The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-20

Mr.. Kasson quoted from the testimony
of Mr.. Dodge as follows: "Mr. Dodge
I never had the most distant idea that
Senator Conkling was there profession
ally, but I believe he happened to be in
New York at the time this thing was
in process OF settlement, and was in
council with some OF the other gentle
men there, particularly, believe. with
reference to a position occupied by
Latin. | have never mentioned his
name before in the matter. My I'M
pressions were that be had no recuni-
ary interest in it in any way. | have
always looked upon it as mere
accidental visit on his part to
the city, still the fact that be was
there in connection with other gentle
men showed what an array there was
against US"
Mr.. Dawes had read on the same
point the statement OF Judge Noah
Davis as follows: "Mr. Davis-Tbe
statute was there, and it was read
Senator Conkliug read the statute; he
had it in his hand. Whether it was
brought in alter / came or not l
can't say. He took the statute and
read it over, and said it didn't seem to
him that there could be any doubt"
| give only the substance OF the re-
marks, oil course-that the true con-
structiou OF the statute Was that the
whole OF the invoice was forfeited. and
that under such a state OF facts he
thought it the duty ot the collector to
bring suit for the amount oil lnvol III
instead of Ior the articles affected " b
fraud. | esid to hm that | thought
that under the rules OF construction
adopted in the Federal courts in all
revenue cases, that WAS the
construction which would be
put upon the statute. He said
il the question were one purely at COM
mon law, under common law rules,
that the statutes imposing penalties and
iorieitures were TO be construed In
milder sense. thought the highest
court would give construction that
would apply forfeiture to the articles
actually affected, but | understood the
tendency of the Supreme Court as
shown in the Wine case, the Cllquat
case and some other cases had been 10
give to those statutes a rigid copstruc-
ton on the ground OF public policy, and
that | thought the Supreme Court
would give the construction which he
gave to the statutes"
Mr.. Ward, another member OF the
Committee on Ways and Means, made
speech in support OF the bill.
Mr.. Kasson, another member OF the
Com mittee on Ways and Means. while
condemning the law under which such
outrages had taken place, warned the
House against sweeping away all the
guards aud barriers against frauds.
Mr.. Burchsrd. another member OF
the Committee on Ways and Means
gave his cordial and hearty support to
the bill.
Mr.. Niblack another member OF the
Committee on Ways and Means, aiso
advocated it exSept as to the 3d-aecc
ton, which be opposed as anomalous
and unusual.
Mr.. Beck SAID that he had been in
formed by Mr.. Roberts that his
Beck's amendment might endanger
the passage OF the bill. AS he regarded
the bill as too important to run any
risk, he would withdraw his
amendment and offer it with the bill
which would be reported in regard to
the Sauborn contracts.
Mr.. Dawes, chairman of the Conn
mittee on Ways and Means, closed the
debate in a speech supporting the
measure.
The House then proceeded to vote on
Mr.. Dawes amendment TO strike out
the third section OF the bill and to add
10 the sixth section.
The amendment was agreed to, 81 to
90, and the bill thus amended passed.