The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-13
THE CUsToM-HoUsE INVEsTI.
CATION.

NEW YORK, January 12.-The Con.
gresaional Committee this morning re.
ceived letters complaining Of Losses oil
goods, among which was one from H. B.
Clatlin, stating that he had lost goods
while In the custody Of the custom house
officers, He also states that he made
complaints to Palmer when he was in the
custom house but never received any sat.
isfaction. @
The committee received tabular state.
ments Of the number of persons employed
and removed from the custom house
under the last six collectors. The mum.
Der of removals under Murphy were 80
per cent; those under Grinnell 81 per
cent; under Smythe, 81 per cent The
cost Of collection under Draper was 1924
per cent; under Smythe, 100 per cent !;
undtr Grinncll, 1.60 per cent; under
Murphy, 1.55 per cent The receipts un.
der Grinnell werc $I7S9S3, ,985; under
Murphy, $702,700074. The latter collec.
tions OF Murphy cover period running
from July 1870, to November 80, 1871;
whereas Grinnells collections cover the
time from April 1860, 10 June 20, 1870.
Assistant Collector Clinch testified that
the difficulty in the General Order bust.
ness could be avoided by allowing five
days for landing, the Collector not 10 be
in possession Of the goods until landed.
lie did not think the goods would be as
safe in the stores Of the steamship compa.
nies as in those of the government. He
considered the General Order business the
most valuable perquisite in the gift of the
Collector.
Here occurred disagreeable discussion
between Senators Casserly, Bayard and
Howe, because Of the assistance and &C.
tive aid given TO the latter by MIR. Bliss
and ex.Snryeyor Wakeman.
Senator Howe complained OF the other
two Senators taking exception to the
same, and said that the honorable gentle.
men had not treated him with q full meas.
ure Of justice.
Senator Casserly denied any intent 10
do the honorable gentleman injustice, but
he wanted 1t to be distinctly understood
that he would not assent to tho course
pursued by the administrations friends,
who, II would appear to the public, were
trying in an indirect manner to examine
witnesses.
The discussion was arrested by the in.
Of Senator Buckingham, chair.
man, who begged that the gentlemen,
who were all indisputably honorable,
would avoid unpleasant controversy.
The examination was then continued.
Clinch's testimony related largely to old
laws as to general orders, &c. On the re.
tirement Of Clinch, q discussion arose be.
tween the Senators on the subject OF ex-
aiming witness They had been sub.
penaed two days previous, and were
waiting TO be heard. Senator Stewart,
however, proposed that the deputy col.
lectOr should be called to rebut that part
Of the evidence against the Custom
House. Considerable argument arose on
the question of priority. Stewart took
Lhe ground that the Custom House people
should now be heard. Senator Bayard
thought that there were no sides to the
matter at all; that if he had an idea that
he committee had been appointed in the
interest Of partisans he should have de.
,lined to act. He was no mans man
would not consent to take the part of any
out the public interested in the investiga-
ion.
Deputy Collector James Thomas testi-
led as to packages, &C., which were
stored in the general order warehouses,
md said: ~ have heard many complaints
against the exhorbitant charges Of Leet
= Stocking; their stores besides being
general order stores, can be used as bond.
I'd warehouses. think the general order
business pays enormous rates of charges,
which might be reduced immensely, and
cave tsir margin for profits"
In the course Of this witness examina.
ion it transpired that Leet s. Co. do bust
ness under different names in their two
general order stores, although the same
irm. The witness admitted having re.
ceived occasional complaints Of excessive
charges on merchants by Leet s. Co., but
he never heard complaint of want OF |
accommodation.