The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-19
NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
Ex-COllectOr Murphy Before the Senate
rial Investigating Committee.
Correcting Testimony-Why He Did Not Take
the General Order Business from Leet & Co..
Horace Greeley's Brother-in- Law-Tweed
and the Tammany Republican Officials

WASHINGTON, March Is, 1872.
The Custom House investigation was resumed TO-
day. Ex-Collector Murphy corrected his direct ties.
timony OF Saturday. lie had stated that, according
to his recollecton the conversation with the Pres
dent VINO had said Leet ought to leave the general
order business. took place early last fall lie now
desired TO say that his visit TO Washington, when
the conversation took place, must have been in
May 1871, as that was his last visit 10 Washington
while he was Collector, which fact ne discovered by
examining the hotel register.
MASON & co. IS LITTLE AFFAIR."
MIR. Murphy during his cross-eXamnatlon by
Senator Bayard, SAID he became acquainted with
Mr.. Jeet about the time he was confirmed as Col
lector. lie had him at the Flftn Avenue HOTEL
Mr.. Leet having been there pointed out to him.
Leet Il Stocking obtained the remainder OF the
general oroer business under his administration,
directly after the dedication Of Mason & Company
was discovered. Two hundred and nfty-
seven bales boxes, &C., were missing from
Mason Companys store: the ~. mys,
owner of the goods ever appeared. The witness
never discovered to whom the goods belonged. A
ran AWAY TO- canada. The matter was now 10 the
hands OF the District Attorney: he did not Know
| the general order business was much sought
after. The names OF those who applied ior IL
woud al volumes ass persistent sppcaGs qua
the steamship companies. Almost Ir every I per
| sona friend he had IN New YORK Wantea
the businesss as did every politician. lie did not
want to select any one applicants for fear of
offending the others, and as long as ne persons
VINO mad the business understood It he did not want
to interfere with them. II any other parties had a
| had 1t they would have been allowed TO retain ~
| Of all the applicants were UNIT Tor IT.. lie wanted
| the whole system changed, ana dd all ne couiu 70
| have the law OF 1864 abolished.
| THE GENERAL SENTIMENT OF NEW YORK.
| Witness was asked why he did not yield 10 the re-
quest OF the general sentiment OF New noLk m on
1 m a
duct OF the general order business, and the recon-.
mendation Of the secretary OF the Treasury, based
the result OF the Paterson COMMITTEE 10 restore
In reply witness said he did not under.
the merchants; thought the Secretary OF the
Treasury was mistaken. and did not ttink
unpaid goods, their interests as importers ana
common carriers being Identical. witness sall III
the latter part OF the summer or 1870, IN conversa
ton with the President at Long Branch, the Presi-
cent said he wanted Leet TO go into business else,
no an oa In New the
lhen Informed Murphy that ne dld not
want TO emoarrass nlm IN his appointments,
bul spoke merely for the retention OF two persons
tnen IN me custom House, one OF whom had been q
class mate and room mate at West Point with Gen.
eral CRAM. Inc witness said A. T. stewart was IN
favor OF tne restoration OF the general order bust
ness 70 the steamship lines because OF the business
facilities they could give him. But witness said
whether sucn facilities superior to those which
could be afforded oy other parties was another ques
ton. lie mad always felt tree TO do Justice to al
parues In the general order business.
GRAB BY TIE GREELEY FAMILY.
Witness did not tell Cleveland, brotner.in.law O
Horace Greeley, that the general order business
controlled or nxed at Washington He had con
vcrsation on board the steamer on the way TO Lon,
Branch Cleveland brought two stools, and the
. went towards the centre or the boat and sa
! down when Cleveland said, "Mr Murphy
| don't want TO embarrass you, but
| would like to have snare 81 the gener,
| order BUSINESS Mr.. Murphy said that was del
cate matter TO touch. He would do something Il
him II he could, and promised TO take the nat "
into consideration. He might nave sa'g W IA
| CLEVELAND that there GantlemRn IN RbulnS