The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-05
WASHING TON.
Treasury Farming and the Moiety
System To Be Abolished.
NEW FINANCE BILLS.

NEW FINANCE BILLS.
WASHINGTON, May 4 1874
No C0ncl1sion Arrived ~ ON tho Cur
rency Question-Prospect OF Conn
promise Wanfng-DemOcrats I'm an
Unenvfable Position.
One who speaks with authority says thus far
,ho Senate Finance Committee have not come TO
any conclusion nor agreed upon any proposition
which the dissentient forces can unite upon. The
intimaticn OF a compromise or acceptable measure
given ont in the last debate the finances instant
upon the reafnrming the vote on the bill which
the President vetoed has not been followed by any
hone Of realization. He further sAds:-.H the
committee do not mature some reasonable and
satisfactory decision BY the middle OF this week
the Senators favoring an increase Of the currency
viii 20 ahead at once and frame bill promptly
which win meet their views. and which they
win carry, too." This was SAID with an
air OF positiveness which was unmistakable
and betokened considerable impanence at
the course which the majority or the Senate
Finance Committee had pursued and especially
at the persistency Of Senator Sherman In urging
the adoption OF his i've per cent gold bond as the
vessel Of resumption and convertibllity which the
so-caned innationists, well as some ofthe contrac
OF the contest as they present themselves, the
democrats who have co-operated with the Nor
tonites up TO this are in unenvable position on
the finance question, and they are beset by DIM
culgies which meet them on both sides, since the
republicans favoring expansion have been in
council upon the plan OF battle they are going to
adopt when they renew the conflict IT, as
seems probable. they are forced to 1t. The
democrats who formerly cooperated with them
are not consulted, and this is TO some measure felt
by them. Hence 1t is figured that this is NOT very
conducive to the continuance OF that adherence
which they have SO unswervingiy given up to this
time and there must naturally arise with them an
aversion to subordinating themselves to the ex-
pediency OF swelling the numbers Of those who it
is said, are merely struggling for the mastery in Q
quasi republican fight.
On the other hand, they are confronted mean
ingly by their democratic brethren. with whom, on
almost every other subject, they are a unit Now
this bebe OF finance and the unpromlsing result
OF holding their ground unninchingly as heretofore
signifed by their votes, has left them in perfect
quandary. But conscious Of their strength, they
MAINTAIN q decorous sang Jrofd, and are to some
extent easy, though slightly concerned. Natur-
ally, they do not want to be reduced to the I'M
measured importance Of an unknown quantity"
yet they hold the balance Of power either way, for
without them The intiationsts cannot carry the
Senate, but the contractionists can by an access
sion OF two three votes carry the bill which the
Senate Finance Committee will report provided
they should be silent or absent. In the latter
event that result would De doubly assured.
Furthermore, some OF the Senatorial friends OF the
administration have been adroity at work to win
over by significant kindness and an implied sug-
gestlveness OF benefit to be derived, the support
Of some OF the previously opposed democrats,
not been idle IN working for this end. So
II viii be seen that II these contingencies
develop into facts, the President stands fair
chance OF winning victory in the Senate by hav-
ing such measure carried as will meet his ap-
prova. Notwithstanding the earnest and immova-
bic determination OF the opposition. Another
aggravation OF the isolated position OF the
..more money! democrats is found in the
fact teat their fellow democrats have
. conne0ing link with the Finance Committee
through Senator Bayard, who Is member Of 1t
and can keep them advised OF the programme to
be adopted, WHILE for the reasons here given, the
others, who are on the opposite side, are
cut on by the reticence OF their republican con-
JSerss from the Information which would. perhaps,
cheer them TO renewed activity, and are in the
dark by reason OF the uncertainty which now
prevails as to what is going to be done and the
present n0n-communicativeness OF those who, to
certain extent, previously counselied with and
guided them. There are dissolvlng views OF the
fxedness OF even 90 staid and reliable q body as
the United States Senate.
Senator Fenton ON the Hfoiety System
Organized Rascalities Culminate In
the Grossest Grimes.
Senator Fenton, as intimated in these dispatches
OF last night, opened with the vlgor and precision
OF Roman battering ram on the shortcomings OF
New York
battle cry .Tne Moietiesl" a bill to repeal
which he had offered as long ago as
1877, but which has slept quietly from that
time to this in the careful, n not
anectionate. embrace Of the Senate Committee on
Commerce, and not whisper has been heard from
IL. The babe was powerful sleeper, but now
Senator Fenton, not liking the custody in which it
is, moved That the Committee ON Commerce, who
ITS nurses be relieved from che responsibility.
TINS is q genteel way Of suing out par
famentary writ Of habeas corpus. Senator Fenton
paid his respects to the aforesaid committee.
mentioning by name and in quiet yet firm vein
manifested his disapprobation OF the action Of his
brother members on it. He spoke OF his repeated
and unavatng attempts have the bill acted upon,
and talked quite. Understandings OF the manner
OF doing business IN the New York Custom
House. he spoke OF "organized rascaities
there viii ch had grown until they eliminated In
the grossest crimes, trampling under foot the well
earned rights Of honest mercnants." which ne
showed were performed by Q system OF so-caled
special agents. wno were body Of irresponsible
men. He wildly described how commercial
houses were at their mercy, and how
they STUDIED the violation OF the awsn
rather than their enforcement as the former
proved more profitable to them under the tempt
ing Inducements OF the moieties system. Senators
Boutwell, and Sherman were attentive listeners
throughout, the former at times suggesting some
corrections and manifesting much interest, owing
TO his former incumbency OF the Secretary
ship OF the Treasury. Governor Fenton's speech
made a deep impression on the Senate and in
connection with the report Of the House Commit
tee OF Ways and Means will 90 TO the record as
Ian e.oaa ..,is.axiaoa