, 1874-06-20
kEGES84
The House took o rccoHs until 1850,
EVENING SESSION,
DUTLER EPEiKY HIS hind.


BUTLER SPEAKS HIS HIND,
Mr.. BUTLER {slaas.) was compliment ed
this evening with tho largest audience tint
has been socn In tile House this session.
rents. The Speaker himsolf was in tho chair.
rhe galleries on the fonr sides Of tho hail were
crowded with spectators, aud tho correspondents
Of nowspapera iitlod the roporters' gallery.
A1r. BUTLER spoke al. lon8th III dofonss Of
the moiety systcm; No peraonal relations lie
said, should enter into whit he WAS about to Say.
Ha desired only to raise 4 warning voice against
what he regarded as unWise legislation. Aftor
oompnring tue Reyenua laws Of England with
aess Of tns county, S BusF whe
sells, hut tho great importer brings in his IN 3009-
ton ships and bribeh Custonl-u uouHe officers 10
let thom in, or by a confederate partner
awoars them through. and makos hum
Gle, venture, and becomes n merchant prince,
ind probably builds church out OF his gains,
and becomes noted for his chnrties, which adyer
tise his house aud bring it CUSTOM TAis in no
fancy piot'ire, But it il said that we must take 1t
for granted that merchants are honest; that 1t Is
not to be assumed tint they will defraud tho
Government, and that all this naaohinery only
serves to yox and oppresa them WHOM they hap
pen to make mistakes. The Committee seems to
haye forgotten that when merchant makoa Il
penalty. No penalty Gun be inflicted upon q
merchant II le can convince the Secretary of the
Treasury tlat 1t wsa only miataGe. Before an
informer could make money by detecting crime
must c!loat tile royollue before anybody can III
form against againatf him. Ho decarod as q
startling announcement, TINT the United States
did not receive more than Ct per cont ot its du-
tics On gooda where tho tariff Ii ad vaoyam; in
other words, IL tho aoyernntcnt should collect
Its present duties honestly it could pay $780,
1000 Of tho national labt every yeas, and yot
tue people hayo no higher taxes to pay than
they hare now, Fraudulent importers. by
fraudulent Invoices, clarged tho peoplc tLoso
duties aud poclloted them as part OF
their profits. by these enorm2ns frauds tho
Government and tho people wSro logers, and
tue importers woro the only gail, ars. 10 Wonl1
not hare dared to Innllo this very startling anu
wonderful, almost incredible, statement Of tho
frauds perpotratcd by nndoryaluatio!l and tnlso
which he proceeded to call tho attention OF tho
House. Having given sono tiguroa to allow the
frnlda committed N tho importation Of woraeo1
goods, Silks yolyutp. ribbons elc., lie CAME down
to tue case OF Phelps, Dodge 4 Co., which had
boon put forward, 10 aad, by tte COMMITTEES, Of
Wayu and Means nv their ntrong ioint ngaiaBt tho
rnoioty syateu,. II tlostorytold by Dodge, Henior
membor Of tl!at firm, .wero true, thon tho
Goyernment should rayeren!ly nog pardon Of
that ilrn. pay back all It had got from tho firm.
mud d largo Aum for 6flRrt.nluney boAidoa. n!lt
II It was not true, 1t thore was not ono single
substantial word of truth IN 1t al than they
wege simply smuggling. por}urod villains, mud
tley ought to have been followed with T. groat
deal moro strctnoss, instead Of leas Dodge
Mannb that up to 1B72 llo ct1urgo hal ever hcon
nude against Ills firm. WuB that 80 Not ut nll
Congress l,al Ind to alter It'll revenue laws In
oglor 10 mout frauds and lnaraualng
and cheating and swlnilling ct theHu
0hriatlan merchants. [LauGhsor.l That was
1900 Seventh paKs.>