The New York herald., 1873-08-15

WASHINGTON, August IA, 1873.
| Overh auIing OF the New York Custom
House-sccretary Richardson On the
Frauds Committed by Customs Omccrs.
1t il reported tonight that Secretary Richardson
| has directed q thorough investigation 70 be made
| into every branch OF the New York Custom House.
| The Treasury officials whose duty 1t Is to settle
| compromise cases do not hesitate to say tnat
there has been for years q nagrant abuse of con-
| fdence, and that parties who have been SYSTEM
atically defrauding the government have done SO
| with the conniyance OF trusted employees in the
| Custom House In New York. The extent OF the
| frauds and imposition cannot be even estimated at
| present, but one In the confidence OF
the Department tonight said that If the
investigation was fully carried out, no one could
tell where it would end.
| Secretary Richardson, when asked II there was
any truth in this report, aid:-"The Treasury De-
partment Is always investil atlng, not only in New
York. but at every port where there ls much bus-
ness done. 1t is necessary to be constantly vig-
liant. The routine of espionage is not followed.
Sometimes reports come from apparently disinter
ested parties, while at other times charges are
specifically made by agents OF the Depart
ment, who have facilities for detect
ing fraud that the mercantile communi-
ties little dream Of In this case" referring
to New York, "the information filed came from
man whose reports heretofore have been found
strictly correct Sweeping as they were, 1t was
the duty OF the Collector to investigate and, while
there is good reason for believing that a number
Of the accused are guilty, some may be innocent.
cannot say until hear the result Of the investi-
CATION, what number Will be discharged
When asked how frauds could be perpetrated by
government officials for SO long time. defraudng
the revenue and virtually allowing dishonest prac-
tices to be carried on with the seeming approval
OF the Officias, he made answer.
The opinion in Washington is that the informa-
tion was obtained from parties who are not
satisfied with their profits and, under the pretence
OF being detectives, have really turned States
evidence.
Proposition to Make Pilots Government
Officers.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has under c0nsd-
Grafton proposition to recommend to Congress
that pilots of all steamers be licensed and en-
ployed by the government, thus making them gov
ernment officers under the Supervising Inspector
OF Steamboats, and requiring them before taking
vessel out OF port to be ully satisfied that in all
respects as to equipment and lite saving appa-
ratus, number OF passengers on board, &C, she
has fully complied with the law. refusal oil
pilot to take vessel out OF any port owing to
noncompliance with existing l-w shall be
deemed by the owners sufficient cause
for detention until q personal inspection
by the inspector OF the district shall have
been made. 1t is also argued in favor
OF this plan that pilots. being government officials,
could prevent smuggling, as vessels coming into
port usually take on pilot some distance out and
the presence OF a government officer on board
would 01tentimes prevent the landing Of pack
ages before the Custom House officials came
ohn nord 1,l,a aniInt foa ha hv ri
government and. it is claimed, would be sufficient
for the compensation OF the pilots employed.
No Yellow Fever Board the Canan-
daigua.
The Navy Department asserts that, so lar as the
advices there concerned, the sickness on board
the Canandaigua is Isthmus fever, and not genuine
yellow fever
Search for Survivors Of Wrecked
Vessel.
The Secretary of the Treasury to-day ordered
the Collector of Customs at Port Townsend, Wash
ingtOn Territory, to send the revenue steamer Lin
coin to cruise for a month about Queen Charlotte
Sound, to inquire for any survivors OF the steamer
George S. Wright, which vessel was wrecked in
March last on the passage from sitka to San Fran
cisco. Signs Of the wreck having been discovered
at Queen Charlottes Sound 1t is thought that some
Of the survivors may be in that locality.
Forthcoming Report Of the Nicaragua
Surveying Expedition.
Commander Edward p. Lull, OF the Nicaragua
Surveying Expedition was at the Navy Depart
ment to-day preparing to commence work on his
rerort, the field notes, maps &C, taken by the ex-
pedition having recently arrived by the steamer
Kansas. Lieutenants j. +. Miller ann J. +. Moser.
Assistant Engineer G. M. Greene, Civil Engineers A.
G. Mensca and G. +. Crowell, who were with tho
expedition have been ordered to duty here to as
sist Commander Lu in the preparation OF his re-
port, which will be submitted to Congress early in
the session.
A Post Office Robbery.
The postmaster at Litchfeld, Montgomery county.
ILL., has telegraphed to the Postmaster General
that that Office was broken into last night and
robbed OF between tcree and five hundred dollars.
Vacancies In tine Department OF Justice.
Mr.. N. Y. Swayne, son OF Justice Swayne, of
the Supreme Court having resigned his clerkship
in the Department OF Justice, this and two other
vacancies will be filed by competitive examina-
ton.