New-York tribune., 1874-11-19
CUSTOM-HOUSE TROUBLES.
SERIOUS COMMOTION IN THE SURVEYORS
DEPARTMENT.

NvEsTiG ATIOY ABOUT TO BE MADE INTO THE
CHARGES OF CAPT. BRACKETr AGAINST DEPUTY
SURVEYOR HOWELL.
at the Custom-hOuse on Tuesday there was
much excitement, owing to impctant changes IN sur
veyor George H. sharpe's department.. Deputy Sur
yeyor Louis J. Kirk who will be remembered as
frequently joined with D. c. Jayne in suits against
NewYork merchants was ordered TO take Tue place vi
Deputy Surveyor Byron Howell in the examination OF
passengers baggage by foreign steamers and Inspectors
Messrs. Livingston Bliss. Eors and Henderson. VINO
have been on special duty az aids to Mr. Howell
we're ordered to tho barge ofico FOR discharH-
ing duty. John LawreRce. lquidator OF thc
Naval Office, who was attached to Deputy
Howeli's force as "liquidatOr afOat," and whose
duty it was to calculate the duty on any dutiaOie
articles brought by passengers and mentioned on the
baggage declarations. ordered to his desk IN the
Naval Office Lawrence Immediately rendered his resiS
nation. which has not been accepted.
These changes have been made IL il understood, b.
cause OF Instructions received from the Secretly OF the
Treasury ordering Investigation aso the charges OF
bribery preferred against Deputy howeirs force by
Special Agent i,rackett last spring 'hese charges gre"
out of a seizure by Brackett which was reportou
In THE TRIBUNE the time, and OF which tue loo"ihs
is q brief history:
In April last, Special Agent Brackett seized az the
Cunard dock in Jersey City, nine trunks belonging 10
b. G. Bean which be had brought With him on the
steamer Russia The trunks taken to the seizure
room at the Custom-hOuse and on examination were
found to contain silks aud laces which were appraised
at SIC OC and suit brought by the Government FOR the
condemnation the goods the ground OF attempt TO
smuggle. The seizure having been made In New
Jersey, 1t was reported to u. s. Dstrlct-Attofhey
Keasby at Trenton, and the case was tried Oeiore
Judge Nixon at Trenton in June last, Verdce pei"H
rendered In favor Of the defendant DstrctA''oruoy
Keasby applied for q new trial. which was denleu Dy
Judge Nixon Keasby then appealed the case 10 Tue
Supreme Court on the rulings OF Judge Nixon Inc
trunks still remain the possession or the Governnent
at the Custom-house The testimony at the trial was
very conflicting Special Agent Bracket and his assist
ants swearing positively that the trunks had been duly
marked and passed by the inspector Deputy surveyor
Howell (who in charge OF the dock and bis assist
ants that the trunks had been set aside for futhcr
examination.
No action was taken by the Treasury Department at
the time and the officials felt perfectly secure
and have fre qently boased of the failure of rackets
case. The present changes, therefore. come IKE cap
Of thunder from clear sky. IL was rufnOreu dnit
Deputy Howell would take "a leave or absence. rue
found TO be based on remark or Mr' ho"ei
that he should travel South for the Winter"
AT the Collectors office all knowledge OF the cause OF
the change denied, and the Naval OHicer was
equally uncOmmlincalYe. Collector Arthur Dau haSl
LETT on Monday evening, probably for Washington, ahd
the Surveyor left last evening for the same desnaon