Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-11
CUSTOMHOUSE CORRUPTION.
ExtOrtiOn, PecuIatiOn, Bribery.
Testimony before the Senate Commit

Testimony before the Senate Commit
tee.
New YORK, Jan. 10.-The Congression-
al Retrenchment Committee continued its
sessions at the hotel to-day. F. Bayson
testified that his books were seized by gov
ernment officers last February, kept five
months and then returned without the
charges being proved against him.
A letter Cornell to Surveyor Read was
received, stating his inability to name the
exact residences of the Customhouse en-
ployees. Casserly demanded that these
should be found.
Ezra B. Wheeler, importer, testified to
the seizure of his books for alleged irregu-
larities. His lawyers settled the difficulties
by paying large sums, though he believed
the amounts due by him were small.
John d. Ferry, clerk of the Custom
House said the charge of Capt. Grant, as to
the connivance of Customs officials at the
election frauds was false. He said he was
promised promotion by Collector Murphy
about year ago.
John s. Beecher, importer, testified that
goods were seized in the fall of 1864 lot
of sherry wine, and was compromised by
paying the Government $35, 900. The
charge was under valuation of our in
voices, which we knew was not the case.
The reason we compromised was because
our business was stopped by the seizure of
our books. We never were able to find out
who made the complaint. The attorneys
we employed were recommended to us by
the Custom House people. They told us
we could settle for 100000, but afterwards
we got down to $4,000.
John Mckenzie testified that Government
weighers didn't do the weighing. He said
the CustomhOuse clerks were gratuited for
getting business facilitated. When Grand
Juror he knew of one hundred and twen-
ty thousand dollar fraud case being settled
by the Custom officers for fifty thousand.
Horace B. Clark, Of Brooklyn, testified
to the seizure of the books of his firm by
Clifford Thompson, who was dismissed.
The Internal Revenue informer was
ThOmpson's brother-in-law, Elliott, who
was an employee in my store. l dis
charged him for embezzlement in 1869.
Shortly after my brother was secret
ly informed that affairs would be
compromised for $4,000 We refused.
The case went to court and it cost $4,000
altogether to defend myself. The result
" hdo III Llly IdNOls LCSJoJOChlllS uSCu
to charge us $50 per cent. storage more than
the regular rate. l have been informed
that these exorbitant rates were placed on
goods because the Collector or Deputy
COllecror of this port was a partner of
Leet's, and had to get bis share. l knew
of merchandise being lost frequently, while
in charge of the CustomhOuse. l knew of
bottles being taken from spirit packages
and sent to the appraisers Department. He
wrote to Secretary Boutwell,, who took no
notice of him.
Gen. Palmer testified that he had seen
President Grant at Long Branch; that the
President was anxious about the retention
in office of one Carrigan who got three dol
lars day as a packer. Carrigan was retain
ed to do Murphy's work in one of the city
wards. Witness said he dismissed three
important officials by order of Sec'y. Bout.
well, because they didn't vote the way
Murphy wanted them. Gen. Alfred Pleas
anton said the men would be dismissed if
they did not vote that way. PleaSanton
and other officials had been instructed to
vote that way. A man whom witness dis
charged for malfeasance was reappOinted by
Murphy to an inspectOrship. Having heard
of charges made that he was unfriendly to
the administration, witness went to Wash
ingtOn to see the President. Gen. Park
er skept him from an audience for some
time. He saw the President who said he
neeI a.,ra no fears of removal. In three
weeks after witness was removed.
CustOmhOuse Interference.
SenstOr Bayard at this point put an in
quiry which brought out the fact that one
Bliss, who was interested on the side of the
Republican party, was behind the witness,
and was handing written questions to Sen
atOr Howe, whereat Howe retOrted tartly:
Here Senator Casserly condemned the
intermeddling of Customhouse officers.
Gen. Palmer further said, that Custom
house officers were employed to control the
last two State Conventions.
Adjourned.