The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-24

THE CORRUPTION INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES
the legislation of the country that there are
now going on no less than five investig cations of
alleged frauds upon the country, through the
corruption of executive officers or members of
Congress. We allude to
FTst-The eightyseven thousand dollar
bride said to have been paid by Lawrence.
Stone Co. to members of Congress to secure
tariff act of 1857.
Second-The item of eight thousand dollars
for editorial services said to have been dis
bursed to certain persons connected with the
New York press
Third-The alleged corruption in the sale of
the Fort Smelling property.
Fourth-The examination into the accounts
of Inc Clerk of the late House.
Fifth-A similar examination with regard to
the Doorkeeper OF the late House.
There are several other matters of the same
kind that have not yet taken definite form,
and among them some alleged frauds in the
contracts for army transportation during the
Mormon war.
1t will be remembered that the New YORK
HERALD was the first journal to direct the atten-
ton of Congress and the people to the whole
sale lobby operations during the last Congress
Other journals took the matter up, and the
last Congress, about year ago, was shamed
| into appointing an investigating committee, Of
which Mt Kelsey, of New York, was Chair
| Il NJ Orr Of ntoro
On the Goth February that committee made a
report which created q tremendous sensation
throughout the country. That report recon-
mended the expulsion of Messrs. Gilbert, Ed
wards and Matteson, of New York. and WEIGH,
Of Connecticut, members of the House, and the
! exclusion Of Simonton, correspondent of the
| New York Times, from the floor. 1t was shown
| that these persons were implicated in
land speculations, railroad grants, private
claims, book speculations and other affairs of
the same sort. There was also some curious
testimony in relation to draft for one thousand
dollars issued by the Fort des Moine's Company
which draft Mr.. Horace Greeley carried in his
| pocket for some time, but never accounted for
its final destination.
| All tncee tnilgs, anu mucn more, appeared In
evidence, but Congress was near to dissolu-
ton and the guilty members lodged expul-
sion by resigning. In the new Congress we find
Matteson taking his seat as if nothing had hap
pened, and Simonton still continuing to haunt
the scene of his public shame and disgrace. All
the matters now being investigated by the
Thirty fifth Congress are legacies from its
immediate predecessor. The old committee
only half finished its work, and the new ones
should competeit. They should find out all about
the circumstances under which Matteson keeps
| his seat they should clear up the matter about
the thousand dollar check which Greeley has
never explained, and prosecute to the farthest
extent all the inquiries commenced last year,
and necessarily suspended on account of the late
period in the session at which they were com.
menced. The honest members of Congress owe
this as measure Of justice to their own reputa-
tons and in the name Of the people we demand
| from them full and fair exposure of all the
frauds, corruptions, and rascalities of the last
Congress