New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-03-18
THE CUSTOM.HOUSE FRAUDS

The following is the speech Of Mr.. liulbuTd, Char
man Of the Committee Public Expenditures dobVes
in House Of Representatives, March u.s. the House
having under consideration resolution directing SAD
committee take into consideration report mace atts
last session the subject Of the NewYork Cnstor
House. and report hat action advisable IN the prem
ses."
Mr. SPEAKER: At the last session of Congress- tie Conn
mittee Public Expenditures Of which had the hon9s
TO be the chairman, directed committee not exceed
abuses and frauds in connection With the Boston ana Se%
theT and Submitted report calling for Ts
action. They then proceeded &c examine the e~boS
tientIy earnestly and nnweariedy to the discharge
the duty devolyed upon them Aud on the very Tart
their report but it was too late IN the session TO a
,So es sSsuse eG% o r appeaa Pp a he
papers ON Monday OF last week; Inc ia,aS ,ass,d
charging that the report OF tile Committee Tas spne
fl" and that its animus was prompted ~ nis nan
application Sir that is very grave charge Sen 70 bc5e sT
against the Coniee ana ss r That COMMITTEE
never asked an appointment of Mr. smythe tina: he did
not 9 I1f ey newer asked for and never would
accept. leave that part OF the matter tnere DIV I
senators Doolttle and Patterson that they had ever re-
ceiyed pecunisIy benefit from M smythe IL M
noticed that these gentlemen IN their statement
deny that there was an arrangement Oh .ne ~
c%arged that T." they received. either individually
collectively, single dollar from ny h, s Sn?yhi
IL was Their duty TO show the manner ID which Mr.!
smythe was conducting the office Of Collector OF we lo
that manner 10 show whether it was corrupt not,
within their province to prove Inc ev q lad no ohes
means Of doing IL except ny proving us ~
aGt AND and they eos the ony they thus oSane
and that is the head and front OF tner oiien9s ~ @
particular. Mr.. Doolittle called upon me day or Two
after the report OF the Committee was made p1pe ua
stated that he felt himself very much 0 irons,
the Collector Of the port Of New York on in.
| inrph I
result for had made such charge IN the report Ha
thought he ought to have been examined and that hs
denial ought have gone out with the report htr-
ward, upon reflection wrote note 70 M Donht,e'
in which stated that did not wish TO do Inn music.
and that II had done so regretted anst or dsra
that be might deem proper e epp va o
the I'd OF March; as the lawyers say ne Pro sc now
for then, aud would send 1t to the Public Printer as
time the had their hands notes not written
out OF tine 1t inc p Il Eer PnsT strained ~
speaking Of these dates as he seemed 20 have ertho
merely 70 slow that there was no unEndness the part q
the Committee toward Senator Do0te or any intention
sbed in the papers my attention has been called va
riolIs other portions OF the testimony, some Of wlDrh
say House that the fact that Mr. smythe ,lid Lave
in to give e esis OF p yhe
upon the testimony Of any one maD or upon tie itsis
in nv hand a portion OF the testimony which sub-
United to the Committee, and which has been printed
M. Phelps He is speaking OF an interview ~ tln
Presidents room, at which himself and Mrs Perry "fh
The President assured Phelps and Barr should lave "a
a. sm oSs S5st he gave @ to Barr ssi Phelps sah
,a1 r ia Jd a viii ss ss SiG% 1 viii Mr. P
Qussoa determined Whist portion ste "a, % have
zss ii, johnson the asnssuss Interest ne sac TO
have and Mr johnson then replied be was satisfied me N's
s S's ss si to Hsyt sgd Of hs net profits
a@s,tcn. Did you prdaee the testimonials required
oassiioa TEL the committee about the substance vj
"a.r,r aid the President there sead he gss ef
Was Tssi ire pat,ed shoulder Nd: Ss,u v.
saTs :, n' light, ,s ef ne matter q Mr.. Psy hand,
m 10 cswe 10 wahrc again shortly sefre NJ S@yit, "a, 81
and wen, md all upon The President go, S.a .- q. .
iervex called his Private sereay Col .Batf
~risen 1oTS stated to @ vIs. wanted and
E Gl' on S' So 50 70 Il, Batter to RdsS p
and Thomas s Bar ., sa 81, s tee .n P VS..
tone Ns Perry snd vhsO the letter written he ,e a.
as Mr. Smyhe nominated confirmed presented the 'its @
and l9oasst for then that one, rs.
a. W.. ss sGsa of S Tt :5 , . S. @ T
e had q tsaer.l on,t
s person who cannot nSS ih$l Of hss t. sssd
spare Sa snail & Ss ssd be a.i s :. "
pot take fourth interest in the whole business that pe he 9
The witness failed to produce that letter 1t was efs
with the Collector; and he had destroyed nislad ID
he could not find it, Mark the statement he sys Mr..
snythe had agreed 10 this before he could woud Ia
confirmed That is not the statement OF the committee
tits the statement OF witness before the committee.
Mr. smythe himself does not deny that he had this ~
contemplation IL is true that In letter which puIp0ta
g DC sgued bv him, addressed 10 the President oi
United States Of the date Of March 1857, he declares
repeat here unknown most Of those whom intended "
The lSps, 70 was PnIPSse never executed l"i~'e ''
| "a hafformed projectw Speedily dismissed" no
should instruct better TO dates and facts the .ouDHt
who prepare us cards and epistoar pronuncam, nOss
Why, Sir halfadozen witnesses syore before the Coma
mtee that at different places and occasions and mfs
SSs d;sR1 ngq Sa9 asrS
this kind IN the month OF NAV he commenced, n: and n
have in my hand the testimony OF witness who sweais
| to having been told by Mr. smythe follows:
Mr. Smytht Collector OIL in CASTOR lor,
be stated the beet Of recollection, that be bad agreed
Johnson Mr. Patterson l3Oo 10 ,or Il
Senso boole aud retain in his hands $500 sico W
Now, sir, how long takes Mr. smythe to incubate a
project which he commenced upon IN May and had not st
missed in October the House Judge well as nys.f!
whether the retention Of il four five months IA aj
determine Mr. snythe stated distinctly When M
before the Committee that he mad never had any oos
NeIsu9n Win senator Doohtte on the subject Of the
General order business before lie nominated and con-,
nfmed lndeedh at first that Ter had ha
MI spaldng OF Newfolk, lawyer in good and rsgIlsp
standing, who was subpenaed before the COMMITTEE
Sled that IN conversation with Senator DOotte thaa
Senator told HIM that Mr. smythe had with
MN on the subject or the General Order business haf
agreed when the warm weather his con,
VINO wac then at Racine come TO New York and give n
a good appointment In the Custom House. with u
share In the profits Of the General order busiS
ness Now this is Witness statement, neS
say, that did come TO NewYork and now has sooa
appointment IN the Custom House under Mr.. smythe 4
charged that he participated IN the profits th3
General Order business yet there divers statement
that II the intention Of Mr. smythe that he should
Doote's son, with the simple remark that feel authors,
lied to that have been advised the three
these matters TO yet more direct conclusion. Now Mr.
Speaker wish TO call the attention of the House soma
In the paper addressed 20 the President the