New-York tribune., 1874-03-07
THE SYSTEM OF SPIES.
1LYNE.s OPPRESSIONS.

uonrvrC.T1oS OF THE MOIETY LAWS PkobAni1
GIN BUTLER SEEKING A COMPROMISE
fRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
w,errScroS. March 6-The Committee OF mer-
.,.nts and business men from New-York and Boston
~oro apain before the Ways and Means committee
ON the snhiect of the fees moiees forfeituers etc.
allowed 70 special agents and other detectives OF the
Crstoms service. Detective Jayne, with suohme
.aronterv was present again to-day ana hao uie
.atisfacton of listening TO the most prominent anu
uprirht of the business men of the c'les ha'neo' &c
they one after another, exhibited the ehorihi'S VI
his official conduct The story OF the persecuto" Vi
Jordan. Marsh & Co. of Boston was d"1t upon
narticplarv nv Mr.. HYDE and is one OF the WORST
mentioned. .,o
II does NOT seem probable now that the gentlemen
will be able to leave here before next week. Us tneJ
think il is desirable to remain as long as IL hece
,arv to enable the members of the Ways and Means
Committee 10 become thoroughly acquainted with
me nractiees of the ring of detectives who prey
,ncn The commerce OF city. 4 full understanding
oftbe errors OF the present system and the advan-
tace il furnishes to rogues is necessary before any
intelligent reform can be established, and the gen
tlemen here do not intend to abandon Their Work
untl Congtess shall have become fully advised on
tbe ubject. They intend that the members snail
see that il is impossible for merchant having any
regard for MS character business standing 10 re-
main in the importing business when he is liable 10
be arrested and dsgraccd for no fault or knowledge
ofbie own. II was shown before the Committee To-
day that several large capitalists will so out OF
business az once if the present laws are not modihed
or repealed.
The Wavs and Means Committee without excep-
ton. are unanimous in opposition to the present
laws and are demonstratve in favor OF the rler-
chants as against JAYNE who no longer has fuend
m the Committee. The case of Phelps, Dodge n
Co has been Of such a barefaced character on the
part of Jayne and his partners who are to be found
IN almost every walk of life in the present Admins
sration that il has excited the indignation of the
members TO a remarkable degree Some of the
members have said that, if such a as that was
placed before a court in which the issues were
entirely of business character between individuals,
JAYNE would suffer for his conduct and the hTm
would collect damages. One of the members even
went so far to say that it was not improbable that
some means for the firms relief would be suggested.
Jn the mean time Jayne hangs about the Committee,
and airs lis hypocrisy in a lachTymOse manner to
every one who will listen TO him.
IL ia reported that Gen. Butler is already busy IN
considering and looking over the field TO if some
compromise might not be possible to keep the
moietes from being swept away. As to the fate of
bill amending the moiety act so as to relieve ii of
its cruel and oppressive features there cannot he
the slightest doubt. With every member Of the
WAYS and Means Committee in favor of it, as is the
case its prompt passage by the House is assured,
even with the opposition of Gen. Butler and his
AdheIents Passing with such prestige as II mnst
through the House it would seem reasonable 20 sup
pose that il would the Senate although II might
be fought by Senator Conkling, Senator Cameron,
and those having had the same relations TO the
moioty system thet they have had.
-
TIE HEARING BEFORE TIIE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE.
ARGUMENTS BY DELEGATES FROM NEW-YoEK, Bos-
Ton, AND BALTIMORE--sTORIEs OF OPPRESSION
BY JAYNE AND OTHER ERAGENTS-UNCoNsTIT, r.ON-
Atty or TIE LAW AND THE NECESSITY ION ITS
REPEAL-
GENERAL PRESS DGsPATcH.l
WASHINGTON, March G.--In addition to the
gentlemen heretofore mentioned before the CoI,mt-
Tee on WAYS and Means asking notifications Of the
Customs laws III relation TO moetles etc, there we're
present to-day representatives OF the Baltimore Board
Of Trade namely: Andrew Reld Decatur II. Miller.
Hamilton Easter and Samuel p. Thompson.
AEGUsENTs OF BOSTON MERCHANTS.
NJ HYDE, representing The Boston Board OF Trade,
resumed his remarks. Ho had previously spoken
against the m0iey system, and lie argued in favor
FTSt OF requiring action to recover penalties OF for
teiture De brought within two years lot ye IN
Ger the present law Second To limit forteures the
lhe eutre invoice; and Third: Making payment OF
duties the abseuce Of fraud conclusive.
Mr.. A. II. Rice next addressed the Committee q
member OF the Boston Board OF Trade Tho statements
already made wefe in ms opinion, sufficient 70 convince
this Committee Of the onerous be might cay Infamous
operation Of the present. system OF moietes in
tion with the seizure Of books and papers Tie law
seized not only the guilty victim but tue innocent
chant, and subjected latter the penalties
II FIRST struck him Gown before determining his guilt.
lie referred 10 in Boston. where I'm
porting received the rst information Of charge
fraud the extent Of .6OoOoO through newspaper
publication, There parallel 10 this system 10 be
found anywhere i'd the civilized world. Nothing so
oagrant, unjust, and absolutely oppressive upon any
class as this Is upon merchants. This effect
taiDly not designed by Congress, but sach
had been the result under the present ad
uinstration o, law. Why had this system
been continued so lOngi Because the class
affected Is comparatively small in number, and because
It's not willing come forward and face the respons
bilty Tue business OF the country Is prosrated be-
cause the mercantile community alarmed at such
pracces as those TO which reference had been made
They asked Congress 70 deliver them from the oppres
awe ta1es and hoped they would not plead in vain;
that Congress will preserve the reputation OF the mer
chant at home and abroad and by wise provisions give
protection to the innocent while Furnishing all offenders.
John W. Gambler OF Boston said that the business
Of that city denounce the laws Of the United States
which bear 20 heavily them. These laws
n1Jus' and Infamous. They arc not only unwOr-
my OF hee country, but unworthy OF any
country, because they visit excessive puuish.
nent on the guilty and oppress the innocent
contrary TO the principles justice Whatever NAV be
tie opinion in Congress, the mercantile communitv
the system OF spies inforners as irf,nons
They believe OF their iuacHabe hts are NJ mara
consequence than nero revenue.
MI CAudler gave several Instances NJ sevoro ou...