New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-28
New:pork daily Gribn,1e
THE TARIFF INVESTIGATION

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
The Select Committee appointed to inquire into
the expenditure Of money for the purpose of in
HueneiDg the passage of the Tariff of 1857, by tn
XXXIVtb Congress, now
REPORT:
That the power and duties of the Committee were
defined by the resolution under which they were ap
pointed, which was as folows
Resorod That Committee of member be appointed
The charges preferred against the members and officers
Of the last Congress growing out Of the disbursement Of
port the ac and evidence this House. with 81 recommends
ions they nay deem proper with authority to send for per
toLs and papers"
The Committee organized on the 26th Of January,
A. d. 1855 and afterwsrd TO wit, the 9th day of
the same month in pursuance of resolution Of the
House, appointed James b. Sheridan, esq their Clerk
and stenographer. The Committee, acting upon tue
belief I'll At tie action OF the House insttuting the
investigation had been based mainly upon the pub
isl ed report Of Committee Of the Stockholders Of
the Mddlesex Manufacturing Company, referred TO
that paper for information to the proper starting
point in making the investigations with which they
were charged.
We then ascertsred that Richard s. Fay jr., had
acted as the Secretary Of that Committee that the in
prepared by him.
Some Of the members Of the Committee were per-
sorally cognzsnt # the fact that Mr. w. w. Stone, a
member Of the firm of Lawreace, Stone a. Co., had
spent considerable portion Of his time during the last
Session of Congress this city, urging the passage of
the Tariff Of 1857.
Believing from these circumstances, that the testi-
mony of these gentlemen could not fail to give the
Committee information which would be very important
for the purpose Of indicating the line of investigation
which it would he proper to pursue IF for 10 other
purpofe), they were summoned and appeared before
the Committee the 9th day OF January AD 1915.
liz this, the Committee were not mistaken The tes'
;mony Of these gentlemen satisfied the Committee az
once that Mr.. John w. Walcott Of Boston was the
active agent in the disbursement Of the money
that had been advanced for the purpose Of
the action of Congress upon the passage OF the tart
No doubt was entertained that il HE testimony
could be obtained, he could furnish full and
satisfactory explanation OF the whole matter. Mr.;
Walcott was accordingly summoned, and appeared
before the Committee. But Lac the House is already
ALVAREZ he refused at the very threshold OF his exami-
nation TO answer the questions prOpounded 10 MN by
the Committee Ii was at once apparent to the CON-
mittee thst unless he could be compelled to testify,
the investigation could have no satisfactory result.
And the Committee still believe that his discharge by
the House has prevented the thorough and saisfa,-
tory exhibit Of the disbursements which they were
required to investigate, and which they had hoped to
be able to make.
In the absence of the testimony of Mr.. Walcott the
Committee have resorted to such other sources of in
formation as accessible to Them and have sue
ceeded in collecting facts which throw much light
upon the subject though they do not present 60 full
and satisfactory an account of the ultimate dstr16u.
ton of the entire sum advanced for the purpose OF
influencing the action of Congress as was desirable
The testimony Is more vouminous than was neces-
sary TO establish the facts proved This has resulted
partly from the unwiDgness OF some OF ne witnesses
to testify to all they knew; and hence 1t became
Ia d e
from the fact that the examinations were oral, aud
conducted somewhat rregularly by the various MEM
bers OF the Committee. Hence there is much repetl'
ton, and some irrelevant matter which might very
well have been omitted if the Committee had fell at
liberty 10 omit any part Of the evidence.
But as the resolution of the House directed the
Committee to report the evidence, tney nave
Judged il proper not TO withhold any part OF II. The
Committee propose to give summary stNement OF
the facts proved so far as they come within the range
Of the inquiry comm tilted to them by the House.
The firm OF Lawrence, Stone a. Co., was composed
Of Samuel Lawrence, w. w. Stone, Jarvis Sade o.
II. Perry and Henry jenkins.
Its principal place Of business was in Boston, with
branch IN Newiork, where large share of its busi
Messrs. Lawrence, Slade and Perry, the )ston
partners, ard Messrs. Stone and jenkins had charge
Of the New-YOrk house.
I" The Middlesex Manufacturing Company is q cor
porston created by the lsws OF Mass chusets, with
capital Of 81 COO 600, engaged in manufacturing wooden
goods.
The Bay State Mills" is q corporation of the ssme
kind created % the same way, with the same anoHnt
Of capital and engaged in the same kind of business.
Samuel Lawrence was the treasurer OF both of these
corporations, and the firm of Lawrence, Stone Co.
their selling agents. All the goods manufactured by
the Companies went into the hands of lawrence Stone
Il Co., sold by them, and the proceeds accounted
for and paid to Samuel Lawrence, treasurer.
TIE finances Of the Boston house were managed by
Messrs. Lawrence & Slade, Mr. Peuys business be-
ing al the mills and not at the counting house. Hence
Mr. Perry seems not 10 have been IN any way con-
nected with The matters which the Committee have
been endesvorng 10 investigate.
The New-York house seemed 10 have been mat "
under the control Of M Stone, and Mr. jenkins does
not seem TO have had any direct connection with the
matters that have been brought 10 the attention Of the
Committee Il appe .rs from the evidence that the
manufacturers Of wooden goods, having for several
years past despaired Of obtaining any legislative pro-
lection by increase of duties on woolens have been
seeking TO accomplish the result by reducing the
duties wool, dye.stuffs and other raw materials
that were used by the manu- scturers. To this end
they have been diligently engaged IN collecting and
publishing such statistics and arguments as they con-
sdered proper, to prepare the public mind for that
step.
In this way, a small amount Of money expended
pIior 10 tie commencement Of the last session of
Congress.
Al The act session, vigorous and concerted effort
wss made MI StoIe spent most Of the Winter here.
In ihstice 10 Mr. Stone however, il is procer e. say
Gagged IN using any corrupt means with members OF
CCrrress HIS ,6bors seem 20 have consisted ma.oly
IN epdeavoIIpg 10 convince members from the WOO.
growing Ststes that reducing the duues on import ed
We wOulG nciesse the price OF wool grown 10 The
Tp,.d States L. is not strange thst he sncud hsve
rad rather IdifieUIt success u this enterprise. Inc
uorfctu-ers were rot disposed - rettne sucess Of
tt.ir tr,srpTse sley upon such I'm 4en 80 .. ESQ
n. .Vi1,rc. 50, sizes :he Como zee ths' Mr. Wa ~,
W., ser, rtre aIc su,lo'xed 70 p'edce any alnodit
u u. IT. r4. =.