The New York Herald Newspaper, January 5, 1872, Page 5

WB INS AND THE OUTS, Important Revelations Before the Sena- torial Custom House Committee. GREELEY EXAMINED FOR THREE HOURS, What He Knows of Subsoil Polities. Carlous Exposures of Leet’s Connection with the General Order Business. How He Threatened Collector Grinnell. Where is Grant’s Letter of Re- commendation ? A Great Deal of Dirty Linen Washed in Public. ‘The Senatorial Custom House Commiitee resumed Qmeir iubors fexsterday and held a session of over six hours in tength, Much -of the time, how- ever, was frittered away, twenty. minutes at a single stroke being wasted over the question which Senator it was who proposed that we investigation should be public, Mr. Greeley was the principal witness, and bis @xamination lasted nearly three hours, ABs soon as he nad been sworn he was tnvited to make a statement, and briefly describea the Fenton- Oonkiing troubies, He then came down to the last republican convention and the recent election for Bpeaker of tne Legislature, Le said;—) know seve Yai Custom House office-holiers who travelled throug’ the State to Influence the delegates to the Penvention; among others were Mr. Jeremiah Drew, Mr. Cornell aud Mr, Latin; the Custom House party Mg sivong in every county; at Albany, jast Monday, 1 saw sixty Custom Nouse oMcers tekiig control of | tho organizaiion of the State Legislature; the neans: by which they governed the Legislature was both by threats of removal and by promises Sf oMtces; J will givo you, as a case in pont, General Ketchum; by these means a man was nominated—Henry SPmith—contrary to the wishes of the party. Q. Who do you say would, have been nominated but for these iufiuences? A. Mr. Alvord, Q Whatis Mr. Smith politicaliy? A. Republican. Q@ Whatis Mr. Alvord? a, Repuolican. Q. Were you at Albany yoursell? <A. Yes, sir; 1 Worked against the nomination of Mr. Smith. @ Were you immediately interested in whe re- uit? A. Weill, we usually think it advantageous to Our interests to have our frieuds succeed once In a ‘waile, Q@ You bave interfered before in this way? A. Yes, sir. Q Do you know of any men hoiding oMye in the Btate of New York who are Fenton men? A, I @o not know of one Fenton man holding a federal | Mice; two years ago I knew several. @. Do you know of any Fentou men holding State OMves? A, Yes, sir; General Merritt; Mr, Ma- Rlerre and Mr, Henry Smith, Police Commissioners, Q@ Wero any municipal or county oflcers at Albany ana taking pazt in this struggie? A. I can- Bot remember. *@ Bow many New York representatives to the House of Representatives do you count as repubil- Bana’ A. Fifteen. @ Row many among them do you count as Fen- fon men’ A. Some of them are Fenton men, bat J would rather not say who they are. @ DO you mean that they are concealing the fact of ther political leaning to Fenton? A. 1 do Bot say that, but J do not Jee) free to proclaim their ames; Vihinkif they themselves proclaim it you need not ask me, and if they do not I ought not ¥o answer; | will name one, Mr, Goodrich; this is Ris first terms be 1s the only one 1 om whiling to Rawe. @ Will you name any In the last Congress? Mr. Bennett, Mr. Sheldon avd Mr. McCarthy, @ Do you know whether tere were apy Fenton een m the Custom House at that time? A. There fre some whom! Kn°w as Feuton men, but they have bad to chango, or eeom to change; @ great Many became Conkling men; Mr, James M. Foun- fain Is one of those who, putin as a Fenton man, fs now a supporter of Conkling, Q What was the fate of the postmasters in the Giatricts of Messrs, Bennett and Sheldon after these eohanges? A. J know some of them were turned out; Mr. Fisher, for instance, was superseded by Mr. Wakeman; most of these changes have taken placo Detween six and ten months ago; they have been Ma.ic since the 41h of March; the present Repre- #entatives to Congress in those districts claim to be Monklipg mon; the Postmaster at Albany, too, has Deen changed. Q Do you koow whether Mr. Grinuell was a Fen- fon man? A. 10 not know that he was; I do not think he was removed because he was a Fenton man but in order to make a place for Mr. Murphy, ‘who was a Conkling map, and who was known as a Wery bitter opponent of Mr Fenton, Q. But how do you know he was appointed be- cause he was a Vonkling man? A, I judge it by the work he began doing a3 soon as be necame Collec- tor; be xt once removed Fenton men and replaced them witb Conkling men; Mr. Palmer, appraiser, ras turned out; General Merriit, the Naval Ofmicer, ‘Was removed to make a pluce for Mr. Grinneli; and shen they removed Mr. Lafiin; Mr. Cornell, the Sur- Yeyor, has always been a Conkling man. Q@ Would not you think, laasmuch as Mr. Grin- nell was made Naval OMcer on being removed from ‘the Coliectorship, that he was not removed on ac- count of bis not beiug a Conkung man? A. He was ia I should say that Mr, Grinnell was half and A Q@ Then you have mixed biood here? A. Yes, Bir; but they now profces to be Conkling men--most ‘of them. Q These changes were made by the President and confirmed by the Senate? A. Yes, sir. Q How many changes do you know to have been Made of subordinates by these new heads of bu- Bricad A, f could not eay exactly, but 1 know that Lal @ hundred buve been made by the Collector lon How many ol es have been made by Mr, re A. About @ aszen. Avda by Mr. Darling? A. At least a dozen. How wany appointments are there under his conirol? A. Thirty or forty, pa under Mr Lafin? A, About twenty-five irty. You have long been a resident in New York? A. Yes, sir; and | think it ts a new thing fa the republican party here for patronage to be by one faction against another; this division ito factions really existed beiore Fenton or Conk- were known, but Iam quite confident that no- has ever béon known fn this State such as the wy! Mr. Murphy has carried out. he recent ayatem, tens differs from that of ticians former! A. We had an ardent can- wix-Wadaworth struggle—in 1862, but there 1 ten Castoin Honse oiticora at that Copven- it ave atiended @ great many conventions at the Cnstom House influence was never felt. ‘Who was Collector in 1862? A, Hiram Barney. But there were Vastom House officers at that ean Maa AO was free. trom Oustom House induence; crowd then 80 atroi Hinwrold: there were several Old: e ver men against him; J think I was one of them, but was Dot present at the Convontion; In 1870 tue uatoin House influence was first felt strongiy. Q. it is your opinion, then, that the presence of these Cusiom House oMcers at Albany changed the pag iaventen A Le ema been absent the re- Bout ficou meme. rent; they controlled you prepa ‘ive the names of the members #0 changed? frm ve some of them; Mr. Beckwith and Harrington, from Onelda, wel #0 changed, and so Were Eastman and Goring. What is the special influence that you muppose i exerted upon Mr. Beckwith and Mr. Harrin| ny A. | think Custom House oMcers from Oneida sounty wore present and used their infuence to shange tho preierence of jhe wempers from shpy NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1872—TRIPLE SHEET, Gietrict; 1 think that two out of three of the Oswego j members were influenced by the federai officers at ‘Oswego; tour votes would have changed the result. you Know positively who yoted for Smith Alvord? A, Well, morally } am pretty certain bow the members voted, bul I could not say posl- tively that they #0 voted, Q How was the Convention in 1870? A. In 1870 the fight was on the question of who should be tem- boraly men the gentleman chosen wade up all thé dommiteees f2 88 COMKE ig interest, Q. But how about the vore for Governor? A, You may judge how that was by the vote of Mr. Conk- ling himself; he voted three times—tirst for Curtis, then for myself and lastly for Woodfora; there was no Conkling- Fenton fignt much about the Governor- ship: Tinink, however, Mr, Murphy practically de- ekied the nonmmnation in favor of Woortford, though at frst the choice of the Custom House was, 1 be- heve, Mr, Curtis. Q. The great question then was who should pe temporary chairman? A, Yes; that was the trial Le strength between the Conkling aud Fenton par- eg, Q. Did they ever square off on the question in this Way at any previous convention? A. I think there was a sluiiar trial of strength tn the Dix-Wails- worth contest; but 1 do not think the Issue was de-* elded, as in 1870, by this prior Hight, Q Mr, Conkling in 1870 voted first for Curtis and then for yourself and Woodford; how did Mr. Mure phy vote? A. He was not there; he was outside; he worked frst for Mr, Curtis as temporary chairman, oes subsequently for General Woodford for Gov- wi re Q Has it or has it not been asserted in political eircles that Mr. Conkling.and Mr. Murphy did their best to have you nominated as Governor tn 18707 me sir; and if it were asserted it would not be true. a. Did they ever try to have you nominated? A. Not at that time; I do not think they made any efforts at any tine to nominate me. Will you say that every man ing office under every government bas not felt bimself as free to eke pact in spotltien conventions as Mioagh he were not an oific-eholder? No, sir; sheet t while far it was a cardinal rule that moe ders shouid hold back, and J do not think that MZ, Grine nell ever took any part in politics in Lr bere Q Do you mean that Mr, Grinnell did no} fog ea free to mix In conventions ag if he had now AY holding office ? aoe Dwoels rather test to fac than to his feefing; I: nave known Mr, Grinnell nearly forty «years; he was ver active in ‘the ~— national _convontions §=fn 1852 and = 1860; - rememl him vel as ry active as fat back as ‘4! they think, ho was active tn 1844; he has Sars ) parnes ane active politician during thé forty yeata 4 have known him, but while he was Collector he ald not exercise any srong influence upon conventions. . But what influence did he not exert winle Col- lector that he had exerted in previous conventions when he was not Coliector? A. I remember gen- erally that he was much more active and earnest in conventions which he had attended when he was not Collector; Mr, Merritt was & Fenton man; while he held oMce he took part in politics, but cannot say that he took @ very active part in con- ventions; Mr. Palmer did not take @ very active part in politics—that 1s, he was les active in the a between ourselves—while ho was an office- older. Q. When the democrats were in power did their prominent ofice-holders war any markeag influ- ence Upon convenitons? A, Jam not familiar with the practices of that party; I know that we used to vom)iam about such practices, however. Q. How many Custom House CO oe were at Albany this year? A, About sixty; the Surveyor and Naval Ofiicer were amoug them, Q, During their absence who would do their work? A. J suppose their deputios, Q. Do you know whether the public service suf. fered by their absence? Tn some cases it Would suffer; in others not Q. Has apy Custom House officer lately been ap- pointed to any State oMce? A, Yes; Mr. James iger, Deputy Collector and Secretary to the as been appointed Clerk to the senate. Q. © you any Knowledge of assessments being made on Oustom Houso saiaries for pour pure es? A, Lhave information and beler that Mr urphy nas levied two per cent; there was an as- sinent Obly a lew days g0, to get up a serenade to Mr, Murpliy, and one officer could nov give any New Year’s presents to his wife and children be- cause he had to give $10 lor that purpose. Q. For what purposes are these assessments ustiaily made? A. That I cannot say; for various political purposes, L suppose, Q. Do you consider the. pubile service of the country iS now postponed to the exigencies of party? A. Yes; postponed to the exigencies of those who wish to control the party, Q, When you spoke of 100 persons being removed how many were kept tn by changing or pl heat their opinions? A, When Mr. Murpiy came in understood that me Custom flouse appointments wore about equally divided, and now they are all hetd by men who profess to be Conkling men, Q. Do you Know of any one holding a sinecure position in the Custom House? A, I believe Mr. Samuel P. Maddox holds such a post. Q. Have you heard any complaints about manage- ment of the Post Oflce iu the tnterest of a faction? A. Ihave not heard any complaints about it, D hethor complamts have beon Made about th tom House matters to the President? A, a the newspapers, I suppose? yut I do not know that personal representations of he case have been mace to the President. Q. The Trivune, for instance, has made such rep- regentations frequently, has it not? Mr. Greeley, amid general laughter—Yes; I believe so, Q. De you betieve the sessions of this committee are leas eMficient by being held hehe in the Custom House? A. § do; many men will he deterred from coming here by fear of personal loss and annoy- ance. Q. Has tne public service In your opinion suffered wy political removals of experienced oMlcers? A, e8, Sir. Q. Iu your opinion such removals are an abuse? A. It is a very great misfortune that changes are made even for party purposes, and it is a still [eet misfortune that ofiice-holders should feel Insecure on agcount of at View of matters inside then party—on account of their stripe, that 1s to say. Q. How long have you been a political journalist ? A. Since 1834—thirty-seven years, Q. Durmg that period have you devoted much attention tou interesting facts tu politics? A. Yes, sir; I have tried to be well informed, Q In ae tosuch subjects isittrne that you are obliged to act upon evidence which, though morally certain, would not be good in a court of law? A. Lam not a good judge of what would be good evidence in a court of law. Q. You have spoken of from two to four federal officers in each district being appointed to manage things. A, Yes, sir: in some districts—Westchester, for example—there have been a cozen at least; such no Work fora month or six weeks before the election. Q Vor what qualifications were they selected—for their value as waged a A. Mr. Marphy is the best witness as to that, if he is willing to tell you; they were largely seiected for their local influence. . Does the generat order business excite much complaint among business men? A. Yes, sir; both fron a business and political aspect; but 1 hear more about it from a political aspect. Q. Your pote judgment is, then, that it isa very rotten business ? A. Yes, sir; Generals Porter and Babcock are believed to have an interest in it, Q. You spoke of a complaint by one officer of the Cusiom House that he had been assessed for a serenade to ex-Cullector Murphy—how could he be forced to subscribe to an ex-collector? A, The as- ne was made and collected by men still in 0 Q. Why should men still in office be thus anxious to serenade an ex-oficer? A. I suppose they thought it would strengthen themselves, Q. Has the last Collector still more or 1 in- Duence in this Custom House? A. J believe he has, Q. You have spoken of the proscription of Fenton men; referring to that generally, has it ever been asserted that those men were proscribed on account Of want of fidellty to the doctrines of the repubil- can party? <A. No, sir; the proscription was, I sup. pose, becanse they belonged to one wing of the arty, rie hy should they be proscribed under are publican administration? A. 1 could not answer ; that question; that had better be left to those who proscribed them, . Does this proscription arise from their por- sonal devotion to Mr. Fentou? A, Itis now some- Umes stated that it nas reference to the renomina- tion of General Grant, but it is evident that that was not the original caus Q. 1s this feeling now more or less Intense than formeriy # A. Things are pretty quiet now; all is arranged, Q iat customary to allow Oustom House em- ployés to visit thelr homes once a year, and fo! what time? A. I have no knowledge about that; have heard that was the practice both here and at Washington. How do you know that assessments are made upon Custom House officers? A. By communica. tions to me from men who bave paid them, and from others who grumble and say they won't pay; 1 do not know of anything more notorious, Q Yousay there are merchants who would not come here, but would testify in some other place? A. I think One motive against their coming here 1s that; they may have other motives, How can that be, when their evidence would be published, wherever taken, the next et A. 1 think the influences around them would he stronger here than elsewhere. Q. In oe opinion the interests of the public ser- vice suffer from political ement—in what re» Spects? Because men are often let off duty and aliowed, 4 ‘not encouraged, to go off on political missions; that wouid not be so if Mr. Cornell, who thenh of, was not directly interested in these le faction aghts. Q Does the for interest suffer more from pen who atay—do Fou mean that the oficial work {3 nol done because of their absence? A, Either not done or not 60 well done; for inst; have to watch two vessols instead one aud thus one, fj smuggling may be an easier mat ovticata age good for someting nut athe acy for nothing; the first ought not to be let off duty for these political parpeane and the others ought to be out alt ; there are men in the service very useful C4 pasrocms politicians, but woo the p Q jox—you he fs not of an: use in the Custom House? A. I think he nas al tended y little to his nominal duties here and very much to the poultigs ot Kings county; I believe e is here in excess of the officers allowed by law; 16 {8 Deput, lector. } Witat i You Coll ‘. is salary? A. sont T believe. share the So J have that Generals Porter and Babcock pay the ° me Order business? A. n informed, Q. Who ts your informant? A, Mr. Charles A, Lamont; I could not name another person who tola me tng same thing; Mr. Lamont resides tn this city, no Was this arb Wbo complains of being io 910 jor the Murphy RorenAde? A, J hear eed ateecond hand; Ithink Mr. Lamont told me Q. You said that you think there are merchants Who would testi anotner place who will not come herve? A. I think some wilt votunteer evi- | ence elsewhere who will not volunteer to come ere, Q, Who are the men you refer to ag of no use in ie futon. House who i tn oie ag eae on ine » Céould only say generail We! present number Se Sica Pai! Meat hdteios would do ali the work now done, and as well as ib is a done, and that the rest might he dispensed with. +7 Are there more employes now than there were in Mr, Grinne.l’s time? A. I think there are, Q What is the.amouat of power exercised by this band of feceral ofitcers on the republican orgauiza- tion in this State? A. Enough to revorse what would have been ite action daring the past few years If it had not been exercised. Rd Greviey was then released from further eate- chism, James Corrigan sworn--I am a night inspector; my duties are to selze goods that are smuggled; 1 saw a man come from Hoboken with two musical instruments; I selged them and took them to the barge office What, e. evidence haye you that they were smug- pea A. The man told me himsel! that they came mm Hoboken; he told me that they came from the Hamburg dock; he spoke pretiy good English; this ‘was on Sawurday; he ad the instruments covered up; he came from the Barclay street boat and I saw him as he landed; I followed him down to the barge office; there | arrested him; | asked him all about it and he told me; I let him go and told him the goods were not que to go up to the Cus- a House and claim them; he bas not come ior em, , How Jong have you been & Custom House oMl- cer? A, Ning months; before my appointment 1 ‘Was in the General Stores OMice, aud before that I ‘Was one of the underkeepers on Blackwell's Island; T have made seizures of this sort before; I did not know that it was my duty to make a written report of the seizure; I made three seizares of this kind before; in cach of these cases agentieman down staira made the report and I signed it; when I make seizures I give no receipts to the people from Wwhoin they are taken; It was very stormy weenie when I took these istrumente; the nit nada handke) only over them. Q. Do you swear that that man did not tell tpi through the interpreter, that he had boughs those instruments from Mr, Saenger and that he was ready to prove it? A, I had no such imforma- tionj the substance of hig statements to the interpreter was given to me; 1 told him if the goods were not smuggled he could get them at the Custom House; I made the seizure between four aud five; we get half of tho value of the seizures made; I got the place I have on the recommendation of Mr, Gcorge Bilas, a lawyer. General Arthur was next called, ana was re- juested to furnish a memorandum of the names, ties, [ees and salaries of all oficials in the em- ploy ‘of she Custom House, Hesatd that addittonal clerks were sometimes employed when the work gets behind; all the cheoks for sa'aries were for twenty years signed by the auditor, untli within a few months, when the Collector assumed the duty of signing all checks; fo2r or sive hundred clerks are paid by separate cheoks, signed by the Colieotor; tor the other employés a sum 1s drawn In gross, Jobn P. Lindsay, sworn—I cannot say anythin: positively about the abuses in the Custom Bouso; only Know that I have been told that subordinates sbare thelr uniawiul gains with their superiors; some oflicials have told me tiat they have been sessed for political, purposes; the amount of th assessments was two per cent; that 1s my impr slo; I know Mr, Grinnell opposed this system, and in one or two eases paid tho money himself rather than Insist on iis being levied; my information is that the assessments are msde tpon all o:fclals; while Mr Grinneli was Collector I was one of his Most confidential advisers; Lam @& merchant and manufacturer; Lhave never held any oficial por eitton, Mr, Lindsay then entered Into a general exp!ana+ won of the cartage business, and said the excuse for the charge to the warehouses In West street was that there had been a good deal of thieving; the promiso was made chat the charges should in no case be greater than at the regular bonded ware- houses; the goody then of course came to the gen- eral order stores, Q What are the advantages and di of tne general order system? A. T advantages and some very great where the rates are established at a reasonable p and are no higher than at the bonded warehouses 1b 18 a good system, Q What is the necessity for the sels coming tn and wanting to get steamsiips, must have some pla goods, as they cannot go through the ‘om House, Q. ‘the onjectio then, 1s not agaiust the system Itself? . NO, sir; but agalust an exiortionate manner Oi carrying 1 ont, Q. Have the charges been kept dowf to the minl- mum oe by the Collector? A, Reports were | made to Collector Grinnell that charges of 75 cents to $5 had been charged for a single package tor storage fifty-one hours; ap invesuigation was at once made under Coliector Grinnell Into each oF these complaints. . AS B matter of fact, were the rates fixed by ‘Mr. Grinnell increased bv Mr. Murphy? A. | know about it only by race T have no information that the charges have been increased, Q. Haye you apy knowledge of presents being ven to Uustom House officers to favor certain ouses? A, Only that there 1s a common rumor of that being the fact, and three cases of the kind under Mr. Grinnell. Q. Iathe management of the Custom House su- bordinated to party necessities? A. Yes, sir; i have no doubt of if, Q. if aman were now in the Custom House and Moderately expressed views difiering from those of the party faction now in the ascendant, wouid he be removed; A. I do not know about the present Collector, Q. How about under tie regine of Mr. Murphy? A. 1do not know anything avouc th: sir, of my own knowledge. Q. For what purpose was. there any asscasments made under Mr. Grinnell? A. 1 think one was gnade for the election for Governor and another was ale to be used outside of the State—in Connec- cut; on the latter occasion \ir. Grinnell paid $7,000 rather than allow the assessment to be insisted upon vite men who were unwilling to sabseribe, Q. What power was there obliging the payment of these assessments? A. It Was not Mr. Grinnell; Mr. Grinnell was opposed to ail subsertptions of this kind; I think these papers were circulated by varions deputies, Q. Was there any danger of any clerk being turned out if he refused to pay 1? A. Not by Mr. Grinnell, but by others, Q. Whatothers? A. The Naval Officer ana the } Surveyor; the Collector was of course the ultimate ower, Subject to confirmation by tue Secretary of ‘he Treasury. ‘Then, though Mr. Grinnell was gga tothe system, the system was too strong for him? A. Yes, By whom was the proportion assessea on these apers; by what secret power? A.J never knew; cannot say that the same kind of sabscription papers were sent vo all other branches of the federal service, Q. Did the two per cent assessment cover the | entire year? A, I think (that was a single assess. ment; I think that was early in 1869 or 1870, Q Did you ever know a clerk to be turued out for refusing to pay these asse:sments? A, No, sir. Q. When Mr, Grinnell broke up the general order stores in Hoboken he traus‘erred all the business to one store in West street? A. Yes, sir, [ believe so; it was astore that ran through from sireet to street. Q. Did he appoint any other stoves? A, ! think he did before he was removed, Q. Who established the rate of storage for bonded or general order goods? A, I believe it was estab- Hished by law under Mr. Smythe. Q. Did Mr. Grinnell fix any price for bonded foods? A. If there Was a regular bonded ware. ouse charging fifty cents a package, the same price was fixea for all general order stores; the rder afirming that was made abont the time when ir, Leet took charge of a part of the general order business. Q. Who was Mr. Leet? A. A citizen of Pennsyl- yania; he was not a@ citizen of New York at the time he was appointed to this business; he was ap- inted by the Collector im pursuance of imetruc- Hons; I wastola that he came from Washington with a recommendation to Mr. Grinnell; there waa 30 a letter of introduction from Secretary Wash- urne. Q. It was a olank commission to get something good? A. Yex, sir, o Tie was not in any way a’ that time connected With the business of this city or State? A, No, sir. . Who were his partners? A. Ido not know, » State all you know about Mr, Leet. A. Soon after Mr. Grant became Presiient Mr, Lect came to New York; hecame here before Mr. Grinnell was appointed Collector and said he wanted the entire eneral order business of New York; Mr. Grinnell oid him he had not yet received his appointment and could promise him nothing, but wouid give the Matter consideration; Mr. Lect was here some time, and finally went back to Washington; Mr. Griny hell found several other parties who wanted the bnsiness, and therefore, to satisfy all, he dt- vided it up; he © & portion of it to Cx-Mayor Wood, of Broo! Portion to Squires & Co. and @ portion to M Mr. Leet made an arrange- Ment with Mr. Bixby to do his busmess for him; Mr. Leet conversed & =. deal with. me on the gbiects it 18 false that } introduced Mr. Leet to Mr. ixby; 1 will say that I have that arrangement as made by bin, in Mr. Leet's handwriting, and 1 can foe itat any time; Mr. Leet made the arra nge- ent with Mr. Bixby himself to receive a certain sum in consideration of Mr. Ject's control of the | and they have managed, ctor several lines of steamers were sent to Mr, ixby’s store, and Mr. Leet received his pay monthly, gerhere aid Mr, Leet reside then? A. At Washington; he was then a clerk in the War Oitice, having resigned as colonel in tie army. What was his share? A, He was guaranteed a and &® commission of the profits over | 10,600 a '. pat When did Mr, Stocking become a member of L} fects order business; by direction of the Ool- je firm? A. Ido not know; I know he end Mi. it were Ver, memate friends, Who is Mr. Bixby? A. An old merchant here, concerned for many years in tue ware- bousing business. 2. You spoke of the portion assigned to General Leet—how many warehouses were there mall? A. My impression 18 that there wero four, in saldition to the one dt ated in West street; that made @ @ total of five for the whole cit; Qa you know, by the imate of intelligent mén and of yourself, wi the profits of that buat- Ness were then? A, T I can best tell you by 3, Mr. Bixby told me he u 5 what Mr, Bixby told m¢ could not make a dollar out of the rates established by Mr. Grinne)i, but if he were allowed to go on as vefore he would be satisfied; that gave mo the idea that the profits would be excessive, @ What do you tuk the profity are mow? A. Not jess than one hundred thousand dollars a year. Q. Was the Itmitation you have spoken of ever formally withdrawn? A. Never, to my knowledge, ‘as Mr. Grinnell removed because of his ob- {ee ton to assessments, and vecause of his re- jactanee to employ Custom mouse officers for political purposes? 4. I know he was threatened to be removed several times by Mr. Leet if he couid not get what he wanted in the general order busl- ASB ‘ ri You hear daily of bribes being taken by em- pew of the Custom House? A. Yes, sir, daily; 1 ard of one case last month, Q, Names? A, William Haw, 1 betieve, told me that there was every day brought under his notice that parties from down town connected with the | CUslOMs received their perquisites; he did not tell | me the names of any of tue parties he alluded to, Q. Mr. Leet was introduced by letters from Gen- eral Grant and Mr. Washburn? A, | saw them be- fore they le‘t Wasiungton. Q. Will you state as near as you can what General Granv’s letter was? A. Js stated that Leet had been @ worthy officer on his staff, and asked Mr. Grinnell to help him in any mercantile way. Q, He came to New York armed with these let- ters, aud applied to Mr, Grinnell for business? A. | Yes, sir; he applied at onve; Mr. Leet told me before ne lett Washington what ne wanted, and tola me, too, what he thought he shouid make out of it. What aid he he should make out of 10? A. Sixty thousand dollars a year, and that, with the Jabor contract, he said he thought would give him $100,000 a year. Q. Mr. Grinnell, however, did not give him all the general order business? A, No, sir. Q. Why was Mr, Wood given a portion? A. He ‘Was an old republican politictan, Q and Mr. Squires? A, I never knew Mr. Squires. a The profits of the general order business are $100,000 2 year? A. I donot say so for myself; I have been intormed so; uf Leet and Stocking now have all the North Kiver business the profits ought to be atleast worth that; as J understand It, they have all that business and the Hoboken business in saditions the East River business does not amuunt to much, q. Under Mr, Grinnell was the average charge for storage, OVer & dollar and 9 halt a package in. of from @ dollar ana @ half. to two «dollars and a ter, AS AL present’ A. | think the average charge was a good deal below that. Q. Mr, Leet informed Mr. Grinnell that he was to be Collector before he knew it bimsclf; how long be- fore? A. One or two days before; le told me at Wulard’s Hotel, in Washington. Q. Was it then that he showed the Presidents let- ter? A. Yes, sir, Q. He told Mr. Grinnell tnat he was to he Collec- | tor, at the same time stipulating that he was to get | the general order business? A. Yes, sir, . When did Mr. Leet get the rest of the general order business? A, 1 Wo not know, Q. When did Mr. Leet threaten Mr. Grinnell that he should be removed? A. A few weeks after his Appointment; Mr. Grinueil took the cougsel of a ew friends, among others nyseif, about giving Mr. eet the entire business; we advised him not to do so and he decided not to do so; Mr, Leet told ine several tines atterwards that he wanted all the eneral order business and that if he could not get [tt from Mr. Grinnell he would bave it from another Collector: he told me that in the presence of another gentleman on one occasion, Mr. Wintelaw Rew, sworn:—I am an editor: re- | jorta that have come to je profeastonally have ied me to form certain conclusions; personally have, of course, No Knowledge of the lactis stated; | two days ago there was an article on the coriup- tions of the Custom House which was much the | same, J believe, tn Substance as Lue testimony of the | last witue: 4 Q. Ibis stated in the Z'r/dune that the investiga: tion Was not to be open—what was tie source of that statement? A, Current rumor both at Wash- ington and in the Custom House, There then ensued Among the Senarors a long and tedious discussion for nearly twenty minutes upon the grave question as to which Senator had first proposed that the sessions of the committee should be open to the press. Q, What was the basis for the statement that the general order business was not made a system of extortion until Thomas Murphy be A. Upon general information ae: per- son Who furnished the writer of the ardcle in ques- Hon with nis jacts, (Mr. Reid was thea requested to appear to-morrow with a lst of the authorives for the article in question) Mr. Wiliam Haw, sworn—! am a have lived Jn this city forty-one years. . Mr. Lindsay stated that you told him that bribes were given almost daily to persons dowa town for passing goois? A. I pronounce that to be false; I saw him last night at the fifth Avenue lo- tely T told him I had no doubt that these men balider, and round here were guilty of wrregulaviites, and. that | it had been going on a Jong Ume, and was no doubt 4 going on still; I was myself formerly an oficeholder in the Custom Honse, The commitiee then adjourned uatil tomorrow morning. SHAKING UP A BANK. The Run on the Third Avenue Savings Bank Tucreasing—Shight Evidences of Alarm on the Part of the Officiale—-The Bank 8ti)! Paying Dollar for Dollar. The aspect of affairs around the Third Avenue Savings Bank was yesterday anytning but cheering to the urastees, who declare that they have carefully protected the imierest of depositors and labored Meessantly to make it worthy of the confidence of the pubile. When the doors were thrown open yes: verday atten A. M. there were present filly seven hundred persons, for the most part composed of well-dressed business men—who it Is safe 10 say were large depositors--who at last had become alarmed at the prospect, The office of the institution was quickly Dlled to its utmost capacity, and the work of paying Out commenced, the police, who were well drilled in their duties by Captain Cameron, letting in new applicants as fast as those who secured thelr cash went ont. During the ewrly partof the day the afternoon -he relaxed his energy and paid’at we rate of one every two minutes, Abont two o'clock Mr, Coal, one of the trustees, who had been absent in Connecticut, arrived, and, after & consultation with Messrs. Harrison and Bates, Captain Caweron was instructed to admit no moré until those inside had been paid off, the trus- tees remarking that having paid out the day before three and a half hours more than the law called for thelr clerks were tired out, and they pro- osed to close promptly at three clock, ie order was carrt ont, there being & half hour before that time 121 depositors within the bank and 263 without by actual count, Uhere were about fifty turnea out unpaid and pay- ments were suspended for the day, much to the disgust of the depositors, who complained at the tardiness of the paying teller, and took it as an midi. cation that the funds were giving out. Mr, Harvi- fon assiened a very different reason—viz., that the paying teller was worked beyond his mental and physical capacity and forced to abate his envrey. To say that the depositors were anxious is a mild term, ‘They were panic stricken; and when they were turned away unpaid in the afternoon many remarked, “That is the end of it,” ‘fhe bank will not open to-morrow,”? “My money’s gone, sure.” anil say tat they have more money on hand; that they will open at ten o’¢iock this morning, as usual; that they received $250,000 more cash yesterday, and Will not give up until forced todo so. Tuey had, it i& reported, cash on the firat day of the rua about $2,090,000, and secured yesterday $260,000, Making total cash $2,250,000. hey Dave paid out robably a milion and three-quarters, leaving Wall mulion still on hand, yesterday this will last to-day and part of to-mor- row, and President Lyons hopes to raise a militon fmore to-day, Still, ag the deposits were when the ran was tnaugurated above seven miliitons, there ‘re grave tears that If the demand lor money for the neXt LwWo or three days is as great as it was yesier- day the instiiution may be compelled to suspend for a few days to realize ov Its securities, Messrs. Lyons, Green, Bates, Harrison, Owen and Coal have been very active in arranging for the run, but yesterday they were not so satuine as be- fore of their ability to withstand the snaking up the depositors are giving them, One of them de- clared that while they could obtain an abunda: of money by making sacrifices Of securities neid them as trustees of the savings of tue poor Would not rob thein by forced sales of ruinous rates, and wonld take advantag thirty days’ grace if the exigencies of the manded it. Iv 1s hkely that the run to-day will be larg As not mere than fifty per hour are paid, are but five banking hours, it 1s safe to sa more than 250 will bo paid daring the day. Conse- queatly it will be very unlikely that any who arrive aller eight or balf-pasi eight A. M. ond have fatied to get near the head of the line can reach the pay- ing feller’s desk before the hour for closing. As yot no other banks have rendered assistance, and it was even reported on Wall street yesterday Uhat the bank had suspended. To-day will likely de- monsirate whether the-institution can withstand torm. If it betrae thatthe bank has po bad 3, and that its assets exceed the deposits by ly eighty thousand ydoliars, it ts to bo re- THE ALLEGED HARBOR ABUSE3. Further Postponement of tho Lavestiqation— ‘The Law on the Subject Dispute. Captain Jones opened the Court, which has been held for the purpose of invesigating the charges brought against Harbor Master Hart by a coalition of merchants, at ten A. M. yesterday; but, on the appiication of Mr. Benedict, the counsellor for the platitiffs, adjourned it until noon. At that hour tie defendant, with bis counsel and witnesses, entered an appearance, aud a number of gentlemen who represent the mercantile interest were also present; but Mr, Benedict was unable to attend per- sonally, 80 sent his partner, who requestea the Court to still further postpone the hearing of the case. This Captain Jones felt unwilling to do, as it has atready been adjourned several times to suit the wishes of the complainants; and Mr. Davis, defendanv’s counsel, ob- jected to such @& conrse being taken until Mr. Benedict's representative appealed to him in a most feeling manner, and won over the humane attorney for the defence by his sighs and lamenta- tions. Then the Captain of the Port adjourned the further hearing until hail-past ten o'clock to-day, at which hour, he stated, he would proceed with the case, even if only his pretiy black cat was present. To one Who has watched the developments of the case the result 13 obvious, even at the present stage of proceedings, for the evidence already advanced by the complainants tends to prove that Hart was honestly endeavoring to cause a discontinuance of the very reprehensible practice in vogue among mer- } chants of purchasing @ berth for their vessels from | wharfingers, who had not the vestige of aright to aispose of thein. ‘The Wharfingers and stevedores are evidently incensed against Mr. Hart for interier- ing and preventing them from gleaning perquisites, by false representations, to juduce many respectable merchants to take an erroneous View of the case and image that Hart refused to berth thesr vessels unless ne was per- sonally subsidized, Mr. Benedict 1s doubtless a very astute lawyer, but he must have underrated the ability of Mr, Davis sadly if he imagined that the counsellor for the defence woud be so blind as to fail to notice @ clause in the act relating to the duties of harbor masters which of itself is sufficient to utterly nullily the course the plainuffts have taken and prove that Hart acted in strivt accord+ ance with the law. Chapter 497, entitled “An act defining and regu- Jating tne powers, duties and compensation of the Captain of the Port and harbor masters of the port ot New York’’—=-amended April 27, 186—secilon 4 enacts that;— No veasel other than canal boats, barges, or lighters re- ceiving or delivering property to suid cana: boats or barges, shail ave or enter into for the purpose Of using any part of ‘the port of New York set apart for the use of canal boats or barges without the written consent of the Captain of the Port first had and obtained therefor, and then only between the Lat day of Jannary and the 20th day of M ‘wien not occupied by. cana boat for every day that said vessel al said port so set apart after being notified by ‘Port of a harbor master, and suid penalty shail be lien "ipon any such vessel and be enforced by proceedings agaiat, in- ailited by and in. the name of the Captain of aid port, ac. cording to the provistons of tne laws of the State concerning attachments of vessele, * As Captain Jones, in accordance with this enact- ment, set apart that portion of the harbor from pier 1 to pier 8 inclusive, and as the question in point is why certain vessels were nut aliowed to jie at pier 6, the case of the complainants must necessarny fall to the ground ulumately. CHARGED WITH RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS. Mrs. Emma Johnson, of 169 thompson street, ap- | peared before Justice Cox, at Jeferson Market, on Wednesday morning, and made aMdavit that on the 20th day of November last some unknown party or parties entered her house and ‘carried off a quan- tity of jewelry, valued at $455, among the property being a gold Watch valued at $100. Mrs. Johnson testified that as she was passing the jewelry store of Jonn ©, Anderson, 276 Bowery, on the 29th of De- cember last, she discovered the watch hang- in the window of Anderson's store, thon her calling at the place on the following morn ing she was informed the property had been dis- ed of. Asearch warrant was issued and placed the hands of Detective Dunn, of the nth pres Cluct, Who visited the place, but was unable to fad any vf the missing property. Anderson was ar- Tested, and upon the affidavit of Mrs. Johnson, who testified he purcnased it knowing It to have been bat! in the sum of $2,000, An- Gerson fates "hat he urcnased it in a@ legitimate 3 ner a penalty of $100 Tematt ia said past of the Captain of the h in each year, and | etted that any on claiming respectability ould strive to create distrast of it. il sueh course is to be encouraged there 1s nov a savings bank in tne elly sile, A MEAN SWINDLE. Enanging Poor Young Defrauding Them of Their Wages. In one or two of the minor danies awadverttse- ment appeared, tor two days last week, reading ag follows:— Wanted —Ladies (o do light and respectable work; wages aweek, Apply to Philipps & Coutes, 174 Lewis sueet, A number of young girls from the east side of the | eon with fore! city applied at this place, aud about ten of them were engaged, ‘The Nght and respectable work consisted in can- vassing grocery stores. They were each given a certain district in the city, and were told to go into every grocery store Io thelr respective districts and ask for the “Eureka Jiquid Blacking.” All stores Not having the above compound for sale were to be noted down in books provided for the purpose, and the girls were Lo report every evening at the lead. quarters, 174 Lewis street,” Accordingly the bend of ten young lady Canvassers started out on their curious errand and reported every evening as re- quested. They worked the names fatnfully and well, and some two thousand dealers who had jot the Eureka Liqaid BlacKing were engrossed on the books of the enterprising firm of Philipps & Coates. On Saturday Jast the mdustrious girls came to the ofice as usual, and waited, In glad expec y of their pay. Tbis part of the arrangement didn't seem sausfactory to the enterpristug firm. ‘The girls were told not to be in a hurry tu! they had cone some more work. Well, Philipps & Coates were & littie short of money, aud—well, on Tuesiay they would fix everything all right, if necessary, They came again on Monday, weut over their route and returned as usual. But on Tnesday morning—the day of their expected set- Uing of accounts, when they were to receive the wages of their toll—tne girls found to their dismay that Philipps & Coates and their “Eureka Liquid one knew whither, Yesterday afternoon one oi the victims, a very interesting-looking gtrl, appiied to Judge Scott, at Essex Marker, for redress, and told her story. However, sie had to gO away disap- pointed, His Honor remarking, “I would gladly do all Lean for you, young lady, but Ihave no power. You will have to apply io a civil court, and sue these men for your wages.” SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ART. Professor Tindall ports to the Trw sof Cooper Union thatthe Attendance Hi» Be Over One Thousand and Results Most -ate isfactory. A. M., of the evening schools to the Trustees of the Cooper Union it appears that the average attend. ance of the School of Sclence and art for the month of December, 1871, was, in the scientific classes, 431; scientific drawing classes, 220; in the art classes, 413; in oratory and devate, 40. Besides thts, many persous attend the free lectures On science which | are delivered every evening by the Professors of | Chemistry and Navoral Philosophy, &e, A laboratory | has been handsomely flited up and tnstraction given in chemical analysis by an experienced assisiant. ‘The trustees have succeeded la rendering the school unique, higher instruction being aves in science and art than in any evening school in this country, if not in the world. The average attendance in eometyy was seventy-three; in algebra, seveaty- TWO; being a larger total thau ip most collezes, So reat bas been the pressure of applicants that dur- ing November and December no less than 450 appit, cants were admitted, The average monthly attend- ance nas been:—October, 1,026; November, 1,086; December, 1,064, Applicants are received evory Wednesday and Thursday evening, at eight o'clock, in the office, by Professer Tisdall. MEETING OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. Annual Report of the Receipts and Expen- ditures for the Year 1871. A stated meeting of the American lostitate was heid Jast evening at the rooms of the Institute In the Cooper Union, Mr. Erastus Cieveland in the chair. Mr. Ely, on behaif of the Board of Managere, read a i of the monetary Cg ag of the in- stitution: m which it appears that the total Tocapts from the amare Were $87,380 85. Prom this sum jucted }—one day! Feceipta-—w i ‘was given to the Chicago suiferers, and this leaves a cash balance of de] 10, The total expenses for the year were 028 84. Besides this sum the Board has expended $8,400 for the next annual ex- hibition, and has appropriated $500 to the library. Thirteen gentiemen were balioted for and ciectcd way and had disposed of it to one of his customers. INCENDIARISM IN WES CHESTER, Shortly after one o'clock yesterday morning a frame building, occupied as a grocery store and situated on Boston Road, Mott Haven, Westchester county, was fred by some unknown person or per- gons, aud ina short Ume wai with ite contents, totally destroyed. The stock, which was owned by John Waters, was valued at $4,500, on which there is an insurance of $4,000, in the Adriatic, Merchants’ nd Humboldt insurance eT of New York, of $1,500 on the bulld~ ch was owned by homas Rae. A stable in rear ol the burning build ng caught fire trom jatier, and before they could be rescued two the hovses perished sm the Hamed emery | among whom was Sefior Don Freco Munoz de Moncado, late sul resident at Charleston, 8. 0., now residing at Yeola, Ja the pro- vince of Murcia, Spain, who Was el & corres- ponding member. After appointing a Committee on Non open | whose report is to read at the next meeting, the Institute adjourned. ANOTHER OBANOB FOR BOTTS. A special meeting of the Court of Pardons of New Jersey will be held next Tuesday at Trenton, for the purpose of considering the case of Botts, the Wark murderer, The time fixed for tho execution 18 the 26th iust., and 1 19 understood that if the Court decide adversely to the petition for commula- tion of sentence the Warrant for the execution will be made out and signed by Governor Randolph, By Ue stroke of oMiclal etiquette Governor Parker Woals ve yelleved from a very unpleasant positon. teller paid at the rate of one per minute; but in the | ‘The teller paid out slowly until three o'clock, when | th The otticers of the bank, however are still contident | At the rate they patd out | ris to Canvass the City for a Liquid Blacking Company and Biacking” had vanished like @ thief im the night, no | | From the report of the Director, F. G. Tisdall, Jr, =a» THE AMERICAN SHIPPING INTERESTS, wees Proposed Repeal of the Law Forbidding Regige tration of Foreign Built Vessels, Decline of the Mercantile Marine Service—The Harbor Abuses—Tho Welfare of Sea- men While on Shore. The Chamber of Corhmerce met yesterday after- Doon, at hali-past two o'clock, Mr. Opdyke presid- | tug. The Executive Committee reported, and the resignations cf both gentlemen composing it, Mr. William H. Aspinwall and Mr, William E, Dodge, were accepted, and Mr. Solon Humphreys and Mr, William H. Fogg were elected to fill the vacancies, The following named gentlemen were elected Members of the Chamber:— Thomas ©, Acton, L. Murray Ferris, Jr; My | Lamarche, W. Weyman Mali, John Middleton, | Henry B, Newhall. The committee on the outrages committed against THE CHINRSE RESIDENTS OF LOS ANGELES, California, reported that as the subject was being investigated by the courts and the Governor of the State they recommended all action to be deferred until the results were learned, Mr. D. Willis James, chairman of the Committee on the Depressed Condition of the American Ship- ping Interest, read their report on the subject, given } qn full below :-~ | THE AMPRICAN BULPPING INTERESTS. ‘Tho subject'submiited to your committee—viz., “The dé. cline.of American commerce, or the depressed condition o | our shtpping interest,” 18 second to none in its importance e whole conntiy, and demands the moat careful attede | Honan interest vital tn vine of war and essential to thé | progress and prosperity the nation, If all Amert- j can citizens contd be made fully to understand Into | to re« | what a condition this joterest bas been brought, an alize that the evil ls still progressing, they would move with one impulse, to consider and adopt such practic measures ag Would tend, at least, to stop the progress of tha destroying digeas*, and to ‘bring about @ gradual | restoration of the proud position the United states once — ccenpied as a commercial nation, It if | with this earnest hope your committee have set themselve to the consideration of the subject entrusted to them by the Chamber, deterinining 10 suomi practionl suxgestions and not to disenss merely theories Aithongu these peactloal Suygestions may be open to'some temporaay objec still, the vast {mportance to the nation of the {ntere volved renders it the part of wisdom to put to the test perience approved prictival measures. PROGRESS OF ITS DEOLINE, | Avery cursory review of the history of our registered or } foreign shipping may give some useful suggestions and alno bs encouraement, ju that we have repeatedly overcome similar periods of depression. In 1197 we commenced with a registered tonnage o| 8,598 tons, which stewilly Inereaged to, 1810, when It w 984/269 ton; from 1810 to 1814 ft decregsed — 309, tons standing in 1614, 874,628 tons, In 1824 the regiatere 73 tons, and incr: 1 slowly to j tonnage was only b | 38, When. it stood 812,619 "tons. FY | 1833 np of’ depression, 40 that in H istered tonnage waa 686,800 tons. | 1843 the increase was rapid, and the tonnage in 183 was, | 32 tons; {rom 1842 to 1846 there was an increase of but th tons ‘in tonr years. In the tonnage was ‘ase in four years of 416,79 tons, In 1 7 an increa four years of of ched—a td Alt tons onnage was num Was 608 steam. shipping, in 1%65, the tonnage was 1,00) M3 steam, Tu 1870 the regisicred 1040, 154 tons. During the way a very drawn froma commer iment, and also by tal | under foreign Gags. amount of tonnage was with. by and charter to the govern- oi of ownership to place the vessela EDINA, done to relieve the present de- z interest reference may be ile als in common 0 ¢ ¥, Vi Fisi—Our Wwredeemuble paper currency, enhancing all cost of production, | Second—Heavy toxation, in the form of greatly increased dtities and varied tnt tho curre ment, and tl on of the gov exnment wil ve yf onerous and cumulative taxation, Bot to ma’ igvestions for immediate reliet, aud which my be temporary in thelr character, your committee fone made by otter nations, capectally | dy our rival branch of mdustry, and especially 0 th eiatent ta knglaud made when eituated” very as Wi | tis great intare: rally aid | Of foreign steny nd Seeking from all sources practical } Ruggestions, ‘The result achieved by Great Britain vindleat | the wisdou of her wiatesmen and the peraiatency of Nor mer, fhants and m ant time it 4 estimated | nd tone ot large tron port alone, controlled ital and under Corsign tags. nd, if aps ibe, sent | ato proceed to Washington to lay tl omrnittees Of the House of Repre- t0 t= IN BOND, Firs!—That owners of either tron or wooden sleam or sail- evencaged in the foreign trade or bound to bo Pacifie, be allowel to purchase ail stores and articles ary to iit thein for sea, 80 as to enable them to perform t) ea in bond. se ancl articles are of Ame! eturn equivae lent to the am duty or tax paidgon the forelgn ar- ticles abali be made. § provision enables our vessels to be galled in com: aod as otner nations give this privé We do so also, to sectire port of this | trade, uow largely controlled by our rivals, WING MATERIAL. ented Scoond—All the materia used in the ‘construction or repair of steam or sailing vessels traversfag the ocean - ‘(whenever the amount expended at time in | conatrnction, and outite { gum of 1,000 | duty free. | manufacture are ised an amount equivalent to the duties | on the foreign nrticies rial be paid to the ownera of vessels; and that tue present tax of thirty ceuts per ton per annam, and ali custom ues and other charges, now imposed on all veasels entering any American port, bé specially ap- ted Cor this purpose, a to know that American burlders are in steamers of the hichest in; disabfitues, would be able speedily to tot iron screw steamers, and fron now with ALL KERVIOR. aster Geueral be Instructed to give lines of steamers in carryi ma oreign countries, and that whatever is receivatt by the government (or poxtage suail be paid over to the steamers carrying euch mails as compensation therefor, OF THY BEORBPARY OF ine preserlb » Chairnan 5 Jam a2 Sturges, Richard P. Buck, Mr, Oppy&E thought there was» ancy between the report made ana proceedings regarding tue subject at the”last meeting of the Chamber. The provision now given for the com- pensation of the mail service had then heen ree | jected py ballot, and again the proposition was re- newed, He wanted 1: stricken Out as inconsistent. He also had another amendment to offer—that the report also embiace a proposition to repeal ail laws forbidding itis Jann) THE REGISTRAVION OF FORKION-BUILT SHIPS. | tw he oly Way to restore our commerce at | once. Why defer when our builders cannot con- struct ships without loss. It was utterly impos. sible to compete with the foreign trade while this nomaly in the value of specie and currency e@x- sted, | My. Dow proposed that Mr, Opdyke’s amendment | be altered so that ihe prohibition of the registration | of joreign built slips be suspended for only two years, Mr, Opdyke accepted the proposal, but | thought that 1 would not need more than two | years to restore Vigor to the shipping loterest. His | Rmenament was carried. By motion the whole | subject was then postpo to be considered at @ | special meetung on Jana x , chaltman of the Committee on HARBOR ABUSES, | said that they were not ready to report. They had | Invited the co-operation of committees [rom other | associations, and a joint committee had een formed and was earnestly investigating the state of the | affairs in the harvor. Much difficulty had been ex- | perieuced im obtaining information from ship- | owners and merchants who have suffered pat are reluctant to offer or give any facts from the fear, 1% | 1s belteved, of giving offence to the officials and of | having additional impositions heaped upon shem, The committee lad already, however, gained very important Knowiedge and proposed to ask the Legisiature to MODIFY THE EXISTING LAWS, and intended to present such facts as they might gather to show the burdens imposed upon oar com- merce, ‘The committee had learned, tn reference to the adminisiation of quarantine in Boston and altimore, that no such burdens and exactions are mposed there. If the Legislature did not reform the harbor government of New York they would eal to Congress, as ir. Ghaiuas Y, BURDETT called the attention of the Chamber to on important bill now pending in Congress, kuown as the “Shipping Commissioners! Dill,” the object of which ia to elevate the morels of the mercantile marine of the United States, and chiefly by throwing around it such ald and anpport /yith authority “3 shall to some extent, at least, Ireo {tyrom tue practices of what are known as D SHARKS.” Captain Duncan was then introduced, aud ex. ned that the Dill had passed the Senate inst year id had gained already @ warm support in the House, where it was almost sure of success, i 9 merel asked the endorsement of the Chamber: m n inotion of Mr. RUSSELL SruRGEs the matter bi rererred to the Committee on the itights and 13 of Seamen. it was then moved that this subject Lg ae con- sidered at the special m ils bat en ape pointed, und the motion was carried. The Chamber then adjourne sero narrate OROIDE WATCH SWINDLE, Some days since a number of men were arrested ‘on @ charge of fraud by selling oroide watches aud representing them to purchasers as gold. It was reported in the papers at the time of the arrest that these men had been taken from the Standard House, st Broadway , kept by Mr, Charles White, ‘This is standard Honse, but at 182 0 shan halt @ block «yaiant from Ube itotel Kept by Airs Bites Mr. HumPare