The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-16
MORE ABOUT SEIZURES
The Deputy Collector, Having Charge of
the Department, Himself Sharing
the Proceeds of Forfeiture.
Moral Proof of Corruption and
Oppression.

OF the same Custom House Official, Deputy Col
iectOr Clark, who occupied the stand during the
whole of Saturday and great part OF Friday. or
course the testimony was very largely repetition
or facts already brought out In the previous ex-
aminattons but the evidence In regard to seizures
contained few points OF interest. especially the
questions necessarily touched MI. Clark's personal
character and practices. Having acknowledged
that he mad sometimes received share proper
ti0nate share as informer the witness was ques-
toned as fOllows:-
q. WHAT is the principle OF division wnen there
Is more than one 1nfOrmer in q caseP A. The pro.
ceeds of part OF the seizure appropriated as the
informers' reward are divided equally among the
clatmants there are sometimes cases where there
are disputed claims OF informers in the same case;
an such cases either the Court the Secretary OF
the Treasury decides the case; in all cases where
have had any interest In the reward my name either
appears on the record or is not mentioned.
@. Why should you, public officer, have any
share in reward ard your name not appear On the
records A. Because a number OF men were inter.
.ested In th1 reward ana IL was determined by
mutual agreement that one man should appear as
tho informer, receive the reward and subsequently
divide the results as had previously been arranged
by private agreement
O. Why should such an arrangement be p,aGos
A. 1t was q matter OF no difference to the govern
men.
Q. In all cases where your name does appear u
the record there have been or nj ore other par.
ties entitled to share In the reward9 A. Yes, SIR;
there Is distinction sometimes about the value OF
particular facts in o case OF information; II tho
names OF two men appear upon the record the
reward must be equally divided aiming them, but II
only one name appears there when there are other
informers the division is regulated by private
rangement.
Q. What proportion of cases Of seizure pass
through your bureau9 A. Ali or them, In some
stage or other.
q. How extensive was the class Of cases In which
your name appears upon the record as entitled 10
q share in the reward for seiZures2 A. Perhaps
per cent: don't know exactly; the record will show
that; there arc cases IN which am mentioned on
the record, but scarcely know whether they are
numerous enough to form class.
z. think 1t surprising that you should be unable
to name the number Of cases In which you had a
direct personal interest," Can You say how many
cases there were in which you had an interest
though your name did not appear upon the recori'
A. can say that II is but very small proportion
oil the entire number OF seizures.
q. Suppose that your Office, instead OF being held
by you, were tilled by rapacous and unscrupuloas
man; what are the checks against gross abuses? A.
suppose there might be abuses.
q. Especially all parties interested in seizures
have direct interest IN conciliaing You as the
Deputy Collector through whose hands the claims
must pass and as, further you are allowed ny the
share Of the proceeds OF selzuresS A. suppose So
q. In cases Of small seizures are the articles ire
quenty returned to the claimants' A. Yes, sir;
very frequently.
q. Don't you think that these small seizures. with
cue power vested in the hands Of subordinate oeccrs
are liable to gross abusess A. think there Is
possibility OF great abuses, out the government
would lose q great deal OF revenue If the system
9. Is there any appeal in these cases Of small
seizures from the decision OF the Colleotori A. TO
nc Ha IN 0 event maj 81
q decision against him; don't think that the mum.
Der OF cases OF plfering from this class Of goods Is
very large. 80.
George H. Van Cleft sworn-Am o city surveyor:
formerly was civil engineer at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard; here Is my commission Showing it): l was
suspended about the 27th OF October. 1870 but Inc
order was served about the LIST of November; there
was never any complaint against me IN regard to
the pcriormsnce Of my dutlesi on the contrary,
vouchlng for my good conduct.
q. What was Your FIRST intimation that you were
heard OF il was rumor, In September, that was
70 DC moved TO Boston; within DAY or SO afterward
tine cnieT Of my department.; he informed me that
need have no fear, as no removals or transfers
weeks oe maze nae @ ms 20 ,ns WITHIN Two
Mr.. Thomas Murphy had informed him that the
President had suspended me at his lMurpny'sl re.
guest; l Immediately tclegraphed to Mr.. Murphy at
Long Branch, telling him that certain statements
About me which had been circulated were false
Murphy told me that he had received my telegram
at the Presidents cottage, where he had happened
dent asked whether ne Murphy wanted me re-
'tained or removed; Murphy told me that he then
Tor the present and the president then said that he
would revoke the previous order for my removal;
in our conversation Mr. Murphy told me ne had
tration, and that had said that for every man he
put into the Custom House would put three IN the
Navy Yard; assured him that both statements
were false, and ne replied by saying that nc the
representative OF the administration in New York,
Would Ss no srouSe ssW Mr. Murphy aSs is
shortly afterwards aud the question OF the delegates
Mr.. Murphy said be hoped, as we lived in the same
district that we should not have any contest about
and he should name one, while the third Should be
agreed upon between us; replied that II he would
would decide wnether could acceps the 90 propes
tion; finally, having thought over the name ne pro-
Ruius F. Andrews; he named on his side, General
Arthur and named Mr. Rightmeyer; subsequently
Mr. Murphy asked sdor me whom thought Mr. Right
] thought Mr.. Greeley; the Collector then
SAID he would me ,t to o see MINI he did
Waterman or something OF that Kind-in the Gus.
tom House, Rightmeyer did not give up bis busl-
Whether y ne performed the duties Of his ONCE or
not; after the state Convention there came the
tween MIR. Murphy and myself we offered about
the delegate, and at the primaries there was a
sharp contest between tue CUSTOM HCuse uCket,
headed by murphy, and another ticket, headed by
mvsef; my side polled considerably over two hun.
Ii'ree Mr. Murphy and General Arthur were both In
the room that evening; Mr. Murphy stepped up 10
one OF the inspectors and informed him
that t would be worth good deal 10
O. carry that primary; Afterwards heard that Mr..
Murphy had authorized another gentleman to give
this Inspector $500 to do what he could to carry
that primary; there were good many Custom
House officials thcre, many o. whom were not even
residents Of the city, much less OF the district; MI.
Murphy said that night that ne would have me re-
moved before Saturday; within ten DAYS alter the
primary heard that was to be removed, and that
there was a consultation IN the custom House as
TO who should have my place; went that evening
60 washington and saw Commodore Ammen again,
" IN aUo oaau mo 4 hai po ~