New-York tribune., 1874-03-13


AGAINST HIS FIEM-TnE HEARING BEIoRE lllL
COMMITTEE CLOSED.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHI
WASHINGTON, March 12.-GeOrge Bliss, United
states Attorney fo- the Southern District Of Newhork
addressed the Committee Ways and Means this morn
inr lie said he was perhaps the only officer OF the
Government likely to be heard, as The Collector Naval
oroer and Surveyor az New-York declined TO appear
opy for the reason If they came here aud expressed
>aer ooons il would be said they biased by their
persona interests. AS facts, he could state more
than al OF them combined, owing TO the nature oil the
business inuusted to his hands His own interest III
u,oetics WAS an indirect one, and without gong INTO
details was comparatively small The canscs OF com
plaut before the Committee said to be in the law
authorizing the seizure OF books and papers,
and tho outside forcing Of merchants to make
compromises and cieDtal to the question OF moeues
ali reyovcd around the charge Of undue hardship 20
MERCHANTS. These complaints came from organized
bodies and individuals This all that appeared upon
the surface hut behind all this there was considerable
force OF men who were seeking protect themselves
from The consequences Of discovered frauds, suits IN re-
tioa to which now pending Ia one oi these suits
,hs parties asked that there be compromise on the
sinri. item forfeited, but they were informed by
nun thai compromise could not he made under the
law The New York Chamber Of Commerce and various
Board. VI Trade were urging certain changes IN the
law Certain gentlemen conspicuous by their ah-
sense You do not find Stewart Catn and other iuer-
chants OF their standing complaining Of hardship. The
reason those gentlemen not here was not because
toey were not invited because they do not feel that
tbey art suffering hardshps under the law.
that this true OF one half Of the eminent
merchants.
Mr Biss said the Chamber Of Commerce did not know
what they talking about concerning the seizure OF
.,ooks and papers. There Is sucl law they say
there H. aud certainly there 10 such practice as
shat 70 which they referred The resolutions Of tie
Chamber got up by outside persons TO their
personal Mr Bliss then related the procedure
TO the of books aud papers, and the parcu
lars attending the preliminary proceedings. H MAIN
taieed the cJnstitutiouay Of the law authorizing the
Of books aud papers. but suggested that there
might be amendment providing for the separation Of
bOOis proving fraud from other books and their
animation by somebody in the presence OF counsel and
other persons. II the Revenue laws were in
trcate 10 many Of their features, but far they
show what merchants should the entry of goods
they are perfectly clear Il the enters his
goods at the market price which he pays. there Is no
penalty. II pust be borne in mind that TO subject the
merchant to forfeiture there must oe the intent to de-
fraud Nr Bliss remarked tnat the head OF Mr. schultz
had been turuod in the case OF hi> friend Harvey
Barnes Mr Bliss SAID that Barnes knowingly entered
goods 10y false and took tn5 oath that II was
true and correct.
After furthos statements, MI Bliss referred TO the
settlement Of OF Phelps, Dodge Co., saying
tbst there was no threat compulson whatever excr
officer of so Government to believe that the fym ad
ms0 fraud on the part Of persons for whom they
responsible. His predecessor as District Attorney Noah
Davis asked him 10 divide with him the fees IN this
case Ho gave Mr.. Bliss the impression that he con
sie,ed ~ % very bad Of fraud, but Bliss could not
pow recall any distinct statement to that effect Per
haps his mpros derived from the fact that Mr.
Davis sought TO share the fees, from which he
did suppose gentleman Of his standing would seek
share of money exacted from merchants for mere
technical violation Of law But Noah Davis had pub
ished letter which he dsclamcd that he said IL
very bad case Of fraud, he Clir Bliss was bound TO
sonslder that no mistaken. The Committee took
recess
Gel. Bliss. the reassembng OF the Committee said
chat mocties had always existed from the establish
ment Of tho Government TO the present time, with the
exception OF three four years. Notwithstanding
had been dnned into that the effect Of the
mOiety systCm 10 ruin the merchants, 1t
strange the merchants had not ruined during the
20 50 years it has prevailed Whatever might be the
modification OF the mOety system, he believed we must
fight seinterest wit somebody who stands mp for the
Government in the enforcement Of the Revenue laws.
Among other arguments Mr.. Bliss quoted from the ev
dence OF Commissioner OF Internal Revenue William
OrtOn before the Senate Special Committee on tR Nov
York Custom house in favor OF giving special awards
iOr the detection OF frauds on the revenue. He e1
pressed his opinion that whatever the Committee
may DO aud they may dispose Of the question
giving interest IN the pfOceeus OF
absolutely necessary hatt should be given TO somebody
aud he believed IL should given TO officer OF the
Government who is responsible 10 authority rather
than to mere outsiders With regard 10 compromises
tbe practice was for District Attorney 70 transmit
written statement the Secretary OF the Treasury OF
the upon which he acts The Secretary does not
however always ratIfy compromises. He believed that
IN case had he recommended the acceptance OF less
than acquiescence OF the Special Agent,
but In several refused recommend sums the
Especial Agent urged sbOuli accepted compromises
A. 10 fOiieitug the entire invoice when there is de-
rect m part OF the cargo, the penalty too severe
other words the entire invoice ond not be forfeited
because of the deficiency OF q single item When the
value OF the invoice forfeited very large the entire
Saue ought not 20 be eIacted He saw no reason wby
the penalty should not be reduced but TO conhne the
law 70 the forfeiture single items would be inexped
ent It might be possible TO make the amonnt OF for
feture a certain number OF times than the amount
OF money lost 10 the Government but II this principle
should be adopted there ought 10 be q sliding scale
making the per centum on the smaller articles greater
than Oh the larger articles The only dncRty was that
ts would give additional labor to the court in deter
mining the underYaustions and delay the adjudication
OF cases.
Mr. Bliss was interrogated by Mr. Wood Of the Com
nittee relative 20 his duties In connection with the
seizures Of books and papers aud az TO eop0mses or
settlements o. cases In cases be received fees
OF two per cent but in other cases nothing MI Bhs'
said that large portion OF the attacks made on him
and others from political sources. MI Wood 10
quirod whether the oomplainants not all msmoers
OF his party Mr. Bliss said he did not know; there
were, perhaps, Democrats among them.
Mr.. wOod-Are you not aware that Tie Ees5- Tort
World the only Democratic paper in that city. had made
no attsskf
Nj. Bhsg-Ay lime {. too much occupied TO read Inc
World
hr. WOOd-It il most singular omission.