New-York tribune., 1867-03-16
WASHINGTON.

/ HhV ,vyr voox cusTOMHoUSR FRAUDS-STATEMBNT
i aY Mr. HuLBURD IN THE HOuSE-VlkG'NIA MA AND TIE
vscoy sTRuCTioN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
,sa,.,pn 10 THE TRIBUNE
WAsHISGroN Friday, March IS, 1907.
ar conote to-day number of bills and resolu-
d .roro introduced and referred. The Supple
~, ~ reconstruction bill came up at o'clock
= "rrote,s amendment was voted down without
y. s,..n having been fully discussed yesterday. Mr.
"'ndep then offered an amendment to carry out
expressed in his speech yesterday, that the
SV ;.+ional Conventions shall not be called IN the
~ uutil the Provisional Governments OF those
-. sbau have signified by loyal enactments that
ire 10 form constitutions This gave rise to
v%s' Nv aohate in which the immediate question be-
s sNe Senate was entirely lost sight OF, and the
~ snbect of Reconstruction was opened up The
~, of the entire days SET on was to vote down
~ "v.s.enden's amendment. As there are number
HaOdments vet to be offered and discussed, IT is
~ that the subject will occupy at least three
NV w. nsxt week Mr. Sherman made an important
S...,sut to-day in relation to Government bonds
Cha. the widespread report that large num-
~ nv - bonds had been duplicated at the Treasury
n-..,toept was entirely erroneous. The only truth
- in it was that in few instances, the same
s.,,ss had been, by mistake, stamped upon TWO
,e.ds The total amount of bonds thus stamped dd
| ,ot exceed $4,000.
The House sat for Al hours to-day. The SESSION
lv,saue an interesting one, most OF the time Delhg
I,.Lsn nm in discussion of the frauds and irregular
aiss of the New-York CustOm-House, and tne OF
S.;.l eonduct of Collector Smythe. MI Hulourd,
,As chairman of the Committee which investigated
omvtbe and the CustOm-HOuse, spent u hours III
Attending the report of the Committee nom 'no
charges made by the persons 1t mpnca'eu' IL was
U,,lhurd had "A clear
al EASY case and the illegal operations OF MI.
Snythe and other Government officials were SHOWN
min manner not to be envied by any respectaOie
an Nr Hulburd replied TO all the charges
,aipst the Committee made in the letter OF Smythe
a the President. This expose puts Mr.. Smythe'
senator Doolittle, Mr. Robert Johnson, and Senator
Patterson deeuer into the mire than did the original
report. What is singular. during all of Mr. HUI
hurd's speech Collector Suythe did not have mem
Der TO take his part and attempt defense Chaier'
Eldridge. and Demas Barnes, of the Democ-
raey. put numerous questions to Hulbmo'
while speaking but merely for information,
and not for defense. Fernando Wood Fephed
70 Hulburd He did not defend smythe
from the charges proven against him, but rather
shielded the President flOm all blame, and leetured
Congress for placing so much power In the hands OF
Collector of q port Schenck joined IN the debate
by offering O resolution TO instruct the Committee
ON Public Expenditures TO further examine INTO the
conduct of Mr. Smythe, and report whether ne has
not made himself liable 10 impeachment. The de-
bate over Schencks proposition was very spicy ana
at times exceedingly funny. Mr.. Hulburds state
ment that Smythe swOre he gave Mrs Senator Tat
tersOn forty cents worth of candy, an Dducement
10 work for his appointment excited great laughter
Tie statement that SInythe swore he vOtedany
ticket but the Democratic ticket brought out Wood
who charged Smythe with perjury for he knew he
was not Democrat, but member of the Loyal
League of New-YoIk The whole debate was inter
espg but exposed very dsgraceful state OF affairs
existing in of the most important Offices of the
Government. Schenek's resolution was passed with
out opposition aud the Committee will be appointed
and the investigation continued. Banks and Logan
made a determined effort in the House, to-day, TO
have the Committee OH Military Affairs appointed.
At least half an hOur spent in their efforts TO
succeed in their project but they were finally de-
feated after the Yeas and Nays had been twice taken
The President sent TO the Senate to-day the nomi-
nation of Henry w. Tracy Of Bradford County, Pa,
as Surveyor Of the Port Of Philadelphia, and Henry
X. LndelInan Director of the Mint Of that city ;
also, the name Of Wickhan Hoffman, Secretary Of
Legation TO France, vice Hay, resigned, and John n.
Dix Assistant Secretary Of Legation, in place of off
man, promoted.
IL is generally believed that there will be no nOmi-
nation sent to the Senate at present for Naval Officer
for New-Yorl Mr.. Franklin will'therefore hold the
place 1t is understood that Thurlow Weed effected
this when last in this city One two of the appli-
eants now here assert that the President has posi-
lively promised to send a nomination TO the Senate
for that position before Congress adjourns.
Cen II RoheTfs Nyaa aOain cd hv fhp
President to-day for Postmaster of Brooklyn and it
is probable he will be confirmed by the Senate His
first sent to the Senate the I'd Of March,
but the XXXIXth Congress adjourned before action
was had OH the nomination.
The President is losing his 'amiablity on what he
terms the prosecutions of the Senate in rejecting
nominees to office, and he to-day declared to certain
Democratic Congressman who call ID on him that he
should continue TO appoint Democrats lie repeated
his inflexible determination to nominate Democrats
only to vacant positions.
The delegation appointed by the Legislature Of
Virginia called yesterday the Senate Committee
On the judiciary. The interview was Of a highly
satisfactory character and the latter assured Of
the earnest intention Of that State TO return 10 her
place IN the Union under the terms proposed by Con-
gesS The delegation, just previous to their return
ing 10 Richmond visited the President Of the United
oiate Who according 10 the statement Of Of the
members OF the delegation, said he was opposed to
tue opJect OF their mission that. notwithstanding
ms opposition TO the Reconstruction bill, it was now
law OF the land and he should faithfully execute
u; that he thought the Legislature had done right
"y promptly accepting its terms, which he hoped
would tebd to alleviate the bitterness produced by
'ne iste war and at early day restore the South
states all their the Federal Gov
emment
MS now aseertained that the stronger and cOntron-
'"s members Of the General Assembly Of Virginia,