecds Il il case always Of equal dgisloni A. III ~ 30
far as the record Is concerned; tey may mahe uio'
| ont agreement among themselves ,,. .,.
O viii you state again what cases compose the cias'
"a i'm which claim with Others to be the nformer
and it is adjusted between myself and the party VINO ap
pear; upon the record as TN 41e ngTSsmept
O. Why il Is that your name does not appear upon on9
number of parties interested in that class OF cases. ana II
claimant tho infOImans share, the others 40 iar as
ho record was concerned withdrawing all claim, and
| making satisfactory arrangement with him.
O. WHY should there he such casesi A. There were
number of eases the discovery of which several par
lies contributed in different degrees all growing ont OF
the same general state OF facts, and all assisted In pre-
pairing the aud preparing the evidence ana an ar
rangrmrnt was made by which the proceeds were APP
parfioncd among the individuals; it made no difference
to the Government whether 1t paid the money to ono
@ You do not make any distinction in the facts be-
tween the two classes OF cases A There Is dl5Ilhf
ton: If two men appear upon the record as lnlOrmIs
must be paid equally to tho two; and II by pliYnte
agreement one tO receive one-fourth ana the
other fourths, that agreement would not De
carried out by both appearing on the record as lnfOfnerS
inS the amount 10 two or moro IN such
portions they may IN wiring consent To A. S1n
know of anything IN the a" KNOW Vi no case Vi tn"
O. DO the cases Of seizure pass through your bureau
O. As well as those in which the proceeding com
monccd by complaint and warrant as those IN when
was commenced in the regular manner by suit at law
in the District Court A. There have been no cases OF
seizure where forfeiture las been required Oh when
O. How extensive was Tho class Of case, In which your
maine appears of record IN entitled to - proportion of
the prOoeedS A. Perhaps ono per cent Ot the entire
o. Can you state I'm how many cases your name ap-
pears the recOrdl A. cannot state the number at
this moment; tie record called for viii show
o. Can you tell Us the number OF where your
name does not appear Of rccordl A. cannet tell yon
the number It Is but very small portion Of the en-
tire uIulhcI u cases.
1uE RISK or ABrsES
O. surposc that instead Of the present incumbent the
office Of Deputy Collector were filed By rapscou-,
intriguing man. what is there TO prevent that officer,
with the power which ha has in that Bureau from intro
drcing himself into every case Of forfeiture IN which
there f. any aGOunt recovered Of .urent importance,
without Lis uauo appearing Upon tnc record A. The
interest 0f thc parties entitled
O. Ia constitution of tie nteIcst they would have ia
cohciang ths Deputy Collector to secure his active
operation, ask you II the practice OF permitting the
Deputy Collector 20 receive portion Of the profit by
private agrCcmon,. without his appearing on the
record is ext, mcy liable to gO5s abuscl a. 1t
senator CasscTy c5Iied upon the witness report the
number aud amount received m cases whore his name
did not apu,nr the record
O. Dd y ever collect tho money IN those cases undcI
power ~ attorney 4. Tire only power Of attorney
have ever hold was to collect for the late Collector Nif
O. rnc prnounts dno him as Colloctori a. Yes, Sir
the Collector the Naval Ohccr and the Surveyor are en-
@ And jlc chief Appraiscri A He is expressly pro-
O. Can YOU state whether In cases Of small seizures.
such as that IT,. accordtOns the other day, thc article"
arc ofon r.uracd to the c'aimants' A. They are ~
qu"nth. %hcn found 10 bc Improperly n'ds is ,,..o.
O. ON The wliuic don't think that these seizures,
cOialdcruc tbc character ~ tbcm and tho LIABILITY TO
sy cS,nncnsi, ion or A. thin, their tendency Is
lead to ans" aud occasional injustice; bt thihk
II tlcy were abolished the Government might lose con
siderable revenue it Is question Wlethc the Govern
could moi better atod to lose The revenue thHn to
sul,, the Odium ol making the seizures.
TESTIMONY or GEORGE II. VAN CLEFT.
Senator Ba}arI-Whcie do you resdol a. At No. 22G
East Tlhrty-fj.ti,-.t.
O. what j. your pres, nj occnaion' A. City Surveyor
@ what il your profession A. Civil engineer aud
surveyor.
who had been removed from Office for political
alone would like ask you with REGARD TO tho facts.
What office did yod hold A. was appointed and con
nrincd n thc United states senate civil engineer in
the navy. Cho witness produced his cDmnisson dated
jar. u. is1O)
O. Und what timo dld you continue in the iservlcoi
1 mink ihc order Of suspension was dated October p.
1870 In; it served upon me til the 9d or 81 OF
November. Cgnc order OF suspension was produced ana
O. Where we're you empoyodi A. was orderedb by
tho 5ecrotly Of thc Navy to report to hear Anin'a
o. Did you continue 10 perform yOnr duties under
bmt a. Ye,isir, until within about ten days of my
O. Are you aware Of any complaints from him or any
other officer TO your performance or your Olncla
duGsi A. No. Sir; 6p the contrary, have letter from
him in which he expresses entire satisfaction WIN my
prrfOmanCr Of NY duties
CThe ietor dated January G, 1871, produced and
ROOD ,. =, ., to,,1o,e oe,ctiro
you eni,ioncy made TO t1o Department A None that
ME. MrRrHY's VACCINATIONS.
O. viii you state what was your first inmation that
YOU were TO be discharged Tho first ntmation that
had Of my discharge rumor that was TO he or
dcrod 10 Boston, which was. think in August or septen-
her; it rumor IN political circles; within day or
two after receiving this ntnnHton went 20 Washington
and saw Commodore Anmen, the chief of the bureau
under which acting; Informed him OF the runor,
and he told me need have fear; that there would he
no transfer or removal without his approval perhaps
within two weeks from that time was AGAIN nornedpy
a friend of rnno that he had Mr. Murphy, the Col
cctOr and that Mr.. Murphy had told him that the Presi
dent his request issued an order for my suspension;
this gentleman Ia few days went 10 see Mr. Murphy,
and told him that interpretations had been uhde
with regard TO my position; on the same nay , ne
phy; Immediately telegraphcd 10 MIR. Murphy at Long
Branch, stating that had understood msreplesenat0hs
had been made In relation position and denounc-
ing those statements aa false the day received
notice that Mr. Murphy would like To see me- went 10
his Office at the Customhouse; lie told me that my
dispatch had been received the night before Nhe e was
at the Presidents cottage at Long Branch that he ha1
banded the dispatch TO the President, who had read ~
the President had asked Fir Murphy II ho wanted nc