The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-10
ALLEGED CUSTOM HOUSE IRREGULAR
ITIES
Reply Of Mr.. Lydecker to Secretary sher-
MANS Recent Publie.tior.

conduct. These charges relate 10 trahsactuns |
which took place ten years ago. and are ap-
parcntly now paradcd to afloct public opinion
with reference to rcccn, occurrences in the
hope that stale and rcfutcd charges OF past cor
ruption may lbs accepted as evidence Of recent
misconduct.
Tho first report dated on June 25. 1878, was
called to my attention on July = by Collector
Arthur to whom 1t had been referred for in
vcstgation. The second one | have mover
heard Of prior to It's recent publication When
the Collector was directed to inquire into the
truth of the charges he naturally requested the
department 10 furnish him with copy VI the
testimony and documents on which they wcro
based but the department did not comply with
the request. He also asked to be furnished
with II copy ~ report made by special agent
Of the Treasury Department. who investigated
one of tho charges at the time II the transWc-
ton. At first the department profcsscd its
ignorance of any such report; but when tho
precise dato of ts transmission was furnished.
IL was reluctantly produced Tho fact that the
report entirely exoncratod mo from blame
probably accounted for the reluctance. Tho
department having by petty devices succeeded
in rendering impossible n new Investigation by
Gen. Arthur which It had pretended Ia desire
L. on July 49, the day before his suspension
took effect addressed him a letter. Of which a
copy ia herewith transmitted.
There arc two distinct charges against me.
both OF them. ~ have said. relating to trans
actions which occurred ten years ago. Tho
most serious Of them was then investigated by
the Collector. Naval Oniccr and Surveyor and
,b,v nil no Won os tho snn,.inI ngcnt already
referred 10. concurred in FULLY generating M"
The charge has been once or twice renewed
since. but has been. after investigation. dis
missed. aud | have been promoted IL IT, now
r,n.,v.I hv thc notorious "A q Javnc vbo bes
his personal reasons for hostility TO me. II"
n"'"i'up 'o'',', " ''O'''
commission oi Hpeclal Agents Wh's' most IN
tiuenta member Is generally understood Ia
have teen his partner in his raid upuu NOR
chants
In my letter To Collector Arthur said.
g., - -, ,, -. -. =, r,,,,rl -, ,.,,,t,.
Iul.nr A co. nr dates nai un ntrau. " SODA Imported
ty th' IA in Aurii iss,5 aGd s1t .ntS j, .roy,i ma
eenia var en'c 'wo ot ihrrc iits "a, o. ls n','!
win IT,, h,d Via oi eo@, @h.a we're ,herras',i
Government Iii r'ni,d war, hous,
This repayment to the importers. VIII state
nov. wa- strictly cpnnnie ma IN accordance
.,'. 'i'c, An. ,e,,ni va. .,nre..i, rl.r,,
aa ''''y 81 'S .', , ny sl' ,', %, . ' s
w,9 hc,.. s MA, " wic rcy rcpe , ". ea ,sa
r,euu th'.N re- 80. ue' 'srtain, nothing 900 'he-
! ia,t- q. '.D" ngy ~. ait' ..'it NY I',t ,...,
hni u j. '..l iu.,', t,' '',,.,a ,n. s
ua.t.,lpu. IN tic l,c tAr raHcr' mat rrrr nf
.iur r,i, D.. w. -amc , i.1n roa ,ntr, ,.f, l'iofc
! rr i"a,a,N p.rnrimtni "i'1 'T,ienH % 4, n No..
wa. lraua 'n ths psrt" %. ~.'Uuy1 Oh. Treasury
h' ol, .i'g r'ond 81 arsg 'qn, .e', p Ger
n,t.. 90, unnan 'rltU'm,ut ,usr w. -l'ul
m,, t-D' nst%f,m'lt ,l'''.;,. ~. ~, 49, f'ih'
hui rc i-., :, i.' VS.. 30 'raed ro,Nn'., w.'usr
sf"f .'sH 90 nyi. % wi 'l 10 900" pth' .. Hl. o.
sf