The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-09
WASHINGTON.
The Custom House Cases.
More Of Special Agent Jayne's
Transactions,
Outrageous Treatment of New
York Firm.

NEW YORK, March, THE following are tn(
remarks of Mr. Brainard before the Committee
of Ways and Means last night on the moiety
system. Cephas Brainard of New York said
"Never till now had the importers of the cOun'
try dared to tell the story of oppression" In
the course of his remarks he referred to a case
in which he was counsel on warrant from the
Custom House. Eighty three miscellaneous
books and handles of correspondence, with two
boxes of papers were taken from a German
importing house that had been in existence fit
teen years: IL was charged that the house had
committed fraud on two invoices of hair cloth,
one on the 10Th of October, 1869, and the other
on the 10Th of October previous. A part OF
these books remain in the New York Custom
House to-day. He could not procure the cor
respondence necessary to be used in the suits OF
these merchants The Selling officer emained
in charge of the store more than two months.
They took away more than $4,000 worth of
goods, including velvets, plushes, &C., on a
warrant relating to hair cloth. Nineteen suits
were brought against the merchants. His eli
ents were thus outraged, and the cOnSignees
feeling it, the governments of France, Belgium
and Prussia interferred through their represent
tatives and asked the Treasury Department for
an investigation. Mr.. Brainard came here and
with Baron Gerolt called OH the Secretary who
explained the cese, and felt as much indigna-
ton as any of them. On the 18th of December
Mr.. Brainard went to the MarshaPs Office to
ascertain what had become af the books, and
was informed that tney had been sent to the
Custom Honse. He found that they had been
put into a room in possession of this inforner
Jayne and a clerk. He was told by them that
they had looked at only one or two books but
had never before seen as bad case of fraud.
They said: "It had better be settled for $780,
600. If it is not we will drive you men out of
the market" Mr.. Brainard's Chants declared
they could never pay that sum. Mr. Boutwell,
said he would give instructions to the District
Attorneyto examine into the subject which
was done, when the seventeen cases dwindled
to two, and the matter terminated by the coun-
sci giving check for $1,000, From this one
case all could be judged Mr.. Brainard allud-
ed to Mr.. Jayne's testimony before the Con-
gressonal Special Committee in 1872, held in
New York, and asked the Committee 10 read
what Mr. Jayne said about threats Mr.. Jayne
on that occasion seid he never put handouts on
persons to scare them. He never threatened:
to go to prison, and he said to them the better
course would be to confess what a wicked thing
it was to defraud the revenue. The best way
was to tell what they had done; when that
failed he read the terms of the law. Our polite
friend, Senator Bayard, said 20 Jayne: 'Have
you exhausted your catalogue?" When Jayne
replied: Il don't care to 60 into that field"
but Phelps, Dodge q Co., who paid $270, 1000,
went into that field Mr.. Brainard continued
until adjournment, speaking against the system
ial agents and their associates, the punishment
coming to merchants before indictment and
trial.
The Tribune states that Jayne, the informer.
was for some time clerk in the Paymaster's
Department in Washington, but in 1867 was
dismissed for defaming the characters of Pay
master General Brice and Major Brooke.
Treasury Balances.
WASHINGTON, March, Z.
The following are the Treasury balances to-
day:-Currency, So, DAG, 362; special deposit of
legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit S51 ,240 00Os coin, SS4, 246 1888, including
coin certificates $40, So, 200; outstanding legal
tenders. $685.. 100000.
Indian Matters.
Gen. Sheridan in writing to Gen. Sherman,
under date Ct Sd inst. expresses belief that the
troops sent b. the Red Cloud aud Spotted Tall
agencies, will be sufficient to 80 far intimidate
the Indians, or the agencies, as to allow peace
full occupatio|. He thinks however, that any
other time than at this Indictment season, hos
titities would have commenced at the crossing
of tue North Platte River.
He believes that a majority of the Sioux have
been preparing for hostilities two years back,
aud thinks it possible when spring opens we
ing parties on the exposed frontier, and that
life and property will be unsafe. He hopes
nevertheless, that peaceful occupation of the
agencies may lead to better state of affairs.
Indian agent Savile telegraphs from the
railroad agency under date of March 5, that
the troops arrived there that day and every
thing was quiet Many Indians had left the
agency. The force above referred to is that
under Col. Smith, which left Laramie On the
morning of the I'd inst
Various Matters.
A. H. Stevens is still confined to his bed, and
is very feeble.
Senator Boutwell, is convalescent and rode
out to day.
Architect Mullett has asked the House Com
mittee Oh Appropriations for 81, 100000 for
continuing the work on the new State, War
and Navy departments.