Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-05
LATEST NEWS.
BY TELEGRAPH
va THE WOROEsTER DAILY sPY
From Washington.


WASHINGTON, June 4.
THE TARIFF TAX BILL
Was agreed to in both houses with remarkable
unauimity. 1t was surprising to see how the
prominent free traders revenue reformeiS, and
prOtectionists, found enough OF good in the bill
to support it..
Mr.. Brooks of New York spoke against it, but
voted for it, He gave Mr.. Dawes credit for
managing the bill in the house with great dcx-
terity; and it is almost the unanimous opinion
of the house that he has proved to be an admir-
able chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee.
NEW SCHEME
Is brewing in the senate to obtain a vote in the
house ON the enforcement, civil rights and ku-
klux bills. 1t is to put them on the omnibus
appropriation bill as amendments. This cannot
be done till the order of the senate providing
that amendments not germane to a bill shall
not be received is repealed. 1t will be remem-
bored that the republican senators met in eau
Gus some weeks ago and agreed to establish
rule for the session which would prevent the
consideration of amendments TO appropriation
bills not germane. A resolution to repeal it
was offered to-day and it will be acted on to-
morrow. There is no doubt that it has double
purpose, one being 10 force the kuklux bill upon
the house, and the other to load down the omni-
bus bill with jobs which have no chance in any
other way.
THE HOUSE DETERMINED.
1t is very evident that the house will not eX-
tend the session any further. The democrats
will almost unanimously oppose any further ex-
tension; and their votes, united with those re-
pubcans who want an extra session, will make
a decided majority. There are many republi-
cans who do not believe the president will call
congress together, now that the tax and tariff
bill is passed; but nothing is certain on that
point. He will, in such Il contingency, be infu-
enced by his friends SAM WELLER.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE COMMITTEE.
Senators Buckingham, Pratt, Howe and Stew
art to-day reported from the committee of inVes-
tigation into the New York custom house.
They say that no monstrous abuse has been dis
covered i'll connection with the general order
business, unless it be the Misrepresentation not
to say the mendacity, piled upon it. There is
not in the testimony or outside of it the iainteSt
suggestion that Lect was indebted to any kind
OF lavoritism, political or personal, for his en-
ployment on Grants staff; while the president
in letter TO Grinnell, merely attcsted Leets fit
ness for business, and did not ask any appoint
ment for him. The fact of Leets prefer
ment on the ground of personal merit
is well Nttested. The testimony proves
cOnclusively that neither Generals Porter or
Babcock had any interest whatever with Leet.
Not single dollar of the millions which passed
through the stores of Leet and Stocking had
been lost. In the Judgment of the committee,
the general order stores ought not to be con-
lrOllp1 inr fi,n
ment should haye-as security for the payment
of duteS-poSSesSOn of the goods and bond of
the, importer for use i'll case of loss or deStruc-
ton of the goods There is no evidence of
presents rendered OR accepted by custom-house Of
ticers from their subordinateS or preference given
TO any Of the latter. 1t is evident that some
of the payments made the officers above the
amount fixed by law was TO secure additional
services, but the practice has come down from
former generation, and an effort is being made
10 abolish it. The committee condemn another
practice on the part of officers in accepting Il
consideration for the passage of personal bag
gage, but say it is no evidence of failure to dis
miss officers detected therein. The committee
suggest that unclaimed goods be received at the
pier by general order man, and carried to
the warehouse; and, when ordered to the public
stores, delivered to the contractors.
The committee say the revenue must have
prOhted rather than lost by the compromises.
1t don't appear that the officers derived any pecu-
mary profit from these compromises except in
the way of legally allowed moietes. Ii is admit
ted that the officers attended political conVen-
tons, but efforts have been made to discourage
such attendance which, however, is no greater
than formerly. The committee feel compelled
TO reject Mr.. Greeey's view of the influence of
the custom house over New York politics.
There is no doubt of the use of money for
political purposes, and the committee
see no reason why saaried officers
may not be properly invited to contribute
therefor. IL appears that all the collections are
made to aid campaigns out of or within the
state, and not TO control primary meetings or
elections of delegates. The charge that the
political patronage of the custom house is con-
rolled or in the interest of one faction of the
republican party, is disposed Of by the fact that
every individual who urged that accusation is
now arrayCd in open opposition to the party, and
there is no longer any known faction in the re-
publican party.
The committee say that a number of persons
removed from the custom house were subse-
quently provided with places under the city gov
eminent under the influence of Tammany.
While the committee were not satisfied that il
would he wise to exempt merchant from civ
ing bonds for duties on his warehoused goods,
or TO remit interest on goods warehOused for a
year. they concur in the suggestion that com
mission be appointed by the secretary OF the
treasury to revise and remodel the whole service
as far as found necessary. The committee,
without waiting for such investigation,
recommend the adjustment of the
system Of mOieties TO officers except in
case of seizure Of Struggled goods. The
salaries should be ADEQUATE for all labor
performed and responsibility assumed, while
other agents of the government should be stimu-
lated to ferret out frauds. Assistant appraisers
and examiners should be experts, and be ap.
pointed only upon written and recorded proof of
uneXceptionabe character and certain ac-
quaintance with the commodities they are called
1DnrniSp GbOuI1 rppnivn oIa
rcs, and remain in office until convicted of mis-
conduct or mentally or physically disabled.
MURDER.
The navy department has received a dispatch
from Mayor GoodSell of Bridgeport, Conn, an
n0uncing that Captain George NJ. Col yocorcsses
of the United States navy was murdered and
robbed in that city last night.
NOMINATIONS.
The president has nominated Major BENJAMIN
Alvord paymastor general, and Col. l.. G. Easton
to be quartermaSter general, and Col. Stewart
Van Welt assistant quartermaster general; the
following majors to be lieutenant colonies and
deputy quartermaSter generals: Alexander
Montgomery, Treadwell Moore, Hyatt c. Ran
som, Osher r. Eddy and Rufus Saxton.
PROTEST FROM CAsEY's FRIENDS.
A Louisiana delegation waited on the presi-
dent to-day to protest against the removal of
Collector Casey, speaking kind words in his
favor, and saying it was the wish and for the
interest of the republican party that he should
DE retained.
THE BUELL. RECORDS.
report prevailed yesterday that the missing
records of the Buell. military commission had
been restored to the war department, but upon
inquiry this report proved untrue.
FOR PHILADELPHIA.
A large number OF congressman left to-niaLt TO |
attend the Philadelphia convention.
PERSONAL.
The physicians of Representative s. s. Cox
are inclined to hope that his critical period has
passed.
Blacque Bcy, the Turkish minister, has gone
TO Long Branch to spend the summer, leaving |
NJ. Baltazz ElTendi charge d'atTaises.
Attorney General Williams is expected here |
about the middle of the month. 1t is denied
that he is again candidate for United States
senator.
THE ALASKA SEAL FISHERIES.
The report of Charles Bryant, special treasury |
agent in charge of the Alaska seal fisheries, |
shows that during the year 1871 there was 10, OF
seal skins taken. More seals were seen last year
than during any year since 1866 The natives |
understand what is requisite and observe the or
ders of the agent Houses are being constructed