Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-20

Dawes DenOunces the System.
Foul. Putrid, PutreScent In
formers.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May 19.-The Senate
met with six or eight Senators present.
At 11:l5 the roll was called showing a
quorum and business proceeded.
Mr.. Edmunds called up resolutions sub
mitted by him yesterday providing for the
adjournment of Congress on :he 22d OF
June, and it was agreed to without discus
sion.
Mr.. Wright introduced a joint resolu-
tion proposing an additional amendment
to the Constitution to provide that all
claims and demands against the United
within ten years after they accrue or arise,
or else be forever barred.
increasing Expenses. t
The Senate resumed consideration of the
legislative, judicial and executive appro-
priation bill.
A large number of amendments were
agreed to restoring the number of clerks
cut down by the House and otherwise in
creasing expenses.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen offered like batch,
suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury,
which were also agreed to. Among them
was one increasing the cost of passports to
s.. and promising a revenue Of $4,000
from this source.
n e Mr. SarxuafNt fha 4
alton for the contingent expenses OF the
executive Office was increased from S4,OOO
to $4,000.
Commissioners Watts UnhOused.
Mr.. EdmuudS submitted an amendment
TO the third section, which prohibits civil
officers of the Government from receiving
anv peruuisites. Agreed to.
Mr.. FrelinghuySen submitted an amend
ment providing that it should not be con-
strued 10 present the Commissioner Of As-
riculture from residing in the department.
Mr.. Edmunds said the fact of the Com
missioner residing in the department, had
been a reproach in the eyes of people of the
country for years. He moved an amend
ment to that of Mr.. Frelinghuysen, that no
officer of the Treasury Department should
be prevented from occupying ap ntments In
that building. Rejected.
Debate ensued. Mr.. Cameron defended
Judge Watts and Mr.. Salisbury declared
the Agricultural Department myth, and
not worth farthing.
MF. AIo.rill, of Maine, moved to lay the
amendment Oa the table. Lost yeas -,
nays "a.
The amendment was then rejected, yeas
u, nays %.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen moved an appropria-
tion of $500 for the museum of the Agrl-
cultural Department. Yeas IA, nays 20.
The bill was thcR reported to the Senate
and the amendments of the committee
agreed to, with the exception of the section
relating TO the covering into the Treasury
of unexpended balances, which was modi-
fed SO as 10 proyjde that it should take ef-
feet on the fiist dag OF July, 1915; instead
of 1874, as the committee recommended.
The bill then passed.
Civil Rights.
Mr.. Erelinehuysen moved thai the Senate
proceed TO the consideratIon OF the civil
rights bill, upon which motion the yeas and
navs were ordered. The roll call showed
but thirty-three Senators present. 40 quo
rum and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
WASHINGTON, May l2,-TEe House
took up the Senate amendments tG the
naval appropriation bill. Some were con-
CURED in, but others nOn-concuUed in
were sent to a Committee of Conference.
Moieties.
The House theR took up the bill to
amend custom laws and TO repeal the sys-
TEN of moities to iDf0rmers in custoHls and
revenue cases.
Mr.. Dawes moved an amendment to
strike out the third section and add sixth
section, provision that any informer who
shall pay to any officer OF the United States
any portion of the money recsiysd by him
shall have perpetual right OF action Tor
its recovery.
Mr.. Beck also of the Committee or
Ways and Means submitted amendment
making it unlawful for any Senator, Rep
resentative or delegate in Congress to act
as agent, attorney, proctor, advocate, sollc-
itor or counsel for any person against
whom suits or proceedings are brought for
violation of tbs revenue laws. Both
amendments are pending.
Mr.. E. II. Roberts opened discussion on
the bill.
Mr.. Beck said the moiety system was a
disgrace TO any civilized country. 1t al
lowed an equal division to be made be-
tween the government and thieves. The
penalties inflicted under the law were alto
gether out of proportion to the offenses.
Those penalties and fofeitureS had been
inflicted without regard to the question OF
whether guilty intent existed or net. In
other words, the committee had found a
system of things prevailing which rendered
necessary the bill before the house. He
proceeded to refer specially to the Phelps
Dodge case, and alluded to
senator COnkIinG
and Gen. Butler, as counsel for the officials
of the Custom-house, and he said that
Gen. Butler had been paid large sum and
bv the thief who had stolen the papers
from Phelps, Dodge q Co. How much
Senator Conkling had got he (Beck) did
not know, because although the committee
had invited the Collector, tbs naval officer
and the Surveyor Of the port Of New York
to come before it. they all had declined the
invitation.
Mr.. KaSson, another member Of the
Committee on Ways and Means, remarked
that there was not particle of evidence
that Senator Conkling had received any
hing.
Mr.. Beck-There was evidence that he
Was the counsel and adviser OF these men
AMI they, whose counsel he was, refused to
come before the committee under its polite
invitation, and, therefore, the committee
was not able to develop what the facts were.
Mr.. Kasson-The fact simply was that
the Senator was in the room on one occa-
sion reading from United States statute,
and that was all.
Mr.. Beck-I will read from Dodge's
Statement. 1t is this: 81 will add that
Senate. Conkling was in New York and IN
consultation with these gentlemen at the
time WHEN, for two days, the question hung
whether his thing should be settled or not,
and hung simply on tine fact that Mr.. Laf-
fin said The crime was so enormous that,
so far as b. was concerned, he never would
consent to settle short of the payment of