New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-15
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
CUsToM-HousE SECRETS

RUhORs THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICIALS Ahh
TO BE REMOVED FOR GROSS MSCoNDUcI-AN
Observation-Disclosures ON THE GRoUND-REVE-
LATIoNs OF AN IMPORTERS BOOKS.
Custom house circles were very much agi-
ted yesterday by statements the effect that orders
had Issued from the Treasury Department by Secre
tary Richardson remove Immediately large number
OF Custom officials for gross fraud and coIrupop
1t was alleged that Assistant Secretary OF inc iro
ury had been ordered TO New-York for tne puiPO' -
experimenting these removals. THESE s'S'0N ~,
rapidly spread In every direction, and by tue ''o
hector Arthur had arrived from Long bran0n ""
hobbies OF the Customhouse were throns'" y
clerks inspectors and other officials, who were aA
10 know whether or not their names were lnoIuuou "
the "blaek hist" Application 10 the leaoi"s
the Customhouse eiced very little lh'oi'""''o" o.
ing very reticent, some protesting lgno'an0o GU" -
manifesting great desire to parry queS'iO"S o ,no
.uhieet Application made 10 Deputy Oolec'o'
ISo,ho- for information hut he had none 10 lmpart'
,,,n all inouirers TO Collector Arthur. The Colec-
Tar had been closeted with Assistant Secretary sawyer
and mon his arrival in the public once stated 'h"' "
had no facts to mpar but referred inqurers 10 MI
Sawyer. -. No.
York for the purpose of experimenting the removal o
snv Custons Geals and did not know that there was
.pv foundation for the In circulation Ihere
vAR always more less investigation pending out ne
did not know u anything special lie concluded oy
stating that there nothing Of public interest IN MS
visit
These statements however, were not SATISFACTORY
more especially as the story crept through the building
thai the charges against the officials were OF detailed
psinrc and related several crimes including the ac
cepanoe of large brides from smugslers ana dshones'
luuo.ters whom they had assisted in defrduulng tue
ievcnue il reported that between GO and 10 ohcsS
we're involved that the discovery OF their crimes
was due 70 the investigation of the affairs OF the
glass iu,porfinc house of Plat d Boyd OF NO
" MnrIyly-st against whom heavy suits had
been brought FOR alleged violation OF tne revenue
laws IL was stated that some time since lhiormauoh
had reached Special Agent Jayne, that Patt q boyu
had been enabled 10 make heavy importauohs Oh siass
without paying the fun duty thereon He examined
,heir hooks and papers and began, on Wednesday,
for,nai action against the for s,OOOo Separate
snits were also instituted against John X PAU ana
Edward Boyd $4,000 and $4,000 in gold respectively.
DINING his investigation II Is alleged that epeoi"l
Agent jayne discovered entries in the hrnS DOORS Vi
alleged payments 20 a large number OF Custom-house
officials including Deputy Collectors ana Deputy sur
vevor entry clerks qudating clerks, and inspectors,
for services rendered in facilitating the frauds These
facts ne reported 90 the Secretary OF the Treasury and
II alleged that upon his report was based an order LOT
the removal Of the cupable governmental servants
ATEIBuNE reporter called upon Special Agent Jayne
for information the subject which was agitatng the
Mr.. Jayne was, as usual, extremely ret
,erut and would impart positive information, but
after persistent questioning tacitly admitted the truth
Of the that his report In the Plat
Boyd case which implicated the officials lie declnea
10 furnish Of the guilty persons, or copy OF ms
report alleging that either could be obtained from the
Treasury Department at Westinghouse the officials
were disposed 10 give the information. 1t would be
breach of official etiquette, however for him TO furnish
copies Of the papers.
Many Of the accused persons the friends and ap
ointees of prominent Senators and Representatives and
active Administration Republicans. Many influential
Republicans called yesterday upon the Collector with
view 20 exerng their influence necessary, to sustain
their friends Among the inspectors the salnation was
&c Did you get any gossf" l. e. any money.
AT late hour last evening Assistant Secretary Sawyer
Informed q reporter OF THE TRIBUNE that he had
received no communication from Washington respecting
tbe alleged delinquent Custom-house officials. He was
IN his room at the Fifth Avenue Hotel late in the
afternoon and during tho evening. Many visitors
endcavored 10 obtain interview with him IN the
afternoon, but almost ali were compelled to go away
disappointed. AT 1880 p. after he had diDed the
lower halls OF the hotel filed with people who
nervously stepped up to the clerks desk and in low
tones requested him 10 send up their cards TO the
Assistant Secretary. Collector Arthur was closeted
with Mr.. Sawyer for several hours.
Edward A. BOYD of the firm OF Platt & Boyd stated
that the had paid inspectors vessels and steam
hps for taking OF the goods on the wharf and not
putting them under general orders. Every merchant in
New-York has does this In regard 10 the suits
brought against the firm for differentiation Of goods.
Mr. Eoyd said that when specific duty paid goods,
his business, there Can be no under
valuation for tins arise from an adj yalorem duty.
The valuation Of the goods is not taken into account in
their impOrtatons and the only The quantity
imported.
ACTION DIFFERED AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14.-Secretary Richardson
states that has received information Of the whole
sale suspension of Custom-house officials in NewYork
he II not likely to until the action Of Collector
Arthur is finally forwarded to him for approval The
fact that the investigation is ia progress does not OF IL
self have special significance since investigations are
constantly going all branches Of the customs
SPECIAL Agent Jane at the Department on Tuesday
and Yesterday acting Chief Clerk Vanderbilt who until
recently had charge Of all the appointment books, left
for New-York Secretary Sawyer expected in
aAy or two. The Treasury Department has received
official information OF suit for 81 900 against Patt
Boyd grass importers of New-York for undervalustor
Df goods