New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-18
ARKANSAS ELECTION FRAUDS.

A SPECIMEN OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE CLAYTON
RING-CoNsIDERArION OF THE CONTESTED CASE
OF GUNTER AGAINST Wiltshire IN THE HOUSE.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTDUNE.1
WASHINGTON Feb. 17-FOr audacious and ut the
same time clumsy election frauds, the Clayton Ring
IN Arkansas is notorious. A specimen of the way
this Ring elect the men they want elected, ire
spective of how the people vote. came to light TO-
day in the House. in the contested of Wiltshire
against Gunter. The former was the Ring candi-
dates and the latter the candidate of the Liberals,
Democrats, and Anti-Clayton Republicans Gsnter
got about 5000 majority at the polls; bet the Can
vassing Board following out practice that is as old
as the reconstructed Government in Arkansas,
threw ont the vote of entire counties where Gunter
received his largest majOrities, pretense
of irregularities until they thought they had
brought their man in ahead At the last moment
they found they had not thrown out enough, so
they took the certified copies of county returns and
manipulated them to make it appear that In Marion
and Montgomery counties 591 votes were cast for
Gunther, instead of Gunter. and in Pulaski County
1855 votes scattered between S. H. Gunter and
Il. NJ. Guntee, Thos NJ. Guntee, and other erroneous
spellings Of Mr.. Gunter's name. This was q trick,
for the original returns did not showany such scat
terng votes BY throwing all these out-a majority
of 1,155 figured out for Wiltshire. The Cover
nor, however, did not certify that Wiltshire was
elected. but only certified to the statement of the
vote, thus frsudulently made.
( On this showing majority of the Elections Com
mittee bad the hardiboOd ask the House to-day to
give Wiltshire the seat on the prima facie case,
although ii was apparent that he was not elected
and would have to be oused as soon as the case was
taken up on its merits In the mean time however,
he could draw years pay and mileage, and this
thao of he
of the House among the Republicans, including Geo.
+. Hoar Gen. Hawley, and Mr.. McCrary, the former
Chairman of the Committee strongly opposed seat
ing Wiltshire. and their arguments had carried
everything before them when Mr. Butler rushed
into the breach sounded the party slogan and
rallied his legiOns of faithful henchmen. The party
men triumphed close vote, but amotion TO re-
consider was entered and will come up tomorrow.
THE CUSTOMS REVENUE SERVICE.
SENATOR FENToN URGES ACTION UPON HIS BILL
TO REGULATE THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY
SPECIAL TREASURY AGENT JAYsE.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNR.1
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17-Mr. Fenton made charge
upon the Committee on Commerce this morning for
'neldlng his bill " to regulate the service in the
o1cuoh 81 customs at the various ports of entry IN
olO0a States and the disposition of fines pen
III. 4. '1os incurred under inc laws IT,
iaVins 70 customs, and for other pnrrosesD In a
"oiu'' MI enton denounced the whole system
Oh moie'es' supplemented by the odious and uncon-
stitn'ionai act of March 1857, for the seizure Of
books and papers The occasion WIS The n,asan,o-
ton by Mr. fenton of petition Of roorohart. "a
importers of New-YWk City asking So 80
upon his bill. "'''on
Special TreasgrytAgent Jayne of New.yo,k
before the Ways and Means Committee tod, ~
testify with reference to the proposed abolt;an nv
law of the practice of forcibly Selling books az
papers order to detect frauds on the cns,1ro.
revenue. He exhibited to the Committee a ousp,;ty
Of books and documents showing the NEST aQgravat.
ing eases of what is known as differentiation. Mr.
Jayne represented slch state of facts in relation
TO the action of OF the merchants in New Yorl
that the Committee expressed themselves amazed a
the extent to which the practice of undery valuation
was carried. His statement is described as having
been very amusing and his description OF the nanne
m which be had canght people and made money Oul
OF them was received with much astonisbnent. Ht
announced TO the Committee that he had resigned
ms office and would hereafter be private citizen
when asked by member il he could stay here for
lew days he answered that he thought lie could
Ancsd 1t ~ he bad made little monev ont Of tbs