The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-19
CUSTOM HOUSE CORRUPTION.
Frightful Suspense Of the Federal
Free Lances.
Who Dev0ured the Diamonds Of
General Ramon Paez?
M'cRUM, THE NUTMEG sMUGGLER.
The Sherry Vino Swindle-Morality Of Mer.
chants-How Appraisers Are APP
prosched-The Dishonest Schemes
Of the Special Agents.

proacned-The Dishonest Schemes
Of tho Special Agents.
the sink Of Custom House corruption has
caused great deal Of excitement among
federal officials In this city. And 1t
has spread outside Of the Custom House, and
alarm Is beginning to enter the breasts of Post
ONCE offlcials and Internal Revenue employees.
The United States District Attorneys people are
beginning to brace themselves up against the
storm which they know or imagine Is surely
coming. The excitement regarding the Tam.
many frauds was purely local in its
effects. but 1t is believed that the Custom
Houses Of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston are
as full of fraud and corruption as that OF New
York. Millions Of dollars, legally the just dues OF
the United States government find their way into
the pockets Of the federal parasites, and CONNER
cial morality was never at such o low ebb as 1t Is
at present in the country.
DISHONESTY OF LEADING MERCHANTS.
There are firms in this city doing the heaviest i'm
porting business in the various branches Of trade
to which they belong, and whose names and
houses are 0utwardly above all reproach, who are
guilty OF the basest frauds on the revenue.
In the HERALD OF yesterday were published the
names Of several prominent firms who have been
implicated for large amounts. Plat & Boyd
boldly assert that they Will fight the government
to the last dollar they have got but this is but
firm who have audacity enough to face the risks OF
such course. Ninety-ave per cent of the I'M
porters when caught cheating the revenue become
parties to suits in which they know that they are
certain to lose, because they are guilty of robblng
the government Robbery is the word-it is no
use In mincing matters-and the sums paid
NV
for attorneys fees In addition to the sums paid to
compound the robberies, can be found on the
registers In the United States District Attorneys
Offices. Is 1t strange that these merchants who
rob the government should In their turn often be
robbed by their clerks and cashiers, and that en-
bezzlement is an every day occurrence, and is in
its turn compounded by the employers OF clerks
and cashiers. Nor should 1t be deemed strange
that Custom House officers should accept money
and pass goods iraudulently when they can ret
what they want for committing dishonest acts on
the revenue.
INSPECTORS BRIDES.
The bonus which Is paid inspectors on some lines
oil steamers is called by these gentry "House
passengers Tor passing trunks, laces, diamonds or
silks, is known by the singular title of 'hatcets."
The Pacific Mail steamship line pays $50 apiece to
each Inspector Tor discharging cargoes, and there Is
a case OF wine given to each Inspector, which they
'iindn ready for them although the pretence OF
at some Of the bars on q" board Of steamers
Is Kept up as sort OF cover. The Havana lines give
each inspector So head but they do not get their
meals gratis, which Is considerable Of an object, as
the food on board is always good and the wines are
rich and make good blood The White Star line
Last year, for the election fund, the inspectors
were forced to pay 500 head-S4o being usually
Ten sne soldiers nd sailors and
Army Of the Republic are constantly
e IT ss and Hr M
II Is well known that inspectors are asked as often
as six or eight or dozen times in one year to pur
piOus Frauds and ii an unfortunate inspectOr-to
use the language OF one of the victims-.should
bly, Dee-strick Asso-se -as1in viii furnish another
inspector In bis place. ,,
The Customs, the Post Office and the Internal
Revenue Departments OF the United States have
number Of attaches, who are known as especial
ties are to detect frauds their several branches
of the government service. These men should
be chosen lor known integrity, fidelity and for pos
session Of unpurChasable cOnscences. Yet they
ore chosen for very different qualities, and some
OF these especial agents, are men Of the most I'M
scrupulous character. Some have served terms
Of Imprisonment for ielonies, and others are
notorious characters OF various degrees unit to
associate with honest men in any capacity. These
especial agents. do not hesitate to compound
feOnies, provided there is money in them, and in
Other. cases the books OF honest merchants are
worst crimes to satisfy the vindictve spirit Of the
especial agents" who may have been lnterlered
Will. N inc treasury department. Oh the united
States there are employed aity-fOur Of these
especial agents." at salaries ranging at SIS, SO. So
and $40 per day. But three of these men have $40
Jayne in New YORK and Madge, in washington,
have $40 day. Howe in New York, had less than
$40 Q day; but Howe was friend OF Roscoe
as my Lord Chief Justce;" and this latter gentle
man had the thing fixed for Howe, who ls reputed
to be o famous master OF ceremonies. 1t Is sure
that Howe, when CGsarism becomes certainty,
Is 70 have the place Of "Usher Of the Black Rod
at Court. There are some honest men among the
especial agents.; but they are like angels visits
plundered by these agents yearly from the mer
chants and government with their noble Opportu-
nities Is enormous.
Therc IS great deal OF fraud and peculatiOn
going on in the wine and liquor importing trade
Of this city; In the sherry wine importation from
city the frauds prevented alone by our Consul at
CadiZ, Captain r. +. Farrell, amounted to $l02 500
In less than year; and yet that faithful official
was removed by the influence Of dishonest Span
ish merchants, through the medium OF the Span.
ish Minister at Washington. This was In 1860. In
the wine business this swindng Is done in peculiar
manner and deserves description. Sherry has been
invoced from Cadiz at the value of $40 q quarter
cask OF thirty-two gallons, which was then ridicu-
lousy low figure, even for "slops.r The same sort
OF wine at Jerez brought $50 to 500 quarter cask,
and yet 1t could be nvoced to the United States at
$40 quarter c.sk. Another swindle was discov-
cred by On American ship master. In contracting
for freight. the captains and merchants agreed
upon 30 many dollars q ton. Now, eight quar-
put the
gallons EACH The difference in the size OF the
casks was not easily detected, and not until Cap
tam Berry OF the Berkshire; complained to the
usual was this fraud exposed. The frauds in the
importations to this port are tremendous, and,
were space possible at this moment, would astonsh
the readers Of the HERALD.
'MURDER WILL OUT"