The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-19
OUR CUSTOM HOUSE SECRETS
REMf RKfBLE CONFESSIONS or MEN
APPOINTED TO Places.
The Cabinet Investigating Committee Getting
at the Bottom Facts -Wcighcrs' Little Per-
quisites -Tampcring with Weights Divvies.

The Cabinet Investigating Committee Getting
at the Bottom Facts Wcighcrs Lizzie Per-
quisites -TamperinR with Weights Divvies.
John Moses, John Hart Brewer, and
Thomas C.. Smith, q committee Of tho National
Potters Association. waited upon the Custom
House Commission. yesterday. complaining
that the examination and appraiscmcnt OF
china and eaIthcnware are not sufficiently
thorough. and that dealers are compelled To
stop importing. leaving tho business TO be mo-
uopoliA,d by the consignees OF tho manufac-
turers in Europe.
Thomas S. Knox. President Of the Re-
publican Association in the Twentieth Assem-
bly, District. introduced the subject Of the ap-
pointment Of Davenport's supervisors Of
election He was entitled 10 name one
supervisor and James Owens. n Gus
tom House wcighcr asked him TO name
II certain man. promising him u place in the
Custom House II he would do 30. Witness com
piled. and was made a broker on Ovens wharf.
and was aitcrward appointed an ass slant under
Ovens Al the time Of his appointment Owens.
he said gave him two Documents one " which
was the Surveyors in4tru tions to wsighers.
The other paper WIS n schedule Of private
charges 10 he oxacted from merchants for
returns ~ weights If their goods. HIS colloc-
tons from NOR 'hnnts averaged about 800
month He kept some Of the money rs his own
share, and H." rest he gave to Owens. The wit
80 collect - 10 IN the ir-t tNrftn months OF
1878. lie Guarrelled with Owens in one of the
corridors of the Custom licusr. owen" .s.cu"od
qdisites. and called him a thiot Blows were
exrhanged and sitefward Owens had annthcr
person coll" tho money, The custom House
Knox loat his position. While he WIS Assistant
We CHER, he was ordered hv Ow ms tp employ
number OF mon. who, were enrolled IN he
hud them removed FOR stenlin.-. am AZ. rward
had to rstmploy them uninr otd'rs rom the
Collectors OH -. owens looked dtfr TWO largo
coal var = tWI'l ly him M town. and spent
only about d rec hours week ciihor ia ueCus-
tom House or IN ms Welghct district.
Knox ended his rrntrhall" CON. rs ion by
saying that several persons among them Gus
tom House OH ror, lad requested him Ia sup.
press i and hll ohtreI MN a ltfGa sum 81
money TO leave the city. !lc ic"liAod. and WAS
then tod that his name should be- rut on ne
pay roll and no work required oi him II he
would keep his mouth Shut.
Wegher owens was al once summoned be-
Tore lie Commission. He swors that he de-
voted eight hours a day To his ON 'lal duties
whom Knox w1s undcr him. The witness con-
tinued. " appoint a Knox, because lac was "a
vst and faithful. took him out AZ charity. He
WIS removed because he proved bad and
Mr.. Owens further said that whom he was
appointed wei.her. he made "a VI. tuer ~ oN-
Sle 'lul Agent Jayne his assistant. and Jayne
wanted 10 know what was to be his share OF the
>" Nhat ia You aryf"
Il was lhendcrstrlek. told JAYNE that
kn"w of No. irre.,ul. r fees. II solicited about
iioo from mer iapts. and / tried to have him
return the money
A. q. F. brown. asst iant under Weigher
Thorpe. sad that all Thorpe dd WIS o. A
the pay rolls and the r"turns " weights He
had never seen him on the wharf. ami he
Thought that thorpe VI in't kus " him .thc Wi
nessl ly ght NJ. 'hanis have To- pay for
United States weish"rs' returns. AMI Minister'S
o. vessels have to pay from - 90 $40 for copies
OF thu turns. The welshcr- pocket the money.
Ii Is Il common practice for city weighers 60
/ tanper with the Government wsigh's. Witness
know w.-rc ono hogshcad Of sugar WAS return
! ed 10y Government wrighcr al slNty pOun Is
less than the city w-.shrr returned It. The
/ Government scales ard Mbor'rs arr used 10y
! the city wciGhers. who max" On" kind Of re-
turns of w"lglts 10 merchants. and another "
tho Government.