The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-06-09

house IN lull Dla0C on our ARRIVAL. w 0el
a seizure Is made witness reports 1t t.
the Marshal and District Attorney, ant
his duty ends there, unless the case b
investigated In full.
To Mr.. Kelly-Has general knowl
edge that parties were on the rolls abou
election time and rendering no service
/ judged II was SO by seeing the men hans
around; cant say there were hun
dred, can't say there were less; made
no investigation; witness refers to 1872
was not here in 1874 during the cam
paign; knows that for about fifty years
back it has been the custom to engage
men at election time; heard the Collec-
tor and his deputy talk about 1t; wit
ness knows that the Collector was aware
that there were on the rolls men that
were paid and rendering no services
| thinks some of the names were placed
upon the rolls by di :ection of the Collec-
tor; has no knowledge OF any such prac-
tices In 1870 nor subsequent to 1872; In
1874 was on official business outside oil
the State !; did not think it worth while
to investigate the matter, as it has been
the practice Of the Customhouse from
time immemorial.
To General dibson--Thinks the Gus
tom entirely wrong; is positive
it would be proper to make such an in-
vestigation in view of the approaching
election; thinks it high time TO break
the pernicious custom. The testimony
produced before the committee has shed
witness to change his mint: as to the ex-
pediency OF an Investigation. But il, in
view of the elections, the authorities at
Washington would increase the force at
the Customhouse
FOR POLITICAL REASONS,
witness. under these circumstances,
would not feel justified in making an in
vestigation and reporting the facts to
his superior officers. Witness has long
been OF opinion that until Government
officials are independent OF political pa
trOnage, and have permanent situations,
no high degree Of efficiency and honesty
can be expected In the public service.
The Government at Washington is not
fully aware that the increased force en-
ployed about election time is SO employ
ed for purely political purposes; witness
knew it to be fact, but aCas dt1dre that
no such information scas asked from him
at Washington; is aware that z. T.. Bech
tel resigned his Office in the Custom
house during the sessions Of the Legisla
ture and resumed them afterwards
knows A. J. Cousin G. +. Glaudin and L..
Guchard, memb bers Of the State Legisla-
ture; don't know when they were en-
pioyed in the Customhouse. Todd,
Thomas and Harnan secured positions
in the CustomhUuse after being dismiss
ed from the Internal Revenue Depart
ment; did not know at the time that
Gney were dismissed for cause; did not
even know that they had been
In the revenue depart
ment; does not know that Ringgold
was defaulter; thinks Furguson's
position was such as to gather informa-
ton Of frauds, il there were any, in the
cigar department.
TO Mr.. Darrall-Witness thinks there
q -s1 Oyieebv efushss*ses- in st he sAi,ssI
|sYdiser's department. does not rerfiem-
Der his initials.
TO Mr. Gibson-Witness does not re-
reducing to writing the investl-
cation in the case OF jackson and Man
son: generally swear witnesses; must
have sworn Mr.. Rousseau.
JNo. L. BROWN (coLoRED),
j native Of this city and a Metropolitan
was employees IN the
weigher's department OF the Custom
house for 2S days In March, 1870; never |
worked there since; received some pay
has day for work done then; received
some also In October, 1874 Just before the
Jeneral election, also for the same cork j;
received some money for doing favor
20 P. +. Herwig, Special Deputy Col
ector, by returning him as member to
he Republican Convention; got $50 /;
vas told to go to work in the building
KNOCKED ABOUT
he building for a few days doing |
got $25 more, and this
again got some money
I'll h 10 Y,viu. fa
signed some papers; could identify his |
signature; knows they were headed /
United States Of America; Perry King,
and 3. B. Cheevers, clerk,
witness to the Custom
louse they were all Customhouse Off
,ers at that time: witness got the
money for returning Herwig as elected
10 the Republican Convention J. j.
3rinn, an employee OF the Gus
omhouse, approached witness in
egard to his testimony; Brown inquired /
rom witness whether he was called be-
ore the committee to testify; guessed it
vas for working at the Customhouse
Without getting paid. Brown said to
vait for him, he would fix matters; took
lin down to the Customhouse; P. +,
ettle balance shortly; Brown and
Ierwig told witness ii was USE
ess to testify before the commit
ee; to report to the Sergeant-at
Arms that he had to report to his sta
ion for duty that if he did otherwise
le would be dismissed; they also told
witness not to mention their converse
ion; thinks he was regular employee
+ the Customhouse; held up his right
and; worked with Mr.. Eicholz. who
Eas weigher in Algiers; quit work be-
ause he got no pay; Herwig gave him
check on the Hibernia Bank this
corning; then changed his mind-had
fitness to indorse the check, and cashed
! the paper witness signed in 1874 was
bout II inches by 16 inches; was head
d United States Of America" !" signed
simple receipt this morning.
]. sARRAzIN, JR.
Is in the tobacco business; has no
OF cigars passing through
be Customhouse without paying the
uties: knows OF parties that stated
h at tOhacca was heinp y,eddlod around