New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-15
THE STRUGGLE FOR CUSTOMS REFORM.

THE STRUGGLE FOR CUSTOMS REFORM.
A CONFERENCE ON THE MOIETY BILL ORDERED
SHARP PRACTICE on THE PART OF THE ENEMIES
OF THE BuL-vIGILANCE NECESSARY To SECURE
ITS PASSAGE IN A PROPER FORM.
PROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, June 14.-The Ways and Means
Committee reported the Moety bill yesterday
morning with the recommendations as set forth in
a dispatch 10 THE TRIBUNE printed on Saturday.
The House agreed without discussion, and
the Speaker appointed as conferees the
part of the House Messrs. Roberts. Sheldon,
and Wood When the bill reached the Senate, Mr..
Sherman desired TO cali II up once, but Mr. COnk-
ling wished 20 examine the changes made by the
House Later in the day, the Senate acceded TO the
conference, and Mr.. Carpenter appointed Messrs.
Scott. Howe and Bayard to be the managers on the
part of the Senate. Senator Howe is the only
member Of the Committee who is opposed TO the bill
IN toto and If he is consistent will not sign any
port that the remainder may agree TO. The Others
of the Committee, in harmonizing the differences
between the two Houses may be depended upon to
save all the important features of the bill
1t will be necessary for the friends of this bill TO
watch it with the greatest care to prevent the
smuggling into ii of some provision that ought not
TO be there Nothing but the untiring vigilance of
Senator BayaTd prevented Senator Conkling from
getting into the last section, by means Of
a trick unworthy a Senator, provision
which would leave the importing merchants
of the country just much ever in the hands Of
the nformers and their partners in plumber in and
out of the Custom house. The Finance Committee
had added section TO the bill TO allow all cases
where suits had been begun to be prosecuted to judg
mept notwithstanding the passage of this BILL and
the distribution of mOieties in such instances.
Senator Wadleigh moved to amend this section so
rs 10 allow the United States to recover Its share OF
the fines or penalties. but to withhold from
the informers their share. Senator Conkline.
70 save the election funds for this Falls
campaign. if not for reasons more persenal.
opposed this and succeeded in causing to be sub
stituted for it addition to the section making the
repeal of rloieties, in effect begin only in cases
where the Custom house entries made since the
FIRST of Nav of this year. In writing this amend
ment he worded tas follows: "Thatit should not in
any wise affect suits OF actions commenced or for
fixture incurred before May !. 1874"
When Senator Bayard called attention 10 this,
Senator Conking could not defend il, and SO no at
tenton was called TO IT at the time in the reports
But when first asked privately to modify 1t by sub
shutting the word for for "or7 he refused to do
80, which shows that the language was not aeci-
dental this act not to affect suits Tor penal
ties or forfeitures incurred previous to May l. s.4
that Is it left the officers TO deal with allforfetures
incurred before May l, under the present and not
according to the law it would only be necessary
20 show that an alleged rregulsTity happened be-
fore May l. 1874 to authorize the officers 10 seize
merchants books and papers and cart them off to
the Custom house. and keep them until they could
find in them some excuse for making up case to
which they would apply all the outrageous pro-
visions of the present laws. Who can doubt that
Jayne IL Co. would reap rich harvest during the
present Summerf
Whom the use or omission OF single letter in this