New-York tribune., 1874-03-14
THE TREASURY RETURNS INCORRECT.
LARGE AMOUNT PAID AS PENALTY DIVIDED

THE TREASURY RETURNS INCORRECT.
A LARGE AMOUNT PAID AS PENALTY DIVIDED
AMONG THE CUsToM-HoUsE PEOPLE
The communication below gives the details
OF a transaction by Custom-house special agents ana
other officials which It Is certain Is not Of uncOmhon
occurrence. In this the merchants were compeled
70 nav large sum for the release Of their books and
the money never found its way into the Customhouse
tits case which ought to be presented In full to the
Committee OF Ways and Means. and TIE TRIBUNE trusts
Its correspondent and the outraged merchants Will take
steps TO do SO.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
SIR: As the revelations OF The TRIBUNE IN s Issue OF
Saturday Feb 49, pretty certain To be caracerzed
IN certain quarters. u sensational eAaggeratlOns my
NOT be amiss to supplement these with additions
particulars The heading the only exaggeralon can
mud In the whole article. II claims To be- the NDos
svstem or Cusom-house Pundrring Revealed Not So
Ii will take deal overhauling than the slo
ject Is ever likely 10 have bestowed upon H. before H
bottom OF this miry slough Is reached IheIe arc IAI
surface, that almost defy detection Does any sane s1
believe that tue uuclean BIRDS OF prey VINO 40 e a1v
work ostensiby, suffered u g0bbe up the 1any
blackmal without paying tribute 20 eormOrants De
hind the sceuesi Does jayne feather s nest on suCn
liberal scale. unmOlested while bis superl0rs are lIh
be content with their yirtuous pitances or once ~
stead OF indirect surmses an Incident OF e1peih,o o.
the Treasury Department IN Washington may 10 "o''
The public have-or had-the right 10 examine tDe
original Custom-louse returns sworn 70 W We. o,
Collectors, ana placed on file. An adeV' was u'
patched TO Washington for the EXPIRE paIposeo, 80 r
ceived by the Government during certain poio os7
TO appear II accounted for. Tue yisi.or was Siu.~
though puzzled by the fact that no OnbcaI OF 11l
grade whatever, 10 wnom application WAC ild'S, oS
knowledge under dirulties." On the contrary %
nothing was known of uLeir Whereabouts, or oi ,n'
Gus the hles the much enduriug yisiIof' no
his indignation, was fcicfitu ~ MT W
h. by hun To g. until the iart ociaii asod %
had other resource than refer back 10 AiI A. WY
course knew all about the tles and by TINS uhe io1
he had an awkward constituent 70 aeai Wien WIEN ,,in,
Collectors returns were uhedrlneu a.oa . .,t,p, ,n
searcD. and carefully examined. But OF csIt'in
OF money, extracted by the authority Oi the NC" 20.
Custom house tne most approved lut ~ -
mail there practced, tbere was no noy,i,u,sbt
No moiety appeared TO the credit OF Tue uo'.iI'
every dollar was gObbled" up 10y the az
The gentleman represented nrn @ @ran5 a renuL,
istence; men OF established and an f1r lLs
@ 80 W I,,i ~ urinary importance IN t1eII -,
A descent was made their preiniso. ~ 1nu toos
Custon-nolse men, armed WIEN hn,snf Tor a week
nJ held po,ses,on OF the eslaDii nm ami re-
aha @ nelu pS ~ last by them 40 D1nains up anu 10
,noyiny to the Custol-bOaSe au IL, ~ tUs v1ol u,
ments thereby ehectudlly i 81 onpe JTrgent anp,t
chinery OF no be informed what Gelhquohcy
Oatiou The parties ellVi'eu no ahs"'l'
,,as rafIsed--lly after udy rclus'. o 80 1.,i..,r
r,,a,,on on tnat point DO ootalneu on sse W. ~ H.
ian,le, Iron first W last Inc attack Was
Or hs IN enuafTass tho victims AT season WIN
of business must involve SERIOUS loss- h'is
rI unn, of merchandise Ot uncertain Nsiue' ..
inprIatnble within u limited period, were III pVl " "
..a ,nJ ,nu,t be sOu forthwith. OUTSIDE hs,n0"'
~ ga mlneatious OF the DlaCAnalI syssem no'V W
sn,d ordinary suspeoting and Euii dlng ds'i -
',cresstuliy engineered TO cause TIE elhP't -
wXer, afterw.rd found 10 DO ia league "i'n ~ III,
Icso n,LyIsers led, as tho eaSt oi aC"vNs N
- ,hs onlv means 10 OBTAIN imniedtat, rOslornuD.
,n. nroprrty pooks, &C.. that the uhiVr """'o "
,ubnit to tue pay uont " s.eOiuS oS v - ny,liDeat
EVon tho bankers Of taese gen1ene1 ALI '''"