The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-17
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.

wEIGHERS AS WITNESSES IN THEIR own BE
HALt--coMMENcEMESr or INVESTIGATIONS
INFO THE APPRAISERS DEPARTMENT.
Thus far tho commission has examined nearly every
chief OF department IN tho Custom House, and grave
charges having been made against tho wcighcrs
number OF these officials called and examined
yesterday Prior to tho opening OF proceedings Gen.
era Sharpe, Surveyor OF the Port appeared before the
commission and requested tho privilege of cross
examining Witnesses
Mr. Turnuro replied that II the commission allowed
any cross-examina,lon they might remain III session
for year. The testimony adduccd is taken for what
IL IS worth and VIII be carefully weighed Tho Sur
veyor accepted the refusal, looking rather dsap-
pointed as Ec left the once.
wxiGnry EVIDENCE
Samuel q. Acton was tho FIRST woigher mined.
He testified as TO tho number Of men he employed
tho pay roil Of tho employees for tho last quarter
amounted to s49s and the ices received for weighing
~ 50, 2o2 This witness estimated that hs ONCE not
only pays its way, but earns the government sur
$4,000,
Mr. John J. o'Bricn dcposcd that he was in charge
OF the Twelfth district for the past nine mouths; he
has been shifted about wlthou, being consulted on the
subject no had foreman, No assistant foreman and
seven assistant weiehcrs tsometimes toni and about
sixty laborors witness denied the allegation that the
laborcrs were employed as matter OF political favor
it'sn many OF these men were taken on for CHARITY
sake, and they had to DO competent mon.
BY Mr. Turnure--Have acted as Supervisor OF Elcc-
tions under Jonn l. Davenport, and paid for
vices as such. hr oBricn acknowledged that city
weigbers have boon allowed use his beam franc
without pay, but denied all collision between city aud
United States weghers Witness, in reply TO Mr. Ro.
binson did not think reduction la his force could be
made with advantage TO the government
Mr. Jeremiah Drew, Of the Eleventh district tcsti-
fed that he supervses mis- men personally and would
not allow any man to DO placed the pay roll unless
he actually performed his LABOR. Witness Is Supcryi-
OF Orange county, who're he Is tho custodian VI the
School and Poor Funds Tho duties O this Once
pied him at the utmost from fourteen 10 sixteen days
the year. Has taken tho weoks' leave of
absence granted by the Treasury Department cach
Custom House employo and dcvotes this time to tho
county affairs.
Mr. William Allon, Assistant Appraiser OF the First
Division Of the Appraisers Department. made tho
commencement OF the examination into this branch
OF the Customs service He gave full description OF
the details OF his ONCE aud the antecedents OF
the employees undor him. HIS is the damage divs-
ION. aud in the course Of his testimony
touched upon the OF wool nppraise-
mcnt which Mr.. Bausch detailed before tho
commission Mr. Allen sad that tho examiner Of This
particular lot had been discharged Mr. Allen explained
ulso the examination OF the Custom House mado some
time ago by Mr. Hale, then Treasury agent; that he
mado some suggestions TO him which wero mover
RED out Witness displayed TWO parcels OF damaged
nutmcgs, which he said no two men out OF hundred
would estimate alike
Mr. I: ID. Tuthi damage appraiser Of sugar. iol-
lowed Mr.. Allen In giving testimony regarding the
working OF tho Damage Department..