New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-26
QUEER OrEN MEETINGS, THESE.
TIE CUSTOM HOUSE COMMISSION HEARS ALL
COMPLAINTS IN SECRET SESSION.

TIE CUSTOM HOUSE COMMISSION HEARS ALL
COMPLAINTS IN SECRET SESSION.
There was another secret Sos Ion yesterday OF the
political inqulston appointed to find rs many haws
possible In the management OF the Custom House
In the last four years. on Wednesday the members
OF the commission determined 10 have open sessions
thereafter. beginning with yesterdays meeting. but
when efforts made secure admission to the
room the way blocked by guards. 1t WAS learned
later that there had been over night material modi-
Hcation OF the decision TO hold open sessions Daniel
Mngone Of Osdensburg wlo was Collector during most
OF Mr.. Clcveand's first term President, was re-
sponsibe for the modification Their are TO be open
SOS Ions, but only when witnesses who have been sub
poonaei to give their testimony. All the work Of
qu sionng those who have complaints 10 make Is TO
be done In secret.
Tire determination which the members OF the com
mission intend to use In determining what sessions
shall open the public and what conducted under
the Hedge OF secrecy may have Its advantages from
partisan point OF view. Neither Mr.. Maeone nor Mr.
FarchlM cures TO go very deeply into bis own acts
In connection with this branch OF the Government
service. II the commission had been appointed Tor
my purpose other than political the method Of Sc
curing information would have been entirely different
The members Of the commission have now been in this
city over "A week. and vet at no time has Collector
Hendricks been asked give his Ideas 10 the sub
iects which ought TO b. taken up From his expert
ence as Collector he Is the who should first be
consulted. on the other hand stbordlnates have been
sent for TO tell the commissioners what they know or
have heard OF the Custom House. md IN number OF
Instances 1t Is known ttat these men have axes to
grind.
The commission met at 10 80 o'clock yesterday
morning in the Barge Office, and after putting two
able bodied guards the door began TO examine docu
monts and papers Mr.. Jewell, the chairman OF the
Board OF Appraisers. with the commission most
OF the morning, giving them points about the APP
prasers stores. the first department which VIII be
taken up. Soon nj or midday the embargo against the
reporters wns raised temporarily. while Mr. Fairchid
gave out q statement, which was In part:
We hive been and are going over the papers
fnri lied from Washington. In general these papers
are reports which have been made from time 10 Tim,
concerning the Custom House. We shill be engaged
In the examination ~ these papers until Monday. and
no testimony will be taken mill then. The hearings
win De- public The e,tl-atiOn will first be directed
to the Appraisers department. After some preliminary
Inquiries tho specific cha geS made by The Dy-ood,
Chronicle" will be taken up and Investigated. There
are charges from ont i'd" In addition TO those made
by The Diygoods Chronicle
In the afternoon Of tie commissioners went 70
The tpprnIsors stores and made examination OF the
met cd of doing brs ness there.
The commission will meet again Ills morning.