New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-22
NERAL ORDER TRADING.
REMARKABLE STATEMENT BY AN OLD
BONDED WAREHOUSEMhN


A TRIBUNE reporter called, yesterday upon
Edward e. Johnson a bonded warehOUsenan, at Nos
and Bridcest 10 Obtain his statement In regard 10 Tue
history OF General Order and bonded warehouse matters
In this city, with which Mr.. johnson has been fainii
for the past 20 years
"Mr Johnson" said the reporter, "will 20" stare
what you know OF the reported sale OF the ueneI"
Order business during the past ten years T.
1.-The General Order business" replied MT Johhson'
was first made a subject Of bargain and sale wheh
Hiram Barney Collector Previous TO that time 'o
number Of unclaimed goods was comparatively small
but as commerce increased and the number Oh steau'
ships multiplied, the obtaining OF the General oroer
business began TO be sought for by bonded warehouse
men. Mr.. Barney, when Collector, gave the General
Order business OF the East River to Henry G. Bowen
who sold the upper district Frank Squire, and the
flower district Charles Squire ana myseH'
Charles Squire obtained in the following manner, the
General business under President Lincoln, who ne
says in card lately published by him in THE TRIBUNE,
gave it TO him account OF his known integrity and
sterling worth +. Lambert friend OF II. G. Bowen
called the firm OF Squire johnson, in which Charles
Squire partner and proposed to sell then Tor Mr.
Bowen the General Order business OF the lower dsct
OF the East River condition that Squire Johhson
should pay Messrs Bowen Lambert 80 per cent on the
storage OF all General Order unclaimed goods sent to
their store. The following letter given to Squire
johnson by Lambert show that he authorized to
represent Mr. Bowen:
OFFICE OF BOwES HOLMES & Co.,
" Nos 800 and 322 BROADWAY, NEwYORK Sept. G. 1861
"Mesas. SQUIRE &JOHSsoN-Ge,,tienen: Mr.. f Lam
bert the bearer has consent ana sanction to the ar
rangement made with in regard TO the General Order
business and hope 1t will prove for your mutual ad
| vantage.
Anything can TO promote your interests at any
time, will do with pleasure. have this day explained
the matter to the Collector Very re'peff9yr yours,
"What the step in the matter! asked the re-
| porter.
| Squire g. Johnson" replied Mr. johnson, refused TO
enter into any contract with Lambert unless Mr. Bowen
would personally to and become Of the con-
| tracing parties This result finally obtained
contract draw up between Squire johnson Of the
one part and Lambert OF the other, agreeing
10 the terms originally proposed by Lambert Here
- an exact copy the contract entered into between
| the parties
| Memorandum Of agreement made the 9Th day OF
September 4. d. 1851 by ana between sqlirc and John
son, parties OF the first part, and Henry g. Bowen r. ~
Bowen, and Frederick Lambert parties OF tne secohu
part who hereby that the parties OF the frst
part pay the parties Of the second part or their
heirs assigns thirty cent on the storage OF az
General order unclaimed goods sent TO the store Oh
the parties of the first part on ana aiter TINS daIc III
monthly payments, the goods 20 out 50 long as the
direction Of General order unclaimed goods suplect
to the control OF said parties OF the second part anu
SAID parties Of the second part do agree that me parties
of part shall continue In undlsurDed receipt vi
said reclaimed goods during the time above specined'
| HENRY c. Bowen, FRKDERIcK LAMBERT
| . J.. +. bowen, SQUIRE d JOHNSON
81 Dotcc," said the reporter, that Mr. f. L. Bowens
maine also appears in the contract. What connection
| had he with the other parties y"
He OF the Ring and worked outside for the
| Collector; the proceeds divided between Henry
Bowen the Collector L. L. Bowen and Lambert Some
times Lambert could operate in certain quarters better
than +. L. Bowen and at other times the latter could
| more readily manipulate affairs in other directions
| &c. Ring must necessarily be composed OF several
persons so as al the which is necessary
to Ill up movement therefore TO be successful must
have two or more operators and these well under
stood tins fact and rhe requirements Of the case
What about the General Order business on the west
side Who obtained that -
.'Nr Barley gave the General Order business Of the
entire North River to his law partner, James NJ.
Humphrey, then a member Of Congress, who became a
partner with the Bxbys Butler H. and Francis NJ j. and
conducted the business under the firm name OF Hum
phrey d Co.. Humphrey seldom or never giving the
business any personal attention. The common report
WAS that Humphrey furnished no capital but Tor
share of the profits gave BiXby the control OF the
| North River These arrangements continued While
| Barney was collector. Preston King, VINO succeeded
| Barney worried to death 10y the importuniiles OF
asprants for General order business, committed suicide
short time he appointed and 40 sales 'i Gen
| erai Order occurred under his CollectofSmP
| What took place aftelwards &"
| "when simeon Draper, who succeeded Nj. King, WAS
aupo,ned Collector he large portion OF the Gen
cr Order business the North and East Rivers TO his
CONS one OF whOm John H. Draper gave the business OIL
! the North River 10 Chas. Squire for share Of the
| proAts and the business OF the East River 70
| Frank Squire OH the same terms. lhls arrangement
continued through the COlectOrsip OF MI Draper Col
lctor -mvthe succeeded Mr. Draper and, having been
hortassed by many persons who offered TO pay nm
various sums OF money for the General order business
finally gave it, unreseryedy aud without consideration
| 70 T. C. Johnson sworn TO before the Hulbnrd
Congress Committee which took testimony on the subject
i'm December 1906 johnson divided 1t into districts
| Ia 81
nartes each of Whom paid him IS per cent OF their
gross receipts storage consideration ME- sythe
having made a demand about three months after
ward for money for political purposes which did not
feel DISPOSED TO pay, withdrew the General Order bust
ness from my control and TO another party who
contracted with Meyer & Smith 10 pay him $4,000 per
wear for H. which amount Meyer smith paid, as also
sundry gratuitie Deputy Collector then in the Gus
| tomhouse On the LIST Of December. 1866, Meyer X
Smith sold 10 l.. c. johnson the privilege Of re-
cevug goods passing under General Order on the North
and East Rivers, south OF Fultonst on condition that
Johnson should pay the of 5000 per year for the
privilege consented to the proposition, and the follow
ing agreement shows the terms Of the contract
agreement made this first day OF December. 1868, be,
tween Meyer smith, parties OF tne nrst part n ana
Edward Johnson party Of the second part whereas,
said parties of the fret part have received from the Col
storage u ali goods arriving at NewYork foreign
ordered for storage on general order now this
hereby let and transfer unto said party the second
part all that district on the East River down from Full
fonst and on the North River 10 FutOnst on the fol-
lowing terms That said party Of the second part
shall pay for the privilege OF receiving and storing
goods General Order arriving IN said district the
OF 5000 per TO the said parties OF the first part,
payable in monthly instanents ON the first Of each and
every month, aud In One-half OF the storage
ceeds of 5000 then said party Of the second
part agrees 70 pay in addition said excess; said pay
ments 10 he made the Office OF John b. stevens, No.
81 walLst.; and said party OF the second
hcient bonded warehouses therefor TO the salts
faction OF the Collector OF the Port of New. York.
The hiring and letting to be from month month and
party TO be at liberty 10 cancel this
giving TO the other months notice In writing, In
whereof the parties hereto have hereunto
|