New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-17


100 prominent citizens in New Orleans had
been assailed.
Mr.. Conger then asked witness to give
the names of those officers of the govern
ment who had been discOurteOus to him, or
who did not properly conduct the affairs Of
the government.
Witness objected TO answering the qnes-
tiOn, as when the committee returned to
Washington the house of jackson e. Kill
patrick would be left at the mercy Of these
officials.
The chairman, Mr.. Gibson, sustained the
witness in his objection; SO, also, did Mr.
Vance.
Mr.. Conger demanded that the question
be put to the committee.
Nr. New being asked for bis opinion,
said witness muet answer; that he having
made an assertion or charge, the party
cross.questioning could compel rep ".
Mr.. Reilly expressed the same opinion;
witness should have considered the conse-
Quences before he made such . statement.
Messrs. Stevenson and WOodburn being
absent, Mr.. Conger had the deciding vote;
witness being informed by the chairman
that he must answer the question.
Witness desired to explain first.
Mr.. COnger- the names and exI lain
after.
Witness observed that when it came to
the explanation Mr.. Conger might object,
as he had been doing all along.
Mr.. COnger-No danger of that.
The nam es OF f p. Champlin, second
special deputy, and F. w. Eicholz, chief
weigher, were then given. Witness could
not remember any other names; relative
to the former, Mr.. Chanlplin had caused
the storekeeper of their warehouse to re-
ceive an Increase Of salary, and had at one
time reported the warehouse as not being
of sufficient capacity; in relation to the
latter, witness had often spoken to Mr..
EichOlz of Irregularities; reference was then
made to the double weighing of 7O7 tons of
salt mentioned in mis- testimony; the second
weighing gave but little better satisfaction
to the firm than the first.
Mr.. Conger asked if that was all
Witness replied-That is about all.
Mr.. Conger then asked him if the chief
wei9her had listened to his complaints and
treated him civilly. Witness said he had.
Mr.. Conger then asked if the complaint
should not have been made to q higher
officiali Was it in Mr.. Eicholz's power to
rectify the matter without reporting to his
superior officer for instruction. Witness
said in some cases Mr.. Eicholz could have
rectified the matter, but had not done so.
Witness said that from the beginning of
1871 the house of which he was member
had received but little courtesy or favor
from the Cust0mhOuse of New Orleans.
During his testimony witness said that if
the documents, which Mr.. Kinsella had
stated were lost, could be produced they
would show where the guilt lay in relation
to reduction of duty charges on the cargo
of salt on the ship Pericles.
j. NJ. Davis, recalled--Has cOnversed
with George w. Ferguson's brother about
the former; told Augustus that his brother
had better try to get something to do in
New York, as he could get nothing to do
here; told Augustus he would like to see
George before he appeared before the COM
mittee, as there were parties getting up
charges against him relative to some pro
ceediags OF his while police officer; wit
ness said this conversation occurred after
his testimony had been published in the
newspapers
Justin Fremaux, sworn--TO Mr.. Gibson
Reside in New Orleans; was formerly in
charge of the Parish Prison; had charge Of
about ten prisoners from Grant parish, the
bill for keeping the same was paid at the
United States marshal's office; United
States prisoners accounts were reduced ten
per cent for the sheriff's fees and marshale
office; the deduction was not for the gov
ernment, but for the officers.
To Mr.. New-Have presented four such
bills to the marshals office; three were dis
counted ten per cent, and one paid in full
the total amount was about $1,000; tht
reason given for the deduction was that NJ
funds were on hand; the check was mad.
out to and paid by the United States sub
treasurer at the Mint; went to Sheriff
Patton, who gave witness directions to re
ceive the first check from the MARSHALL
office; the United States marshal was no
spoken to about the matter; Major d.
Klyne, his deputy, made out the check, an'
gave it to witness.
The committee, at five O'Clock, adj ourne,
until seven o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The committee resumed session at hal,
past seven o'clock.
Charles Laveck. sworn-To Mr.. Reilly
was engaged in the commission bushes
| and West Indian produce trade from lS6
to 1873.
Mr.. Reilly asked witness if he ha
| ever had any difficulty with the officials Q
| the CustOmhouse relative to importation;
Mr.. Conger thought this question was a
| settled; that it was no time now to reOpe
it by rebutting testimony. If this was tn
! intention of the committee, Mr.. Copgsr sal
he should call for the evidence before tbi
committee of the hundred and odd impol
ters and merchante, who simply certiie
that they would testify, if placed upon thu
stand, to the same facts as those importer
| and merchants who had given in thei
testimony relative to the proper manage
| ment Of the CustOmhOuse and the courtes
| of the officers OF the government i
| their business tranactiOns with then
II was agreed that defense should briD
forward rebutting testimony it they go f.l
inclined, when the examination was cor
| tinued.
| Witness received a consignment. frol
Matamorcs of 1000 Mexican silver do
lars on the schooner Surprise, which wer
seized on their arrival; this was in lSf
under Collector Kellogg's administration
witness said he was compelled to enter gu
in the United States Court to recover then
Judgment was obtained and witness oil
tanned the money; he paid 500 for alto
| ney's fees, which he never recovered.
r. e. Charmberg sworn-To Mr.. Reilly
This witness testified relative to goods b.
ing sent from vessels to general order war
house No. 6, rented by Ernest L. HerwiI
instead Of being placed in the warehous
which he rented himself; witness said good
| would be sent as much as three miles frOl
vessels which were mOored opposite an
| to the right aud left of his warehouse.
The committee were unanimous in th
opinion that this evidence was not admit
sible, as it appeared to be transactio
where only private parties were concerned
Mr.. Morrison recalled-TO Mr.. Reilly
Had conversation with Augustus Ferg,
son relative to his brother; offered th
former in Joke to bet him 500 that th
latter was in the city.
j. T. Van Benthuysen, sworn-To M
Reilly-Is in the business Of manufactu
ing tobacco; the witness knew OF no occu
rences of irregularities or frauds in th
Customhouse during the administration
officials now in office.
His testimony was therefore stricken ou
by order of the chairman.
Venet0 Rogetto, sw0rn-TO, Mr.. Reilly
Was never employed in the CustOmhOus