The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-18
WASHINGTON
New York Custom House Investigation.
Testimony of Ex-COllectOr Murphy

A'O" AVAh OustOm hOuSc luNcStlSdtiOHs
Testimony Of Ex-COIlector Murphy
WASHINGTON, March 16.-The Custom House
investigating committee met this forenoon Elk
Collector Murphy was sworn, and said he did
not now hold any public office. He entered
upon the performance of his duties as Collector
OF New York the 23d or 21st of July, 1870, and
they terminated the LIST of December last
Having replied to questions as to who had
charge of the storage of unclaimed goods or
general order business, he said he had been in
office but month or two when he closed Mason
u Co.'S store and sent the goods to Leet &
Stockings store He closed the store of Mason
q 20. because report was brought to him that
goods were on the market and being sold at
very low prices, and they were traced to that
store. 1t was found after removing and check
ing the goods that over 200 bales which were on
the Custom House books were not in the store.
Mason then disappeared and had not been in
New York since to his knowledge. The goods
were removed after consultation with Custom
House officers. There had been no consultation
with the President, Babcock or Porter on the
subject nor any outside of the Custom House.
None OF the parties above named ever used any
influence with him. Last fall he was in Por-
ter's and Babcock's rooms and afterwards saw
the President Secretary Boutwell, came in
from room leading into the hall. The Presi-
dent said to him:-"Mr. Murphy, there is so
much noise and scandal about the Young man
Leet in connection with the general order bust
ness in New York on account on his having
been connected with me during the war that
have come to the conclusion that the young
man had better leave" AT this Murphy re-
piled THE warfare on Leet originated with
the steamship company for the purpose of get
ting the business themselves In his opinion
Leet & Stocking conducted the business well,
and he did not feel like giving way to steam
ship company There was no order from any
body in or out of Washington that made it OBJ
ligatory on the Collector to continue the storage
to Leet & Stocking. Witness felt he could do
what he pleased on the subject of removals.
owing to the course of certain Republicans on
the General Republican Committee. He said
his impression was that owing to attacks in the
newspapers to the effect that these gentlemen
were acting at the dictation of Tammany they
were removed. Orders came from the Seere-
tary of the Treasury to the collector and ap-
praisor, and as he heard to the postmaster, that
if any member of the General Committee had
acted as the newspapers described they should
be removed. If he himself did not receive
such letter it was because it was not thought
necessary to send him one. Mr.. Van Cleft one
of the parties discharged under this order, was
an engineer in the navy yard, and his removal
was at the instance of the Secretary of the
Navy. The Secretary of the Treasury made an
inquiry of him as to when certain parties had
been under the influence of Tammany before
was made by letter, and he gave'the names of
those whom he knew to be corrupt. He re-
membered having an interview with Gen. Pal
mer in the fall of 1870. They talked pleasant
ly about politics and suggested united effort to
crush out the Tammany ring. He was so
pleased with the way Palmer talked that the
witness said he would mention the matter to
the President He remembered subsequent
interview the day after, to which Townley was
present with Palmer. The conversation be-
Unpara1 ahd he thonUht turpn
the next Governor He never had but one idea
on the subject, and that was favorable to Hor-
ace Greeley, but if he had his step to retrace it
would not be his advice. He thought Greeleys
nomination to be for the best interests of the
Republican party. Money was collected in the
collectors office for political purposes From
subordinates the amount collected in his office
was from $1,000 to $4,000, and from all other
offices an aggregate OF about $3.50, 900. No one
one was removed for not contributing He
learned that the City Government of New York
made collection for political purposes. He
knew months was frequently taken from
subordinates. He had been told by those who
whose pay had been stopped. He had been
sued to recover assessments made. The suit
had been brought to trial but the Judge dis
missed the case without allowing it to go to the
jury. Is stakeholder in bonded warehouses or
Atlantic dock, but none of the general order
goods are assigned to them He would not adj
wise any reductions of customs forces in New
York; it should be increased. Mr.. Murphy said
Senator Conkling never applied to him to ap-
point anybody in the Custom House. On being
asked what was result he struggled to obtain in
the Republican Convention, he replied that he
did all he could to have Horace Greeley nomi-
mated for Governor and thought nearly all from
the Custom House acted with him in 1871. He
did all he could to keep officers away from the
Convention He did not recollect promising
any offices to delegates for attending the con-
ventions of 1870 and 1871, nor did he remove
any one, nor did he employ any money to effect
these conventions. On one occasion, however,
he did use money. There was club called
"Gridley Club, in which man named Ben
nett was a prominent member This man con-
trolled a majority of the club, who were work
ingmen and on application he gave $500 with q
promise of more. This investment of money
was to aid a rival of Gridley to defeat him in
his own organization. Mr.. Murphy said it had
general order business through the Chamber of
Commerce. He had been in Office but few
days when man named Col. Cornwell, a lobby
agent at Washington, threatened him with all
kinds of things in the strongest language if he
did not restore the general order business to for
eignksteamship companies. Complaints were
sometimes made of loss of packages after they
had been landed. In such cases thorough ex-
animation was ordered, but as general thing
there is failure to discover Offenders.
Without concluding his examination the COM
mittee adjourned till Monday
UNPLEASANT ATTENTIONS.
WASHINGTON March 17.-Charles w. Butts
lawyer of brief residence in Washington, was
arrested yesterday on charge of RIGHTEOUSNESS
towards girls in public schools Several faith
ers are in search of Butts with pistols.
MEssRs. DAWES ANp GARFIELD's POSITION.
Reports having been circulated that Messrs
Dawes and Garfield are concerned in the anti
Grant movement. 1t is assertained, on enquiry,
that Dawes to-day said to Senator that while
he had no political sympathy with the minori-
ty Republicans in the Senate, the course pur-
sued by the majority against them concerning
the investigation of alleged abuses had excited
his personal sympathy. Gen Garfield tonight
ever having said word that could be construed
into hostility towards Gen. Grant, and also re-
marked that he, like Dawes, always has been
IN favor OF the fulles investigation of charges
affecting the conduct of public officers.
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
The Committee ON Ways and Means has not
yet completed the tariff bill and it will not prob
ably be reported until towards the close of the
| present MONTH While the members are eau
| tious as to the progress of the work, they say
they will not have time to revise the tariff thor
| oughly the present session, but will report
changes in some principle articles and enlarge
the free list on the basis recommended by the
Secretary of the Treasury.
SENSATION ITEM.
| The Washington correspondent of the Tray
eller, after apologizng for the sensational char
acter of the dispatch sends the following: ''It
is asserted in unequivocal language, that new
difficulties have arisen in connection with the
| Geneva Conference. One of the officers of the
British Navy who is soon to assume command
of a powerful feet is said to be travelling over
the United States incognito with view of as
containing the strength of our Notifications and
| the value of our ornaments.
MINNESOTA.
.--. RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
| ST PAUL March 16 The ladies car IN the