New-York tribune., 1874-03-10

WORTH selEeu anu hci" ''"''
damaging the merchants TO the extent OF So~e
This cargo he repeated was separate and dis
tnct from the other 10 was subsequently rec'Seu,
check for 100000 TO settle this case but "a the
Government credited with the receipt OF $oOoo ne
Informed that 1900 paid to the lawyer inde-
pendenty of the former sum. The Government 40 u
how the Secretary OF the Treasury almost always
rules IN favor OF the Government. lie learned. how
ever that the Secretary had recently made rulings tho
other way He did not venture to say whether the law
was right wrong. hut he would that the hoShg
in Of moieios for the benefit OF noproducers special
agents and nformerS and the flowing out OF money for
the benefit OF euston-hoose brokers, a"yers ana ek
0O6co have gone out In the ribbon and fruit cases
Various questions we're asked about the seizure ot
books and papers TO which Nj. Schultz replied that the
warrants seldom served, but merely hcl mp 10 the
merchants when, by arrangement or iniimidaton inc
merchant consents that his books shall be removed Tor
examination. One Of the highest authorities on consi
tuonal law advised that thus acting be shot on the
sczng officers who exceed their duties should warned
that ney act ON their peril The merchants hereafter
would be induced 10 take their own counsel and not be
terrified.
After further remarks bv Mt Schultz in elaboration
OF points heretofore mentioned, Mr.. Wood Inquired
whether private papers had not been seized and Used as
inst TO enforce settcmeutf
Mr. Schultz replied that was currently believed such
Influences had been brought 10 bear.
Mr. Wood said ne could prove that private letters from
dissorge after which the Committee adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
Jackson s. Schultz resppeared before the Committee
Ways and Meaps to night lie was asked:
Have you either personal knowledge or information
which you rely to whether private papers. well
the business books of merchants, have been seized
by the officers of the Government when charges
made of violation OF the Custom Revenue l8wsi
Mr.. schultz replied that from information received
from large number OF persons who have been affected
way the general opinion that all papers and lot
whether relating to business not, are seized
Daniel G. Robbins of the firm of McKessOn Robbins
of New-York smade a statement His complaint was
I'm itsplf Tba fariR fI NJ
traps and laws made TO support G stupid
piece of legislation IN the carrying ont OF
which no honorable man will serve. The
system OF moieeshas been abolished every portion
Of the world but Our tariff Is unlike any other
in the world. The English tariff has but IL articles on
six of which collected $lCoOOoOoo and these six art
cles luxuries of the table. Clay and Calhoun,
10 compromise their tariff differences, agreed
ON maximum OF 30 per cent
duty but the German Zoveren agreed 10 per cent.
All the rates specific All the rates IN the Austrian
tariff also specific, the Russian tariff
rates. The French tariff the most wonder
ful. The duties mainly specific. The
English tariff protects domestic manufactures.
Indirectly, while the French protests directly for when
the French want to protect article they svy duty
which effect prohibits Its importation. The pOpuia-
tons Of those countries embrace 20o,oDO,OOo with
the highest civilization on earth. They have al
most nothing but specific duties. The troubles
az our merchants result from unfinished tariff They
ask for specific rates OF duty The Government should
restitution in every where 1t has robbed or
defruded "A citizen hold up its head in the civil
Led world The Government needs 10 look TO Its own
character before interfering with the character of others
Mr. Kelley reminded the gentleman that the question
before the Committee more especially with refer
ence TO moieties, and asked what his opinion vast
Mr. Robbins replied that the system ofsmoteS had
been abolished by every civilized country except our
own, and in reply to Mr.. Wood, OF the Com
mittee, he said If the duties should be speci-
fed instead OF ad valOrum. much OF the
trouble with merchants wonld he avoided.
In reply 10 question OF Nj Roberts OF the Commit
his opinion of the seizure OF books and papers
Ar Robbins said ne yielded 10 man in his loyalty 10
the Government there certain great principles
which he would never surrender. As Old John Brown
against this thing" and when they were
about 10 hang him, he said "Al Is right"
John Austin stevens, at the commencement OF his
statement said he had here 10 cnch some OF the
nails which had been driven The system Of moeties,
he remarked, not necessary because the laws, II
properly ADMINISTERED sufficient for tho collection
OF the revenue He alluded to the checks on importa-
tons now In existence In the OF his illustrations,
he asked whether it was for the bene1t OF cheap
consumption that a matter OF which the merchants
Euew nothing. such as carriage or hghterage should
cause them 10 run chance being muletod in the
of one two three hundred thousand dollars. lf the
facilities for the importation of goods necessary for
consumption in this country be diminished, the
pace of the articles would be Increased and
their sale thrown on the hands OF monopo-
lists The German merchants as " high
toned as any living, but they are being thrown
from business here by those who, making one grand,
fraudulent strike the CustOmhouse are never heard
of aerward There should be no punishment Tor under
valuation as the Government has ample means TO ascer
nyht uIN tn ne NM
isned As 10 the seizure of books and papers, every
man With neart must condemn IT, .
Mr. sheldon of the Committee asked, "suppose the
Committee should come to the CONCLUSION Chat the
poety system should apply only TO smuggling, and the
moiety given only to the nformer and sezing officer
hnt In case OF apparent frauds allowing the person
owing the information to such compensation as
The Court or Secretary OF the Treasury may determine
Mr. Stevens replied that he thought every respectable
merchant would agree TO that
John G. Hopper, representing the Importers aud
Grocer Board of Trade referred TO various
aas of Congress to show that previous TO March 1861
the penalty for undervaluaon 20 CENT and not
the seizure of the entire Invoice. The merchants
want the noiety system abolished, 20 get
M q, nest OF yipers who them Of their money. The
seizure OF books and papers has been pronounced un-
constitutional BY high authority, namely, Charles
oConor whs had advised merchants 70 treat those VINO
ATTEMPT 70 their books and papers as burglars upon
their premises II he were conscious OF having h'h
f,lIy reformed his duty, the oUaDing OF his books
and papers would be only over MS life
less body He alluded 10 Jsynes mode OF
doing business saying that his being q cripple only
morally protected him from the doom 10 which he would
Otherwise be consigned He understood that Cen But
,er had come before the Committee under the specious
p,e.r OF protecting the revenue but in fact to support
the system Of moetles
Mr.. Kelley reminded the gentleman that the Commit
tee desired facts not defamation tThey heard dsclaa
,,cn enouqf on the noor of the House.