Rock Island Argus., 1872-07-19

not be put 20 q nurse VINO cAIea hO' lOr w.
This investigation was placed in the hands
Of the friends of the pxrties to be iovesti.
gated. The frauds Of Thomas Murphy and
others, if any had been committed, were to
be inquired into BY the friends Of Thomas
Murphy aud others. ask you TO night, as
intelligent citizens, knowing the secrecy
with which fraud is committed, and who are
aware Of the cunning devices resorted to TO
cover it up, if you would expect to uncover
and defeat it, If none but friends Of those
accused were appointed to make investiga-
ton
But, Notwithstanding this was the charac-
ter Of the committee, il went to the City of
New York, and so gross and open we're
many Of the abuses that existed in the public
Offices there, that even they could not shut
their eyes to the fact. Merchants came
forward aud testified, under oath, that they
had been oftsntimes compelled to pay
money to get their goods delivered from the
Custom House. They proved, by induoiiH
BILE testimony, that the carting OF goods from
vessels to Government warehouses was given
to fAvorities, aud that they we're required 70
pAy double, and triple prices even, TOT the
services performed They we're plunderea
nv this Eystem in varions ways. ! cannot
stop tonight 20 point out ell the iniquities
,b.t came 10 light even when the investigs-
,;on was conducted BY the friends Of those
to bs Investigated, aud When public notice
vas given-ofical notioe-thst If it ap-
pssred that merchants had paid bribe
money 20 officials to get their goods passed
the merchants would be prosecuted to the
extent Of the law. Was that fair? Would
YOU expect to obtain testimony to fraudu'
lent transaction, IL you published in advance
that the witness who gave you information
would be prosecuted criminSlly2 Instead ot
confning the investigation to the official con
duct Of officers the duty which was imposed
upon this committee it undertook TO inves
tigAte merchants, and when it WAS proven
that officers from the Custom House we're
sent on political expeditions to State Con
yentions and to the Legislature to control it
organizations, would you believe it, the gen
tlemen who testified to these facts inquired
of how they knew it, and If they were no
present at political conventions? As if th
people had nol the right to assemble as !
. one OF you here to-day, were to be called q
a witness before an investigating committe
to testify to some fraudulent transaction
here in the City of Springfield by using
public office for the purpose OF coutrollln
these conventions, and when You were CIV
F" ing in your testimony you were TO be turue
upon aud inquired of what business you hs
n here, and be reproyed for being here you
selves, as if the people had not the right
assemble together aud form convention
~ and govern the country without being die
tAted 10 or controlled by officials throug
official influence. Cheers
h. The testimony disclosed before the cor
mittee shows that numerous officers and er
se ployes in the Custom House in the City
49, New York, mum mbering thousands, for at th
Re. point duties are collected annually Of sbo
M $l40, ,000, 600 ID gold, were assessed certs
a portion Of their salaries and OF their pi
tor party purposes, TO control convention
o. primary meetings, aud elections. Has Ih
been corrected2 No, Leet and Stocking, vi
an had the exclusive General Order or cartaI
al business, from which they received mo
of than 500, 600 profits annually, of VIII,
on merchants were pluudered, and which y
/ pay when you buy these foreign goods, /
,rd This expense is added to the price Of q
en- article you purchase, are still enjoying 4
he monopoly OF that carriage business. A
he though bills passed the House Of Repr
nv sentatives, at its recent session, designed
on correct abuses iu the Custom Houses Of d
| country they received no consideration
We Senate Of the United States. This Seu
ia torial Ring would not allow these bills to
en- considered. They wanted the system co
of tinued, that they might have the spoils Of
DC to carry elections next fall. A bill coutAi
yer ing provisions which Mr.. Sherman, Of Obi
,ns Chairman of the Committee on Finance,
,ed the Senate, admitted, if enacted into a ls
or. would correct those abuses, received no
"a tenIioa ia the Senate. A bill from t
nto House was referred to committee, ov
the which | have the honor to be charm
ur- Judiciary Committee, which has upon
ri. members Of the Senatorial Ring. The
vas was designed 10 correct many Of the sbu'
ion prac,iced by informers and others, in Sc
nee ure Of goods, and to prevent oppression q
d | plunder OF merchants That bull, sltnou
The i: was before that CON mmiitee for two moutl
tes was never reported to the Senate. / ma
rye two motions 10 the Senate to have the eo
go. mistee discharged and bring the bill befC
BY the Senate, that it might receive it's scto
I'd. but they weia voted down under party DR.
ere ITO IA CpNTTNrED