New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-12

MINORITY REPORT ON THE CUSTOMHO USE.
From the point of view of our fallen human
nature, it is impossible not to admit that
Messrs Howe and Edmunds and COnkling had
excellent reasons for trying to prevent the
minority of the CustOm-hOuse Investigating
Committee from presenting report. The
majority report appeared to Mr.. Howe and his
friends amply sufficient. 1t bleached Mr..
Murphy and Mr.. Leet in general terms.
1t defended Mr.. Jayne and his playful ways
with the handouts it justified the use of the
Custom house as political engine and rep
resented the extortion of contributions
from the clerks for election expenses
as being the same as the voluntary
offerings of church members for religious pur-
poses. What it could not approve it denied.
Yet many Of the things it denied were as plain
as day, and some things which it approved
were punishable by statute. The report was
drawn up in tone of jaunty defiance which
betrayed not only the character of the men
who signed it, but their expectation that it
would be safe from any review or contradic-
ton. 1t was carefully concealed from the
knowledge of Mr.. Bayard and Mr.. Casserly,
and suddenly presented to the Senate in the
closing days of the session. 1t was thought
that by this trick the minority would be pre-
vented from presenting a report, and to ac
complish this object the original discourtesy
was supplemented by an unprecedented rude
ness in the open Senate. Mr.. Bayard asked
the privilege of a short delay in preparing
the report of the minority, on account of the
impending adjournment and the state of his
eyes, which required few weeks rest. This
entirely reasonable request, made by a Sena-
tor whose courtesy is as proyerbial as his in
tegrity, was refused by the Senate at the
demand of Edmunds and Conkling. These
worthy people gave no reason for this I'M
gentle proceeding With that disregard for
appearances which has recently characterized
the immediate champions of Gen. Grant
in the Senate, they made no pre-
tense of any motive except a merely
partisan one. The report of the majority had
said in general terms that nothing was wrong
in the Custom house. They did not wish to
give the minority an opportunity to show that
this report was not borne ont by the evidence.
But by making great effort the minority
were able, on Monday, to present their views,
when Mr.. Howe, seeing his fine scheme in
danger, bad the effronteTy to attempt to pre-
vent the report from being printed, on the
ground that the minority had not been kept
in ignorance as they charged, of the presenta
ton of his report. To decide this question,
nothing more than Mr.. Bayard's word is re-
quiIed.
1t was not unnatural that Mr.. Howe should
feel something. like panic at the appearance of
this strong and temperate review of his own
outrageous apology. 1t forms q striking con-
trast in both matter and form, to the vulgar
hippancy and reckless misstatements of the
majority 1t resumes in a few clear and con-
else sentences the advent of Mr. Leet in New
York his credentials from the President; his
capture of Mr.. Grinnell, and his subsequent
career Of eXtortion and swindling. IL estab-
fishes the Presidents early and continued cog
nizance of his performances, his stolid support
OF Leet, and his refusal to listen TO the requests
for redress of the leading merchants of New
York. The report then touches upon the sYs-