The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-29
THE. CUSTOM HOUSE.

SPECIAL TREASURY AGENT JAYNE AFTER
DEPUTY COLLECTOR LYDEcKER-PRoPosED
REDUCTION OF THE REVENUE FORCE
There great deal OF uneasness felt by Custom
House attaches the big granite building Wall
street yesterday. All sorts of touching
Investigations OF the several departments and
threatened removals of,large and small officials
rife OF course the Of insecurity consequent on
these muterngs brought politicians Of every grade in
the local republican regiments Offices OF the Col
lector and Surveyor for Information touching the i'm
portant movements in prospect Some Of the heavy
men in the party down to look after their friends
whose places liable TO become untenabe, or TO be
first in the market to obtain situations for kinsmen
clansmen in the event OF immediate removals.
Prominent among the visitors were 'Jake Patler-
son." Major Billiard, Judge Dttendorfcr and
others who always deck when any
thing stirring in the New York Custom House,
anything TO be made there In fact. the corridors
thronged all the afternoon by republicans OF every
rank and type But the fearful and anticipators Of
coming evil we're most numerous There doubt
whatever that somebody in trouble and it AFTER
ward transpred that the unlucky individual
Special Deputy Collector John Il. Lydecker who has
been connected with the Custom House since the ad-
ministraton of President Buchanan and the Collector
ship OF Augustus scheL Although the officials them
selves did not care to say much about the matter, a
gentleman who Tor several years has been well IN
formed all things apperlainng TO this department OF
the revenue service Told HERALD reporter yes
terday evening that the only investigation pend
ing was that instgated by the we'll known Treasury
agent, b. G. Jayne, who is now in Washington.
The story goes, and there be little doubt oil its
accuracy considering IT'S source, that for long time
Mr.. Jayne has been hunting up evidence against Mr..
LydecEer toward whom he has never felt very kindly
disposed, and having obtained what he deemed suii-
cleht he lad the same before Secretary Brstow, who
communicated the matter to Collector Arthur and
United States District Attorney Bliss Tor their invest
CATION Careful inquiry into all the facts has not thus
far, II would seem, proven aught against the Deputy
Collector other than sight carelessness two
small matters, which were aiterward adjusted 1t mp
pears that Mr. Jaynes principal charges four in
number, which merely involved temporary neglect
in the collection OF duties goods that were not
assessed Tor sums greater than $lOO indeed one did
exceed $25 Ali were finally collected through the
efforts OF Deputy LydeckeE The HERALD reporters in
orman was a very prominent republican, who in the
present state OF political feeling would hardly have
taken the pains to whItewash Mr. Lydecker, who is
democrat, If lie were proven guilty At any rate,
the condition OF affairs now III the Custom House.
cOrdng the statement OF Collector Arthur does not
justify the sensational rumors current
touching progressing or pending Investigations. When
spoken TO by HERALD reporter on the subject yester
day the Collector simply said that there was no in
ycstgaon being carried on. He had little else to say,
because notice OF such an inqury's probability had
been given him by the Secretary of the Treasury.
STILL II the words OF others be worth attention at ALL
there is likelihood OF disastrous changes to others than
Mr. Darling, who resigned from the Appraisers Depart
men the 10th inst Ii is altogether likely that the
OF the Solicitor OF the Treasury Mr.. Wilson, to
THIS city after Mr.. Darlings resignation has brought
something to light altogether favorable even to
Deputy Collector Lydecker. Such Is the view of the
subject taken by great many persons in the Custom
House, whose names II would be unjust TO give here
Further than rumor in this direction nothing for
the present could be SAID by ono attached TO the
Custom House. Even Surveyor Sharpe, who rs uni
ornly courteous and frank members of the press,
had nothing to communicate.
One thing is certainly true and II is that the Secre
tary Of the Treasury has ordered a reduction OF the
present working force in the New York Custom
House Sixty to be stricken from the rolls,
and the department Is to be without the
cancies being filled. Up 10 last night nothing had been
done in this direction by the Collector or his subor
dlnate cheitans but 1t thought that the "black
lstn would be ready to-day and the unforunates made
aware OF their removal before pay day IL is strange
how quickly this order Understood in the Custom
House, even though IL had not been promulgated by
the officials. The persons actually employed IN the
building take some comfort from the whispered in-
tmatiou that the men TO be discharged Will be fifty
night wachmen and ten day inspectors The former
paid under the late reduction 81 20 per day and
the latter So CO. 1t believed that the service be
conducted without these sixty public servants.
very ridiculous display OF feeling Was manifested
by a number OF Custom House attaches yesterday
when somebody informed them that Hon. Fernando
Wood had refused Tor the appropriation OF a
sum OF money TO pay this months salaries. The ndig
nation OF many was sublime indeed.