The New York herald., 1867-03-04

gentleman the steps OF Dr sunderlands church, he
said that he much pleased at the passage OF the
Military Government bill the veto OF the President
and stated that he hoped and expected thai the result
would be the speedy reconstruction OF the Southern
states and the admission of their representatives to the
Capile before the adjournment OF the next Congress
The General Order Business Of the New York
Custom IIonse-Report OF the Congressional
Investigating Committee.
The Committee on Public Expenditures late last night
made report accordance with the resolutions of the
House specially directing investigation into alleged
frauds in connection with the New York Custom House
The following is a brief synopsis OF their report -
They have taken large amount Of testimony in ex-
position Of the alleged abuses frauds and wrongs which
less quite generally elsewhere the chronic and adhe-
sive incidents OF the United States service
Some abuses doubt inseparable from collection
from under any system yet devised aud how
ever administered. Consequently some by reason Of
ial usages seem to have acquired tolerated
while Others under the iooseness and de-
moralzatou attendant upon condition OF war; have
sprung at once into lusty maturity The abuses Of
any view, have crystalized into legazed extoron
Recently extensive foreign interests have become
enmeshsd herewith that 1t not improbable gov.
ernment through its diplomatic ear will be constrained
TO take some notice Of the ways and wes OF who
under various guiscs and preences enactng most
discredtabe parts in the various marts OF Western
Europe; but this feature Of the investigation occupied
considerable time so will the brefcst consideration
demand SO much II may bs well to first present
and II possible, so expose as TO arrest abuse
which only dates back to the introduction Of
en;,.c,at MI monry, A ,so s%yhe into the office Of
in the summer Of 1866 The magnitude OF the general
order business and OF its legitimate returns, the
facile opportunity, its itemized nature admitting the
absorption Of small unlawful additions thereto conspirc
to render its concession base eagerly sought after
In brokers phrase, "capable Of being made good
thngn The committee say 1t is evident from the test
value and commercial he could make by the disposal
OF the general order business declaring he did the
very nrst days of his official life TO Mr. Barr, witness
and others that the North river general order business
Is the big plum for the Collector II is also rendered
quite probable that before his confirmation by the Sem
at possibly before his nomination eyen he had agreed
with and IN behalf of certain persons that they should
be pecuniarily benefited by the allotment or con-
cession OF the ''pumn business. While Mr. Smythe
declined informing the committee who these persons
were he etcent the division OF the valuation
or PRICE he had fixed upon the general order business
Other witnesses were more communicative, and by the
aid OF their testimony and of proven memorandum
the committee enabled to learn with tolerabe pre-
csion the Of those intended beneciares and tho
they respectively to receive from Mr..
Smyhe's contemporaneous declarations From his own
admissions before the committee and the testi-
mony Of Peter A. Van Bergen, the Collectors
first known attempt to place the general order by
negotiating with Van Bergen Co immediately on tax
ing the office. The unique partnership Of this firm may
have originated at Washington before Mr. Smythes
nomination; possibly it was enlarged before the
Whatever the place or time of its origin
may have been there Is toerable certainty Van
Bergen, George r. Thompson, Senators Dooittle and
Patterson and Mrs. Perry had unequal interests its
effective operation Mr.. Smythe informed Mr.. Hum
phey that he had sold the whole order business
$40 600 per annum. On Mr. Humphreys remonstrance
against being treated and trfed with in this manner
Mr. Smyhe cooy offered gratuy Of $3 900 out Of this
round $4,000
The contemplated distribution under this SAC, 900 ar.
rangement appears from Mr. smythes and other testi
mony. have little more explicit and exhaustive
fOIlOWS:-(I0OrC0 II. Thomson
Nec $1,000; Senators Doolittle and Patterson S. 600
each; Embree, Deputy Collector, $4,000; Humphrey
land by him at rejected), So 900; Brown private
secretary Of the Collector rejected by him. 000 po
litcal fund, $lo 900; Mrs. Perry, known Washing
SHARE say S. 600 This makes up the $4,000 SO as ts
correspond technically with Mr. Smythes Oft reiterated
assertion that he was not to have dollar Of it, This
showing, however left him sole amoner Of the $40 900
The committee expose systematized and protected ex-
that an honest and capable collector should
be appointed who should be prohibited from selling or
farming out for consideration the general order bust
ness They believe there should be removals except
for good cause. The committee feel they cannot too
pontedy condemn the practice which has grown up in
into the Treasury the full amount OF duties all of which
belong 70 the government by law.
The report signed by Messrs Hulburd Broomall and
Rollins.
Tho Discovery and A rrest Of John IL. Surratt.
Mr. Woodbridge late last night made q report from
the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom it was re-
ferred on the message Of the President communicating
report Of the Secretary Of State relative the dscov
cry and Of John surratt They say that Sur
sailed from Canada for Liverpool about the middle
Of September 1855; that information received by
Secretary Seward from Mr. wrding then Vice Consul 1t
Liverpool by communication dated September a. 1885,
that suratt that time at Liverpool expected
there in day two, &C. the committee detailing all
the facts intervening before the arrest Of the prisoner
They then say
Whether Indictment was procured II does not ap-
pear from the testimony but h does appear that de-
the English government, from the foregoing and
other evidences produced Upon the invest,ga-
ssavs did no send any, detective
to Liverpool TO identify Surratt, or trace his
movements, Notwithstanding there was ample oppor-
of Mr. Potter second the Executive did notice
to be given to Minister Rome that Sura intended
Believe that such was his Intentions third thai on NO.
vember a. 1855, order issued from the War De-
parmen revokng the reward offered for the arrest of
Surratt; fourth, that from the reception Of tho
muncaton revokng the ORDER dated August 1885, up
to october 16, 1885, no steps were taken either to
identify procure the surat then known to
be in the military service OF the Pope The testimony
Of the Secretary OF State the Secretary OF War and
Others herewith submitted, explaining and tending to
justify the acts OF the government in the premises does
not In the opinion Of your committee the great
delay In attempting TO arrest person charged with
completely IN the ASSASSINATION OF the ato President,
and while the committee do not charge improper
tves upon the officers Of the government they
strained from the testimony to report that in their
opinion due diligence in the arrest OF Surrat OF
exercised by the Executive department Of the govern
ment.
Captured and Abandoned Property.
The President OF the Senate night laid before that
body communication from the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury from which II appears that the total amount
ccived from tho various Of property enumerated
under the general head of captured and abandoned
property was s34, 900, 900. Of which amount nearly
s25 900 remain net proceeds Upon due proof Of
any unlawful taking Of private property by agents OF the
Treasury Department. the fact being shown by satsfac
tory adav the reports OF agents by other adequate
written evidence the agents holding such property have
been ordered TO restore the TO tho owners or the
proceeds IL not actually turned into the Treasury have
been paid to thom by order OF the department The
total amount allowed In all claims is 81, 100000.
The American Protestant Chapel In Rome.
An official communication has been received from
Minister King in which he says there Is no truth in
the statements that the American chapel had been re-