New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-06
CUSTOM-HOUSE ABUSES
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS
TESTIMONY or @. w. IT, 8CHULrz-9Ry e,.
COCK TO BIZ EXAMINED TODAY


WASHINGTON, March Sin the New.Yo,L
CustOmhouso COmrDittcc. this morning. letter Wa.
read from CollcctQy Arthur. response 10 conpsn,
from H. j. Strangr CO., saying that, since 1864 do,v
OF 80 per cent had been assessed silk Grape Th. A.
paid tho duty under protest and claimed they s.ou,d
not have been required TO pay than - per cent
On appeal to the Court they sustained yet Ina "a
per cent had continued to he COLLECTED.
communication resolved from tho Nevyo~.
Chamber Of Commerce embodying It's Vows concsrnin,
the steamship lines.
Several letters read. suggesing tho sprmo,,,.
Of Timothy e. Dwight and investigating the seizurs. ~
sugars, the owners having at law obtained verdict. "A
their favor. bnt at great loss owing the expenss ~
litigation. IT thought proper he the papers win
tue view Of looking INTO the general subject,
PILPgRrEG FROM nPoRTs
The first witness sworn was c. W H. Schultz % New
York. general commission merchant, who testified thai
having met with some obstruction Custom-honsa mai
tors he told that IN order 10 carry on things soo,hx
no must "see Government officials; he DID not hax
ever see matters in that ght the packages consigned
directly from tho ships were Ia perfect order when
Indirectly there was sometimes deficiency OF from i've 70
% per cent lie made eolapIant to Collector Murphy
who referred the matter to the Department OF P1bie
stores and the reply came that the goods were delivered
blame Oh applying to the steamship cOmnany hs
found IL was protected by the clear re-.
Ss' Ssvn me SeSs sSS:a e. .si ' ,S s
not get the goods Without giving recent on onA oes
SION, ebrgis and smith called upon him and said he had
lhdecehty rushed INTO print concerning his gTeyances
lilo Informed them that he had accused no individual but
he certainly intended put stop to pifering hs goods
pln,e thaJ une every package has been delivered in
perfect order.
QUOTING or A JOB"
Tie witness mentioned that before ho became ss.o
catcd IN business With Mr. Clark SIS 800 OF that gent
mans property had been seized and sold for s. OOO Com
missioner Osborne and the District Attorney Of Ner
had "a
COMPROMISED by taking $500 and gave a clean receipt
for CLARK The Disrict-Attorney said the against
to the Witness II these fellows put up job you,
let me know" All went on smoothly until last Friday,
when kasnlre from the office Of his Collector OF Internal
Revenue, came to him. aud charged him with violation
on inc law founded on information. Kansmire said.
obtained from Custom house officer. The firm were
charged with breaking packages without onng thu
fact on their books; this proceeding was based on an
shown 10 the officer. Yesterday, the witness had con.
yersati0n with Secretary Boutwell, relative 20 the sub
ject Mr.. Boutwell, said that the Internal Revenue Bu-
rcau constantly acted on Anonymous communications.
1t were thought advisable, but no seizures made
unless the charge was substaDtiGied.
CIVIL SERVICE AND MERCHANTS WRONGS
There were in NewYorE what called dock thieyes
who pilfer merchandise the wharves, entered
to go into bond On speaking to Mr.. Wright gauger
he said he had attempted to drive OF the thieves but
was knocked down by them and severely handled Tens
OF thousands ofdoars annually lost by the merchants
protect their property on the wharyes The witness
said. however, much may DO attempted 10 prevent
frauds; the relief can only he Temporarily Afforded until
there Is entire change in the ClVll service No long
as Of political party, over those OF
another, are appointed to Office irrespective q
claims ability and honesty, 50 long will
abuses occur. Appointments should be made for life,
during good behavior, and all persons who attempt 70
brbe or receive brides should be severely punished He
was not astonished those frauds The appointments
made for limited time only, and men want to mako
money before they leave their offices.
o. Do you know any officers who have received
briDes A. do not my information Is not definite bus
@. DO yon know any merchants who have paid money
10 officers : A. do not.
merchandise had been broken open aud the spaces filed
with various substances. Secretary Boutwell,, on the
witness having made the complaint above alluded TO-
referred him back to Mr. Teadwe the Collector OF the
Second District, TO find out all about the ease.
The Committee at noon, took recess until o'clock.
DOCK ROBBERS.
The Committee did not reassembe until o'clock and
then resumed the crosscXamnation, by Mt Pratt. Of
Mr. schultz, who said the packages plundered OF
louors >auccs and imported crackers; out OF lot
bonded store, one case of liquors was fund
TO be entirely empty and in another case there was only
liquors were imported from England, Germany. HOl-
land aud France they were all liable to be tampessa
goods were shipped in good order and con-
damages the dock thieves had robbed witness Of eight
gallons Of Dutch gin within IS minutes attfr u was and.
landing OF the gin had to tell the carman to take
them to the store he had been told by the owners Of 40
came in boats, cut open the bales, and stole
WOOL and the police had TO lie sent to protect goods
and drive thieves away. He knew Of caso from MS
broker, where 500 worth OF cutlery had been an
foIm practice for packages to bo corded up ana
sealed at the public warehouse. aud 80 &c
livered He believed there community
OF thieves engaged IN the plundering; his opinion was
that his losses over $780, Collector Murphy never
piled to that part of witnesses letter to him relative 10
dock thieves the letter written after the loss ~ the
liquor he could not account for the fact that merchants
III New-Yorl could submit to such state OF things for
80 long u time.
Mr.. Pratt asked how it possible any men
could break open a package OF take one away without
being observed the dock clerk of the YES
So aud other parties Interested
Answer. IL possible I'm New-Iork: not, perhaps.
anywhere else man attempted to steal cask of
brandy from my store in open daylight.
Question. DID he succeedi
Answer. No; knocked him down
on being cross-eXamined by Dir, Bayard the witness
said the only packages pundered those nyoicedfor
apprisc lie could not get an answer to VINO was
responsible for the safety OF goods on whaieS. witness
of all kinds OF merchandise having been detained
o month for appraisement; the reason given for II was
pressure OF business, or limited number of men He
was further examined by Mr. Howe. M length.
The Committee adjourned, to meet at O'Clock tomor'
row, when Gen. Babcock will be exaDincd.
TESTIMONY OF GEN. HORACE PORTER
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE OF INVESrIGA'
TON AND RETRENCHMENT.
wAsHISGToS, Monday March g. 1871
Following is a full report of the proceedings
Of the Senate Committee investigating the aiars oil tno
Ncw-York Custom house, to-day:
Horace Porter sworn aud examined: BY the CHAR
man-What ia your employment now A. ocoie'"'
~ How long have Won been In that position A. since