, 1874-03-13
No Business Transacted at the Gap
ital Yesterday.
Adjournment Of the District 1nvestl"
eating Committee to Monday.
Testimony Of District Attorney Bliss
Before the Ways and Means
Committee.
Ho Undertakes to Dofcnd tho MoiotJ
Business.


THE CUSTOMS SERVICE.
TIE WAYS AND MEANS Committees 1HvEsr1oA-
r1oN.
WARRINGTON, D. g., Mnrch 12.-United States
DiBtrict~Atsornoy Bliss, OF New York, to-cay ap-
peared before tho Committee Of Ways aud Means.
In reference to tho moioty systom, 1o said he
beloved all these complaints of hardships to
merchants; there WAS a considerable force Of
mon seeking to protect themselves from tAa
consequences Of discovered frauds, suits in rola<
ton to which aro arc now ponding. The Cham
bor OF Commerce did not know what they wora
talking about. Concerning tho seizure Of books
md papers thora is no a,lch law as they say there
III, aud certainly thoro WAS
NO SUCH PRACTICE
aH that to which thoy roforrod.. Tho resolutions
to hor ersona M tHS 0s lie msntae
cd Tho consttutionatity Of the 1nw authorizing
aclzures. but suggested that thete might be an
amGndmont providing for. tho separation Of
books, proving fraud FROM other books, and
thoir examination by somebody in tito preseuco
Of counsel and other parties.
After further statements, Bliss referred to tho
settlement OF
THE CASE OF PHELPS, DODGE CO.,
saying thoro WIS no threat or compulslon what
over exercised as to forfeiting tile entire invoice
When thoro Ia q dofect In part Of cargo. tho
ponalty WIS too sovoro !; in other words. tho Gu
tire invoice should not bo forfeited because OF
tho deficiency Of single itom.
Bliss WAS intorrogatod by Mr.. Wood, OF tho
Committee. relative to his duties in connection
with tho
sEIzuREs OF BOOKS AND rArEns,
md aB to the compromises settlement Of
cases. In revenue cascH ho received fees Of 2
per cont, but in other cases nothing. Bliss said
| o largo portion Of the attacks made on him and
others were from political SOURCES.
k1r. Wood inquired whother compafnnntH Hera
not oil members Of llfs party.
bEr. Bliss said ho did not know. Thoto we're,
perhaps, Democrats among them.
Mr.. Wood-Aro you not aware that tho New
York Vortd, tile only Democratic paper in that
city, has mado no attacks?
Biiss-AIy time Is too much occupied to read
the World.
Wood-It is most singular omission.
In further examination he SAID lie did moi
| think tue law for tho seizure Of books and
papers could be safely changed.
William T. Doego made q few remarka In an
swer to Bliss. He was reminded Of tho fact TINT
| he had heretofore spoken OF two Congressman
in connection with his caHo, one Of whom waa
| Gen. Butler. Having been asked who the 9TH
| srs was, ho named Senator Cunhling:. Whilt
| tho question was pending whether the casa
| should DO settlol or not, Latin, Naval Officer,
| sald tho crimo was 30 enormous that hi
would never consent to Hcttle , -,
FOR LESS THAN $500, ,6d,0. '---
| Ho thought Senator Conkliug advised him to do
better II wan aaid that Conkling was thoro at
| advisor Of 1.atlin.
h1r. Wood aakod Dodge il Senator Conklinl
| was IN Now York as counsel Dodge replied,
- had nevor an idoa TINT he was there profos.
sonally, but ho was in Now York at tho time our
case was in process OF settlement, aud in council
| With some gentlemen, particularly with regnro
to tho position occupied by Naval Officer Latin.
looked on It as au accidental juncturo. In m,
former statoment l WAS showing what m array
| there was against us. Ths hearing OF all par.
tsos hero ondod, and tho Committee adjourned
to meot gu Wednesday next.