New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-14
AFTER OLD OFFENDERS.
THE ExToRTERs OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
DEMOCRATIC OFFICE HOLDERS IL THE CUSTOM

DEMOCRATIC OFFICE HOLDERS IN THE CUSTOM
HOUSE LIKELY TO COME TO GRIEF.
Nearly a year AGO United States Civil Service Com
missioner Theodore Roosevelt conducted searching
Investigation into the charges mat Dcn"oldu0
employcs in the Custom House here have violated inc
Civil service law by soliciting and, In some caScN'
cxtorting financial contributions from thcr suDo'ud'
in thc last Presidential campaign for the benefit OF tho
Democratic National Campaign Committee. MI kooNe-
Welt submitted comprehensive report TO his colleagues
and the President and also the secretary OF uc
Treasury The case turned over to unlted states
District Attorney Mitchell who had 10 di>patch vast
amount of business in his crowded dochctS peofe ho
could get to il. But on Thursday nc went Al INC
affair with vim. and sent subpocnaS u fourteen
weeher engaged in the service here and in Brooklyn
10 appcar the following day before the Grand jury
in answer 70 these charges Peter /. KaherN was
also summoned and it is supposed that Mr. MITCHELL
Will begin proceedings against all Others concerned III
these affairs including several chef CLERKS III INC
Custom House a.
Rafferty, was a foreman OF wciGl1crs. lie was ais
charged from the service in November 1o-"' ana was
the first man 10 furnish information 10 Mr. Roosevelt
aho,t the practice Of men in the Surveyors once
under Mr. Bcatte assessing contributions for campaign
nurnoscs But Mr. Roosevelt asccrtaincd that kahclW
was charged with this offence himself. and one witness
testified that Rafferty, threatened 10 put spcclai
agent after him and him ont of The service II ne
did not contribute $50 to X. NJ. Jordan treasurer Oh
the Liberty-st committee, who received contributions
from customs employee Rafferty, appeared 70 be
active in what Mr.. Roosevelt called in his report a
yelled system in Bcattlcs Office cxtortng money for
political purposes.
Mr. Roosevelt examined other wcichcrS whose
cases were mentioned in The Tribune at the time BGt
the most important officials before him on TIN, charge
were several chief clerks. all Democrats AncT VII.
Cleveland was defeated for reelection C'Hc'ur
Macone placed the Office Of chef clerk under the CvI
Service law TO protect his appointcc'. The oic pays
a salary Of g., 500 year. Collector irHarot oci'N0
that il should be removed from under the CIVIL service
law He argued so il is understood that the Office
OF chief clerk was of a confidential and eAe'uuNo
nature and that it was not right 10 hold him re
sponsible on his bond for the acts of men whom ne i
not appointed 70 office. The Collector raised th'
point before Mr. Roosevelt made his invcstgAtoh'
and the results Of the examination In the cases OF
several chief clerks showed that .he Collector ht to
nail on the head These men were generally accu'ci
ot asking some Of their subordinates whether th'y
had contributed any money 70 jordan. or whether theY
knew where Jordan was or even Of urging them to
do So and Of circulating appeals for cash from ule
Democratic National Campaign Committee Tiers
we're two witnesses against Charles T. Duryea no"
chief clerk of the Warehouse DIVISION. lhI'c mn
anneared against Augustus GcrrtsOn, chief clerk o.
1fP snnraIScrs stores six witnesses testified against
Frederick y Dodge chief clerk OF the Ehty DYSON
Two accu>ers confronted Alexander C. Hinion sup I'm
.,ndor, ~ tho store boOkkecpcrs' room. TWO men
made charges against John V. White. clerk ana tiIro
sganst ThomaI j. Me,ce Wes' WiIlnr T Mc5
then chief clerk Of the drawback division but sup
sequenty reduced in Office -,...,.. .o.,,,,.
affair The guilty person can D" dismissed nom Once
heavily fined and also imprisoned. \, nothing WAS
heard from the investigation. some 81 thc-c ID, u
pjncted up courage and told their friends tat moth
ing would come from IT,