New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-15
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
GENERAL ORDER BUSINESS.
MIR. GEINNELL AND THE FOREIGN
COMPANIES.
Trib

SIT: Inc laSI Oh NNNVhi'N'
note from Berlin congratulatnC THE iRiBuSk on us iar
,ossio, ~ thanks 10 the Democratic masses of New
ycrk for aiding in the overthrow OF corruption ~ the
last elccon and also expressing the hope that before
tho n of reform should Die out some of the corruptions
that fastened themselves upon the commerce OF new
York would he exposed.
The NewYork papers of late dates come loaded with
evidence of the existence gross abuses has been
source great satisfaction TO notice that with rare ex-
ceptons Of the United States agree to the
great public advantage of the disclosures which have
been made; and only few feeble efforts have been in
duged in to the persons whose selfenrching eff
forts, if permitted TO continue. would soon either
eectuay demOralize your commercial honor. or drive
the honest importing merchant of your city into other
business channels. At this distance can say nothing
that will practically influence the result OF the pending
Investigation; but have noticed in some editorial COM
mcnts the vouminous testimony elected. that the
agents of the steamship lines. which deprived of
the General order business by order of Collector Grin
nell abou, the last of January $780, have been criticized
and apparently censured for having employed the ser
vices of Washington lobbyist, 1t is charged to aid
them obtain the returno Of the General Order business
am the man and that there may he no mistake on
the subject that the agents of the steamship companies
may not be misrepresented. aud that my positlon may
not be misunderstood ask the favor OF de use n VI
Isl, in the in which that word is commonly ac
copied and have been before either the congress
OF the United States, the Committees thereof or any OF
the Executive Departments of the Government sun
of The Treasury offered opportunity for the reduction
Of taxation some of the most honoTed mercantile hrs
ngent representation OF facts RELIEF from features 9
once necessary but burdensOme enactmentS MY
services were secured. and l was charged with
the duty OF preparing arggments anu, ana ar a
REIMBURSEMENT of the Internal Revenue and Customs laws
bu never obbied the adoption of any measure, or
Congress I had been residing III Washington for some
time the service of such clients and was from one
Of these that in February 1870 received etter Inro
ducng 10 the agents of the steamship lines alluded
to- My personal acquaintance with the Hon secretary
OF the Treasury GMr. Boutwell, enabled me to present
the gentlemen TO him. ana subsequently through ms
oil all the facts bearing the case and then demanded
that which his wellknown sense of justice would not
Treasury Department The result Of thai nVesgsGn
addressed to the Hon NJ H. Grinnell in June 1870 ad-
vng the OF the General Order business to the
warehouses OF the steamship lines The advice was not
promptly adopted, but from what learned subse
1ueuy from the then Collector, and from what he mas
vincsd that had ne remained Collector of the port he
would have unhesatngy acted in accordance win the
views OF the Secretary and in justice TO his oppressed
After The installation of Collector Murphy respectful
OF the merchants for relief then taking the form of
petition signed by 100 the largest importing firms OF
Ncw-York, was placed in my hands for presentation
Secretary gave it the greatest considerations and IN
attention TO the advice gwen his predecessor in june
ard stating that the Department had seen no reason TO
Change Its views. 1t il matter of history that
secretary Boutwes advice was treated with l1ulI r
Soector o VINO defed the Secretary was the warm per
so,ml friend neghbor aud associate of the President
Mr.. A. l. Stewart informed me he had made personal
request the President in the presence Of Gen. Horace
Porter at the Fifth Avenue Hotel subsequently spoke
Porter Il TIC residence the Secretary Washington
called their attention to the eXtrene dissatisfaction
EXISTING among the merchants of New-YOrk.
Congress the last resort and IN response TO our
aupeal Joint Committee was appointed, over which
srator Patterson presided. The report of that Com
nee completed too late III the session iOr ael0n
ON .nc part OF Congress, but its recommendations iuy
sustained the previous conclusions oil secretary BOUT
,. ,oo,, ossor,o5 that 7 was in WASHINGTON excu-
sive' IN the service OF the agents OF the Hamburg,
qn ana Bremen af these EMS eent
men incurred great by employment, or that
in he event Of success The entire remuneration l
ceiyed would enable to meet my share OF Wash
iUsCn extending over the period OF my service
In concluding this explanation, would IKE 10 say
Leci ron the President ana from MI Nash1uIIe 10 Mr.
Grnnel. In my opinion. the bestOwal OF these letters
NJ ce on the action of the President. always believed
when the spot and familiar with all the facts, ana
upon false representations as to the dissatisfaction
81 IL %cw-York merchants There is no evidence that
tay appeal OF MI stewart while he was constantly sur
rounded by influences interested III perpetuanS the OPP
have asked Mr. washburne If he gave such letter
as la been described to Col Iect. He replied II GER
tairly did and under like circumstances would AGAIN
kncw Let, and wanted to him get along" | then
asked him if had the slightest idea that his letter anu
fhc etter of the President would be used 10
position that apparently worth five times the salary
means and il had the power would act promptly in
the teTs OF the commerce OF NeW-1Ork Clty anu on
the evidence given, clean out all vino nave been g OF
extoru0n ana undo all the wrongs done me merchahls
added IL the collection Of Revenue at New-YOrk, the
great port Of the country would have nothing TO DO
with politics II the merchants of New-fork would
name a good, honest responsible gentleman for Col
lector. they should have him all should desire would
be the economical and sure collection OF the revenue
with every facility afforded TO commerce" | am in.
cacd 80 believe that Gen. Grant entertains the same
views he could only be shown how to put them III
Iuais, Feb Il, lo72
CARD FROM BAKER AND WILLIAMS.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The statements IN your paper of the
12,h inst in the article headed Bogus General Order
Reform" 90 us such great injustice that cannot al
low them TO pass unanswered We have held the Gen
era of the East River for period of three years
There was but one charge preferred against before
the Investigating COmmttee-that Of Messrs Chas Bel
lows Co. These gentlemen stated, that from case OF
brandy which was sent to warehouses under General
Order six bottles missing. They never said the
brandy distracted at stores. The fact is that
identical case was received light" and Marked In
ba oIder" when came ill., and yet THE TRIBUNE gave
the item publicity under the heading OF Goods Stolen
from General Order Stores" Was this fair Messrs
A. T. Stewart Co testified before the Committee that
there was not any General Order store on the East
River. These gentlemen have repeatedly had goods III
our store under General order; and but few days pre-
they had paid bill for goods received Does
this look as though swiadling had been the rule
But 10 give attention more particularly TO your
aiticlc OF vest rday You state that Messrs. Miller d
COnger the only Republicans who have been assigned
10 districts on the East River We always vote, when
entitled TO exercise this right and always vote
the Republican ticket and no other Does not this enti-
tie us to be classed Republicans Again, state
marble blocks arriving at this port must be sent
TO yard at the foot Of Gouverneurst suectng the
owner TO a carriage Oi TWO or three miles. We would
suggest that your reporter make personal survey OF
this ground. He will find that the yard which you rec
Omnen as "Lawrences yard, close at hand" Is the
very yard in which store marble that the distance