New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-29
APPRAISER HowARD's STATEMENT.

AIMING TO SHOW THAT MR. kEICHUM 10 ->0A A"A1
MAN TO TAKE HIS PLACE.
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEI
WASHINGTON Jan. 2S.-Appralser Howard, OF
New-Ynrk has submitted to the Senate Committee
on Commerce a statement and certain afldavlts
giving reaso S why General Appraiser ketchum
ought not to be confirmed his successor
He starts out by saying that MI
Ketchum was removed from the Office
of General Appraiser III 1877 for cause upon the
reports OF numerous special agents that he habit
ually undervalued merchandise; that IS to say, he
generally decided against the Government ana IN
favor of the importers in cases that came before
him. Assistant Appraiser Baush, VINO was nOhh
nated to take Mr.. Ketchum's place, declined the
off G. and Mr.. Ketchum was then enabled through
family and political influence to retain the position
About Six months ago the chief officers and other
members of twenty-three out of Il g twenty-four
Repubican district associations of the city of New
York recommended the removal of Mr.. Ketchum
aud the appointment Of Alderman Mclean in his
place. Tins act, Mr.. Ito ward alleges was due to
the knowledge these Republicans had OF abuses IN
Mr.. KeicDun's Office.
Mr.Howard proceeds to show that the expenditure
for clerical force IN each year from 1870 10 1913
inclusive, nler General Appraiser Hogeboom, was
only $3. 700; III 1882, under Mr.. ketchnm, IL was
S15,253 II. The increase of importations and of
approaching this increase. Mr.. Howard asserts that
no less than So 1913 II of public money is wasted IN
this way. John J. Ketchum, brother OF General
Appraiser Ketchum. has been drawing pay as
clerk at 81 200 pc: aunum since January Z. 1881,
but has been doing little or no work for the Govern
ment, He had no desk III the Office, was not seen
there more than once or twice each month,
and all the time that he was on the
payroll he practising as physician. He re-
Ia, lion, Ion n
which MIR. Howard charges against hlm were made
pubic. Mr.. Howard remai ks that suicide is con-
fesIou," aud says concerning other menbers OF the
clerical force tnat Benjamin Iuzo; bIother-ln-
payroll at $500 pes annum; g, taa, d1t
anG another relative $1,000; that w. S. l.yer,
now drawing pay at 81, 90 per annum. was out on
the D ,y-roll bv General Appraiser Ketchum in S74
at ~, 800 per dupIln. though he was men only a
boy seventeen years ol ays that Edward ) Fowl r.
the law cleS, Is paid 81 900 but IS useless; that b.
was disch rged by Appraiser Howard IN March,
1881, for cause; lnat he p.ac .ises law at
No Pine-st., where his Office hours are
from to o, out spends mnen time at his home IN
CLERK and stenOgrapher. AT $170O per annum, IS
alleged 10 spend most OF hls time IN Mr.. ketehuns
private law Office, mile and hal. from the Ap-
pralser's Department.
Mr. Howard reviews briefly his own qualifications
for The flee which he holls, an asserts nat d. ne
saws that he a personal friend OF President
Lincoln and enjoyed the friendship OF Presl tents
President ,rtleid he has been "houudrd and vii.
fed as 10 public officer has probably ben
heretofore ~ that combination or con-
spiracy against him has existed for
q year, the leading persons engaged III this being
George Bliss, SPECIAL Agent br4ckett, Inspector
O'Beirne. Hugh Hastings, w. ID. sampson, +. ID.
Fowler, the mem bers OF the Washington Treasury
Ring" and others. Mr.. Howard cOnc,ud. S his
memorial by saying that the collector and Sur
veyor of the Por. Speciai Agent ira Aver jr., ex-
Appraisers McErath, Darling and Du' cner,
and many Othe 8, Will come forward
upon the invitation of the committee aud
testify earnestly and warmly IN his behalf.
In an accompanying affidavit MT. Howard de-
eales that IN July. l6SZ. Special Agent Bracket
tod hin, that untavOrabie paragraph had been
ADDED. at the repeated an urgent solicitation OF
q Orge Bliss TO he report which he Mr.. Bracke u
had exOnerated Mr.. Howard from all charges igalnsJ
his integrity also that he would show Mr.. How
ard at Some future time official letter from the
Treasury Department which. read between he
lines, pressed him to lind Mr Howard guilty with
or without evidence
John r. Clark and Henry Richard, former clerks
in the General Appraisers Office, make
afidavits supporting Appraiser HOward's state
ments as 10 the work done and 81 ares
paid prior to the appointment OF Mr.. Ketcnum
Inc only other affidavit is that OF RODert s. Brow
nell, which shows that Johh j. Ketchum WAS a
practising physician while he was OH the Govern
ment payroll.