The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-11
sHINc ON.
Butler in the Part of Hercules
in the House.
Superiority Of Financial
Speechmaking.
The Specific Charges Against the Dis
trict of Columbia Officials.

1A0 cpecluc CnaTgeS Against the DIS
trict of Columbia Officials.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1874.
The Moiety Investigation-Testini
Taken In 1S72-HOw the Developments
Then Made Were Covered UP.
The capacity Of the law OF 1867 relating to mole
ties and the seizures OF books and papers for
admitting OF the practice OF extOrton, oppression
and blackmall upon merchants and importers,
was fully developed by testimony taken in 1872 by
the Senate Committee Of Investigation and Re-
trenchment who visited New York for that pur-
pose. The testimony Of Jayne himself fully de-
veloped the system OF outrage and plumber which
then existed. The whole mercantile community
were terrOrized, and no man was found who would
come voluntarily before the committee and expose
the wrongs which he had either suffered or knew
to have been practised upon others. The facts are
fully reported in the three volumes OF testimony
taken before the committee, but the number OF
copies which were printed was small as to
amount to a partial suppression OF the evil
dence. Whatever OF investigation there was
OF these wrongs was due almost solely
to the minority OF the committee, as
the record will disclose. There is moral certainty
that the records Of these seizures and 1orieitures
does not pretend to be their u and entire history,
and the number Of cases where eXtOrtionS nave
been practised on innocent importers can only be
Imagined and inferred from the detailed accounts OF
the cases which were made public. Enormous as
have been the profits OF men like Jayne, Howe,
Brush Chalker and Others which are admitted by
them, how much greater, in all human probability,
will they be II the long, dark list of their
ported seizures and extortlOns should ever be
fully made knownl leading lawyer in the Sem
ate says, 'That this end may be reached
let the government set the example Of
granting rehearing to every man who asks
1t, and let him have his case tried before officials
who have not large direct pecuniary interest in
condemning him, as is the case under present
laws" 1t is felt that If every merchant who has
been robbed knew that he had falr chance to get
his money back from the Treasury, and by private
action could force these harples, called especial
agents." to discorge their plumber, it could be de-
pended upon that the mercantile community, il
made to feel that day had dawned at last, and that
the era OF justice had come, would be emboldened
to tell the true history of their wrongs with
out fear OF further outrage and OPP
preston. The efforts OF the sub-cOm-
mittee were suppressed by the other members
OF the committee. A Senator or the highest in
tegrity and responsibility it is alleged, says that
Bliss, now District Attorney at New York, &C.
knOwledged that he had the witnesses for the de.
fence regularly trained. The committee did not
report any measure for relief reform, and
everything has been smothered up since the inves-
tigation, and the other members of the committee
were not able to get up any BILL nor did the COM
mittee report any bill. The one which came from
the House in the spring Of 1872, and which prom
lsed some slight protection to the books OF mer.
chants while in the hands OF special agents, was
dropped in the Senate Committee of Judiciary,
and never was reported to Congress.
Mr.. jackson Schultz. and the Jewel OF
Consistency.
An amusing occurrence transpired In the Senate
to-day when Mr.. Jackson S. Schultz came over to
get a copy of the report OF the evidence taken by
the Senate Committee OF Retrenchment and Inves-
tigation, applying to Senator Bayard for the docu-
ment. The latter said that when they were at
work exposing jayne they were not favored by
Mr.. schultz's assistance, but even met his oppos-
ton, as he was at that time on the side OF the Gus
tom House authorities and in favor OF Jayne, while
he Is now h is most determined opponent
The Superb uity of Speechm king ON
Finance-Is the End Of the Affection
Neare
In the Senate, as was anticipated, a speech was
made to-day by Senator Ferry, OF Michigan, who
has been prominent in making arguments favor
ing increase in the circulation. The Senator
expressed views as heretofore, advocating that
something be done to relieve the country with the
exception that what he said was In part intended
as reply to the cOntractlOnists, and especially to
Senator Schurz. 1t would seem that the time Tor
making speeches On finance had passed, as was
evidenced In the slim attendance OF Senators and
gallery listeners; but the young Western Senator
had his full say, and though in q weakened condi-
ton from recent Illness he dealt out blows
In behalf Of the West He consumed the entire
session. General Logan Is to follow tomorrow on
finance, in reply to Senator Schurz, and then
Senator Morton will close up, when the forces Will
gather for action and proceed to take VOTE
Unless by way OF explanation or in response to
some attack he who Will obtrude another speech
will have hardihood indeed or be overwhelmed by
q buoyancy which can only loat him on the sea Of
self. Beyond the speeches announced, the hearing
Of which is nerved Tor now. any addition would
be likely to empty the Senate OF clerks, pages and
when there would be no audience
At the close OF Senator Ferrys remarks the Senate
went into executive session and then adjourned.
Bitter Attacks Butler the
Defender of the Sanborn system of
COntracts-What May Be Expected.
In the House, with the exception of discussion
on the killing OF buffaoes in the West, the only
matter OF interest was much enjoyed and spicy
game at small swords which came on during the
debate on the Legislative Appropriation bill. Mr..
Beck made one of his usual trip hammer speeches,
lasting an hour, in which, as usual, he arraigned
the extravaganza of the administration. Toward
the close OF it he attacked the Sanborn contract,
which is now under discussion by the Ways and
Means Committee, OF which he is member. This
brought the Essex statesman into the fight. Then
down upon him In quick succession came Messrs.
Dawes, Hale (of Maine), Foster, Hawley and Sam
Randall hingng contemptuous defiance In the teeth
of the soldier statesman, who bowed IN angry SUBJ
mission. General Garfield then appeared with
statistical and appropriational armor, and re-
PEELED the assault OF Mr.. Beck with what was re-
garded as ability and accuracy As soon as the
report comes from the committee on the Sanborn
matter the evidences are unmistakabe in to.day's
debate that Mr.. Simmons friend will catch hot
drubolngs, and from all sides will he be salu.ed
with attacks calculated to bring him down from