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

occur or arise, or else be forever barred.
HOUSE.
The House took up the Senate
amendments to the naval appropriation
bill and some were concurred ia, but
others, non-concurred in were sent to
committee of conference. The
Speaker appointed as such committee
Messrs. Hale, of Maine, Scofeld and
Marshall
The House then took up the bill rec
ported by E. II. Roberts from the
Committee on Ways and Means, to
amend the customs lave and TO repeal
the system of moieties to informers in
customs and revenue cases.
Mr.. Dawes moved an amendment to
strike out the third section and add TO
the sixth section the provision tnst
any iniormer who shall pay 10 any
officer OF the United States any por-
ton OF the money received by him shsll
have perpetual right OF action for its
recovery.
Mr. Beck, also OF the Committee On
Ways and Means, submitted an
amendment making it unlawful for any
Senator, Representative or Delegate in
Congress, to act as agent, attorney,
proctor, advocate, solicitor or counsel
for any person against whom suits or
proceedings are brought Tor violation
OF the revenue laws. Both amend
nents are pending.
Mr.. E. II. Roberts opened the die
cussion on the bill.
He explained the provisions Of the
bill and spoke earnestly in advocacy
thereof.
Mr.. Beck member OF the Commit
tee on Ways and Means, said the
moisty system was a disgrace to any
civilized country. 1t allowed an equal
division to be made between the gov
ernment and thieves. The penalties
inflicted under the law were altogether
out OF proportion to the offences. Those
penalties and forfeitures had been in
| flicted without regard 10 the question;
whether guilty intention existed or not
in other words, the committee had
found a system Of things prevailing
which rendered necessary the bill now
before the House. He proceeded to
refer specially to the Phelps, Dodge
90. case, and alluded to Senator Conk.
ling and General Butler as COUNSEL for
the officers OF the custom hous,. He
said General Butler had been paid a
large fee out Of the portion received by
Jaynes, by the thief who had stolen
the papers from Phelps, Dodge d Co.
How much Senator Conkliug had got
be T Beck] didn't know. Although the
committee had invited the collector,
naval officer and surveyor Of the port
of New York to come before them,
they had all declined the invitation.
Mr.. Kasson, another member OF the
Committee on Ways and Means, re-
marked that there was not particle OF
evidence that Senator Conkling had re-
ceived anything.
Mr.. Beck-There was evidence that
he was the counsel and adviser of these
nep, and they whose counsel he was
refused to come before the committee
under it's polite invitation, aud there
fore the committee was not able to de-
velop what the facts were.
Mr.. Kasson-The evidence princi-
pally was that the Senator was in the
room on one occasion reading from a
United States statute. | think that
Was all.
| M. Beck-I will read from Dodge's
statement. 1t lie this: II will add that
Senator Conkling was in New York
and in consultation with these gentle
men at the time, when for two days the
suestion hung whe,he er this thing should
| be settled or not, and hung simply or
the fact that Mr.. Latin said the crime
j was 90 enormous that, go far as he wal
concerned, be never would consent tt
settle it short OF the payment Of $500
600 by Phelps. Dodge & Co. thinl
Senator Copkling advised him to dc
better. l only wish be had stuck to i
one day longer"
Mr.. Hale, of New York. intimate,
that Ny. Beck was doing injustice Il
Senator Conkling.
Mr.. Beck-I cant yield to the in
terruption. l have not done Seusto
Conkling an injustice and have mad
no charge against him. Isay that tn
testimony shows that he was counse
for these men.
Mr.. Hale-The gentleman ls Ger
,, tainly in error in that regard.
Mr.. Beck-Hs was counseliug an
advising with them, but what l wan
to get at 10 that no Senator or mem
Der he should be allowed to act a
counsel in such cases, aud that is tn
object OF my amendment.
Mr.. E. II. Roberts said that NJ
Dodge explained that Senator Conk
q ling happened to be in the room, an
o he supposed be was there not as couI
Q eel.
d Mr.. Beck-Mr. Dodge did no. IS
that, l have read what he said. jude
Davis said that Senator Conkling We
there reading law, expouudina it, an