The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-13
TIE CUSTOM HOUSE COMMITTEE.
The Ofiice.hclders on the Stand In Defence OF
the General Order Monopoly.
LIVELY TILT BETWEEN THE SENATORS.
Custom House Manipulation of Pc
litical Conventions.


The Custom House Committee resumed their
labors yesterday morning There was o good at
tendance OF spectators, many OF whom by their
noisy demean0r and ''politica" appearance. re-
minded one very strikingy of the old bear gardens
at Twenty and Twenty third streets. The
privileged place inside the bar reserved FOR the
committee and the reporters was, however, IN
vaded and occupied by the ex-Collecror and other
prominent members OF the Custom House interest.
MIR. Bliss took up his usual position Immediately
behind Senator Howe.
The first witness was Deputy Collector Cllnch,
who was examined In regard to the practical
method OF transactlng the business OF the depart
ment The one main point In his evidence was
that, In his opinion 1t would be unwise and un-
dignlhed for the government to revert to the
old arrangement OF not only allowing the
steamship companies to bring goods to our shores,
but have the storing OF them in their own ware
houses under the system OF general orders. This
was received with some amusement, as the witness
is the brother-ln-law OF Mr.. A. T. Stewart, whose
testimony was given In an entirely different direc
ton.
Quite lively tilt ensued between Senators Gas.
serly aud Dayard on ono side and Stewart and Howe
on the other. 1t began by Mr.. stewart insisting
that the examination Of Mr. James, deputy col
iector, should now begin. He thought the COM
mittee had too long employed itself III nearing one
side, end 1t was time for the parties attacked 20
enjoy the opportunity rebut tho statements made.
Senator Oassery protested against the theory put
Neither ne . nor 'i MIR. Bayard had at any Tune en-.
Outraged this view, and II 1t were adopted ne
should resign his seat Ia the committee.
examination should be One-slded and he, therefore,
for that very reason, wished that the Custom House
people should come forward and have chance to
give evidence
The Chairman, Mr.. Buckingham, suggested that
when the committee nau collected enough evidence
on any one point TO form an opinion, examlnatlon
SO far as that PORT was concerned should cease; II
could be said about the Custom House their task
not make any report during the present Congress.
Deputy Collector James was the next winess:--
Had attended conventions almost ever since he was
many Custom House people were there and went
Tor Eenton. who was very popular with them at that
% u ss yer7 e Nv
Custom Honsc people were at the convention, be.
cause they would have attended hs at Their peril ow
although not a member OF the convention, ne had
worked for Mr.. Greeley, as had also Mr. Cornell;
was at the convention Of 1871; did not see the
nght but DO not believe that II was gotten
up by sile Custom House people; there were
not more Custom House people there then than
usual and there were less than at the Convention Of
ls64 mad no power of making appointments and
Da ne da not for as ms GpuS
the present storehouse accommodation for general
ness, though the store ran danger OF Cutting when
owing to Dad weather, tho steamers were late and
In toge lher and wanted to discharge at once;
there were twenty -four bonded warehouses on the
North River; there was no government oir,cor
watching them alter dark; the Collector sub.
ject 10 the approval or the Secretary of
the Treasury, had the selection OF both
bonded and general store warehouses: each propfie.
tor Of bonded or general order warehouse pays
$1,000 Tor each inspector In his store TO the gov
ernmeIt. the latter paying the employee four dollars
day. the surplus Is used to provide relief officers;
believe that LeeL IL Stocking and George X. Leet
Co.. though distinct firms. arc composed of the
same parties; complaints are occasionally made to
me IN regard to ovcichargcs at the general order
stores; yes, there have been many complaints; Of
Laie they lave been less frequent than they wero
last spring; The profits OF the business must be very
large.
z. Mr.. Franklin, at tile last investigation, estt.
mated the profits as at least $lC0,0 year-s MIR.
Franklin a-go0d Judge? A. Yes. ne ought to know
z. Isn't there grave dissatisfaction among the mer-
chants at the present charges A. Well, no matter
now well o general order store may be run, there
Will certainly be great MANY complaints; II Is
impossible to satisfy everybody; complaints OF
Overcharge have 10 be made to the Collectors or.
fce-that Is, they would come to me, as that bust
ness comes IN my department..
u DO you know whether or not General Arthur
within week alter MS appointment, applied to the
ChaMDer OF commerce 70 nave THIS matter OF charges
inquired lntOS A. oeleve nc dld, and the Cham-
Der appointed committee Tor the purpose.
IS there any soreness on tho part Oh the Cunatd
and German lines IN consequence OF the general