The New York herald., 1873-08-16
The Steamship Ring" and the Baggage
Ring" and How They Are Worked.
The Names Of Sixty.One Custom House Off
cials Sent 10 Washington To
Be "Investigated."
Dismay, CONSERVATION and Terror Per-
vading 1900 Custom House
Employees.

| ~ was u great day OF suspense yesterday, sue
ceed Ing the outburst caused by the HERALD OF the
day previous In regard to the Custom House
alleged frauds. Nearly all the various oficias
connected with the department. paid their
respects TO the granite building at an
early hour to ascertain If they were
among the lists OF the condemned. But no
satisfactory information could be obtained by
them, for the supreme officials had shutthemselves
| up ike oysters and could not be opened. 1t was
discovered that the Special Agent OF the Treasury
| Jayne, had left on q sudden vacation. He had
gone with his list OF the cuprlts to Ithaca N. Y,
and had left behind him, to take care OF his office,
inspector Priest, young man with remarkable
good looks, who was, like his superior officer very
| chafy OF information.
COLLECTOR ARTHUR.
| The HERALD reporter visited General Arthur yes
| terday morning. and that gentleman very politely
uen!ed all statements In regard to the facts re-
| lated In the HERALD. General Sharpe was also
spoken to, and he stated that there was no "black
| list" and II there were he would certainly be
aware OF 1t. Brainerd Howell denied all allega-
| tion5 made against him, "SOn" Bliss and
| Chief Liqudating Clerk Evans also declared that
| they had not been accused or any misdemeanor,
because IL they had been they would have been
| summoned before the Collector and the Assistant
| Secretary OF the Treasury. Inspector Whittredge
was detailed to the steamship Denmark, at pier a.
| and could not be found neither could Inspector
Morey, who had been detailed to the White Star
| line OF steamers ut Jersey City. Mr.. Whittredge
had been detailed from the Barge ONCE at the
Battery where it is said the inspectors Of customs
are coming money, to the National line OF steam
ers, where the business is not good. The plunder
that the inspectors reap at the Barge ONCE is
something magnificent ana when a man Is sent
from there he is disgusred with his lot.
r.
EDGMENT.
At Al Broadway Colonel Frank E. Howe has an
office, labelled the Especial Agent United States
Treasury" Mr.. Jayne, of the Custom House, Is
also the Especial Agent United States Treasury"
and there Is considerable rivalry between these
two gentlemen. 1t is well known that report
of the frauds Of Custom House OIL
cials had been made by Mr.. Jayne. MIR.
Howe was at Long Branch and could
not come to the city owing to the storm, and in the
meantime this terrible 'accidentn occurred TO the
Custom House employees Mr. Howe is q society
| man. Mr.. Jayne Is diamond In the rough who
| WORKS late hours. reporter asked Colonel Howe
frauds.
Colonel HowE-Yes, have read the HERALD; but
" Was fSa said as
disciple Of C@sarism should say it,
toH there must oe for
employees agree that there Is list OF men who are
under charges. 49, '.-;'-.-
Colonel I0wE lin an mperious nnanner)-Wen
well, you must not mention my name, sir; mind,
you must not mention 81 my name; II is true that
number as has been reported.
three men Who afS S impscsteds ' ''a'A'' '''''
already, and you must not give my name to your
peopleAyou must pot give my name to your people,
dnsh Ia s Sases dus
waved his hand and broke up the interview, like
pro-c0nsul Of C@sar.)
Craig, Of the law firm OF Webster & Craig, 70 call
scrape. Mr.. Craig is handsome, lively, blacK
haired man, and mis- partner, Mr.. Sidney Webster,
Of Of se g. ned
his clients to keep still, and there being various
diverse interests separating the federal onice.
District Attorney Bliss might take it into his head
to prosecute the criminals; SO there was great
ready to confess II chance was given them to beg
WHAT WAS SENT TO WASHINGTON.
Tho "backers' OF the different persons impli-
Gated In fraud were very much excited yesterday,
tics Ia business visited the Custom House to
try and save the bribe takers There Is to be
meeting Of the hackers Of Of these these empioyes accused
publican politician OF this city at haltpast seven
O'Clock, to take measures to avert the storm which
Is now bursting upon their clients. 1t will be nu-
merously attended, as the men who are accused
have great local influence in the primaries and
There will also be held in few days meeting Of
the inspectors Association" at which the bribe-
taking will be considered enectually Committees
have already gone to washington to follow up AS
sistant Secretary Sawyer and Chief Clerk Wander
Dilt, VINO nave oip odisappeaEed suddenly an ana very
cleverest republican politicians In New York. and
as IL is known that disclosure OF the frauds, or
punishment OF the accused, would smash the party
throughout the country, as the Tammany frauds
defeated Greeley, no expense or cxerton will be
spared to make compromise and shield the
guilty.
"wuo ARE ACCUSED ~
Sxty-one names have been sent to washington
by special Agent Jayne, which have been found on
the books OF different merchants as taxing bribes
ana cheating sns United states t%e S,gn
officials in the Custom House as guilty persons.
Fifty one OF the names represent persons holding
the 0icos OF inspectors, and then there are i've or
six clerks In the General Appraisers ofllce who are
also implicated. The list OF all these people Is in
the possession Of Mr. Vanderbilt, who VIII not dis
close their names until ordered by Mr.. Richardson,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
THE ''RINGs'' IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
There are two rings In the Custom House.. One
is called the baggage Rng'' and the other Is
ship Kns' It is understood that there are two In
spectors allowed to each line OF steamers. The
e s Of ser
sss vessel The dnman pays $50 to each
and the White star formerly paid 800 vessel for
each one Inspected but the sum paid now by the
cred by inspectors good paying line. These
officiais would rather stay at the barge ONCE
where there is more money to be made with less
trouble.
sTuE BAGGAGE RING"
Inspectors prefer to be in the 'baggage ring"
as there is more money TO be made In 1t. Very
and pass baggage on the vessel before she comes
to her dock. 1t is considered favor to be per.
mitled to belong to this ring. Heavy. toll is
levied on unprotected passengers, as they are
at the mercy OF the inspectors who ex-
anime baggage. A lady coming alone from
Europe Is considered "air game" by these ras-
Gals. They have no hesitation in ScIlAg an unpro-
tected woman that every article Of clothing in her
whatever sum they may demand II she should
dare refuse to pay the sum levied she will be ar
rested as smuggler and Will have to undergo the