The Republican journal., 1875-04-29
Another Comm0tion in the Custom
House
Barnabas charged with Viola
ton of Law. Corruption and
Fraud!
An Official Investigation!
What Has Leaked Out

the office, there have been whispers that
the subordinate places were farmed out
to those who held them at a rate agreed |
upon, while the government paid another
and higher rate, and that the difference
stuck to the adhesive fingers of the Col
lector. These whispers grew into open |
talk, and finally into loud complaint |
There was cutlery and Indignation among
all classes of the community, at the |
shameless corruption charged and gener-
ally believed.
At last, when the patience OF the public
could stand it no longer, formal com
plant was drawn, signed by Republican
business men Of the vicinity, and addressed
to Gen. Bristow, Secretary of the Treas
Wy It was in substance as follows
First. That the Collector continually
violates the law requiring him to reside
at Belfast. by living in town ten miles
away.
Second. That he Systematically neg
lects the business of his office
Third That he corruptly and traudu-
lently withholds from subordinates a por-
ton of their salaries
This was forwarded to Washington,
and in due season an acknowledgment
was received, saying that the matter
would receive the early attention of the
department, On Tuesday the Goth, there
arrived by the evening train. q sharp,
shrewd-looking gentleman, having the I'M
mistakable air of one who knew the world
and the people in it pretty thoroughly.
He proceeded to the American House,
where he registered his name as N. w.
Bingham. This man is we'll known to
those who are posted as perhaps the
sharpest, shrewdest, and most discerning
of the treasury detectives. With an i'm
movable countenance, a voice ''to threaten
and command" and an eye like a hawk,
he is admirably calculated to go through
an offender and worm out the catalogue
Of his secret offences.
The visit, whether designedly or not,
| occurred at q time when Barnabas was
absent in Boston, purchasing supplies for
that famous grocery. There could be no
fixing up of stories for the occasion. The
hawk got among the chickens while the
old bird was away
The detective, after a nights rest and a
good breakfast, went to the custom house
Showing his credentials, he proceeded to
make q thorough examination of the
records, taking memoranda from time to
time. These finished, he sent for Mr.
Daniel l.. Pitcher, who holds the office of
deputy collector and Inspector, place
that is regarded as a sinecure-with fat
pay and no work. When Mr. P. arrived,
the detective, note book in hand, opened
Il conversation very much like this
Detective Mr. Pitcher, | understand
that you hold the office of deputy collector
and Inspector in this custom house. Is
that so?
Mr.. Pitcher Yes, do
Detective DO YOU have any other
business?
Mr. Z. Yes. / carry on farm on the
Lincolnville road, where | live.
Detect. DO you do anything else ?
p. Yes. | am President OF the Waldo
County Agricultural Society, and give
considerable time to that
bet. Is that all?
7. | own q trotting horse. and attend
fairs and trots
bet. Anything else?
p. Yes | am collector of taxes tor
the city Of Belfast.
bet Is that all?
p. No. | am in the milk business,
keep forty COWS, and supply customers in
Belfast.
bet Well, Mr.. Pitcher, after attending
to all these calls, how much time do you
have to give to your custom house duties?
Long pause No answer
bet How much is your salary here?
p. I don't know
bet. What. Don't know your own
salary?
2. Not exactly.
bet. How long have you held the
office?
Z. About one year and three months.
bet. How much have you received in
the way Of pay in that time?
p. After long pause. About five
hundred dollars,
bet Well, if your pay as allowed by |
government is sixteen hundred dollars a |
year. and you have received but five hum |
bred in fifteen months, what has become
of the rest?
p. Isatppose NJ. RobertS o'ccs d to me
bet. But if | find in the official files
your receipt, declaring that you and yon
alone have received IT, verified by q form
of oath how is that
P. mo reply.]
bet. Mr.. Pitcher, how many seizures
have you made during your term OF office ?
p. | can't say exactly.
DeI. w ell, IelfesH your IueiloiN anu |
let me know,
p. guess only one.
bet How much did the goods sell for?
p Eight dollars and fifty cents
bet Don't you consider your salary
high for the duties pertormed9
p. Perhaps So
bet. If you were doing business as a
private individual, wouldn't you consider
two hundred and fifty dollars per year as
liberal pay for such services rs you are
rendering?
p Probably should.
bet. That is all
The examination then proceeded and
was made to include officials OF the GUS
tom house, past and present, There is no |