The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-29
WASHINGTON.
Quandary of the Financial
Philosophers of Congress.
PROVISIONS OF THE MoIETY MEASURE.
Defence Of Officials of the Dis
trict of Columbia.

trict of Columbia.
WASHINGTON, May 49, 1874
Tho Financial Situation in Congress-
Com position OF the Committee OF Conc
terencc-Both Parties i'm Quandary.
The House To-day made short work OF the Cur
rency Dill, refusing to pass the substitute offered
by the Banking and Currency committee. and
also refusing to concur in the Senate amendments
to the original House bill. A committee OF con-
ference being asked, the Speaker appointed Mr..
Maynard chairman and Mr.. Farwel, member OF
the Banking and Currency Committee, the former
An advocate OF the original blu amended by the
Senate and the latter OF the compromise meas
ure. and Hester Clymer, a democrat and an
uncompromisihg opponent Of imitation. The ques
ton OF a conference committee is now be ore the
Senate and the extent OF political diplomacy prac-
tised tonight cannot be narrated. 1t Is well
known that Speaker Blaine is hard money man,
and has most zealously labored during the present
session to bring about happy compromise. The
Presidents veto rises up whenever the innation-
lists propose to stick, and the reported declara-
tons OF the President that he would not
devtate from the policy laid down in his
Message do not encourage the contractionists
to propose compromise. In the Senate the
AtCHAuCub pro ctNt Is uu SlIc Vi luIldblOu-
ists and VIII have the appointment OF the con-
ference committee on the part or the Senate when
that body agrees to the resolution OF the House.
The absorbing question, therefore, has been who
Will Carpenter appoint? To-nght he had a long
interview with the President, and left him fully
satisfied that, with the complexion OF the House
committee, no selection could be fairly made in
the Senate which would promise hope even OF
agreeing upon bill which would pass both houses
and be acceptable to the President. Senator
Sherman and Senator Ferry or Logan will be
selected on the part OF the Finance Committee,
and one OF the democratic Senators from the
South, who was II favor OF expansion, win be ap-
pointed rs representative OF that side on
the part of the Senate. The Senator who has re-
ceived an ntimation that he might be asked to
serve az the representative OF the Senate outside
the committee reluctantly says that he does not
sec what honor there can be in bearing the record
OF having been made the scapegoat OF the Senate.
So the matter stands, and the imitation and con-
traction Senator are in quandary what to do,
and are seriously discussing whether 1t would not
be better TO let the whole matter drop than con-
tnue it only for a short time by agreeing to the
appointment OF conference committee.
The Adjustment of MOfeties Except in
Cases of Smuggling Hopcd-for Success
OF the Bill-Scizure Of Books and
Papers.
The Senate Committee OF Finance have substan-
tally agreed upon moiety bill, and will probably
report 1t tomorrow. As a whole 1t Is made up Of
the combined bills known the Fenton bill OF the
Senate and the Roberts bill OF the House. 1t re-
peals all moietics and takes from the customs
ocers all snare in fines, penalties and forleitures.
1t, however, retains the moery feature in
case OF smuggling where actual seizure is
made. The committee have reinstated q
section In regard to the seizure OF books
and papers in place OF the one stricken out
OF the Roberts bill in the House, but which more
carefully guards the authority OF seizure. The
bill provides for the forfeiture of q single item
undervaued in an invoice instead OF forfeiture OF
She whole as in the existing law, and in addition
imposes a penalty, not to exceed $4,000, for each
offence Of fraudulent or Intentional undervana-
non. 1t establishes fixed salaries for all officers OF
customs at the various ports Of entry in the United
States:-For collectors at New York. $4,000; at
Boston and San Francisco, $4,000 each,
and ut the other ports graduation
Of salaries upon the basis of duties collected and
OF the tonnage business down to $780, which Is the
lowest sum- The surveyors naval ofieers and
appraisers at ports where these officers are
authorized, are provided for in like manner, be-
ginning at New York, where $4,000 is the sum
nxed for these officers. The bill also revses the
regulations In regard to the general order and
carriage business. 1t VIII be, doubtless taken up
early next week, and II 1t snail become law, OF
which there seems TO be no doubt, it must remove,
in great measure, the wrongs and injustice OF
the present system The only feature that
Will Oe likely TO meet serious opposition
ID that looking to the seizure of books and papers,
Upon this the committee are not agreed, and as q
similar provision was stricken out by an almost
vhn ,;fxAyx
the same fate in the Senate. After 1t passes the
Senate 1t will go to the House, and, IN all proba-
bility, pass there also without amendment or
change. This will obvlate the necessity Of o con-
ference committee, which will be required il there
is any disagreement. This legislation will accord
very fully with the representations and views Of
the committees OF merchants from New York, Bos.
ton, Philadelphia and Baltimore, who have for
long time past been in consultation with the Com
mlttee of Ways and Means OF the House, ana with
that on finance in the Senate.
BILL for the Regulation OF Congressional
Elections and Prevention of Frauds.
Representative Tremain, OF New York, reported
from the Committee on judiciary to-day, in order
that 1t might be printed, bill prescribing certain
regulations in relation to the election OF Senators,
kepresen tatives and delegates In Congress- 1t
provides that tally Sheets lists of voters and all
resentatives or Delegates in Congress shall be
kept by the lawful custodian Of the same until
after the adjournment OF the first session OF the
Congress next thereafter to be affected by said
election. In case OF an allegation of fraud by
either party to contest such lists and papers
may be produced on proper subpoena and shall be
carefully examined. Any custodian refusing to
keep such papers or to produce them when called
for shall be liable to fine Of $1,000 at the suit OF
the party asking for the production OF the
papers. All votes shall be counted at the
close OF the day Of election, and II the
of1cers and managers decline to make such
count they shall be liable to fine and imprison.
ment One section prohibits the sale or gift OF
vfnous, malt or spirtuous liquors to any voter at
an election for representative or Delegate III Con-
rress. and any person violating the provision OF
this section shall be liable to The punishment OF
nDe OF not less than $500 nor more tnan $500 and