The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-20


tee which had reported The bin, and while II did
not meet his entire appreciation. It was step IN
clauses In II TO which he was opposed He regarded
the third section OF the Dill, which authorizes the
and papers, as being wrong in prnciple and as
one tnat would WORK badly IN practice. Some OF
she iead Ing members o. the committee also
Secretary OF the Treasury when It authorized him
70 pay any reward to anybody under any crcum-
thought that the bill went 100 far in diminishing
ms power he was free 10 admit that the moietv
system was the most complicated system he had
country. IT allowed an equal division to be made
between the government and thieves The PEN
OF proportion to the 0nences. Those penalties and
forfettures had been indicted without regard
existed or not In other words The Committee nntge
mad found system OF things prevailing which rem
dered necessary the Dill now before the House. He
proceeded TO refer specially to the Pheps-Dodge
case, and alladed to Senator ConkltnR and Mr..
Butler as being counsel for the officials or the Gus
tom House. He said that General Butler had been
paid large fee out OF the portion received by
Jayne and py the thief who had stolen the papers
/ ATTACKING SENATOR COMPILING.
How much Senator Conkling had got he Becky
did not know, because, although the committee
Surveyor Of the Port OF New York to come before
It,. they had all declined the invitation.
the Committee Of Ways and Means, remarked
that there was not . particle OF evidence that
SeudLOI COuhuuR udu TeCelVcQ anything.
Mr. BEcK-There was evidence that he was the
counsel and adviser OF these men. and they whose
counsel he was refused to come before the COM
the committee was not able to develop what the
Mr. KAssoN-The evidence simply was that the
Senator was In the room on one occasion, reading
from United states statue; think tnat was q:
statement. It is tnis:-"l win add that
Senator Conklng was in New York and
II tho me Mnao we two At
being whether this thing should be settled or not,
and being simply on the TACT shat Mr. Lafin said
the crime was SO enormous that 80 lar as he was
concerned he never would consent to settle it
short Of the payment OF s5ooooo BY Phelps, Dodge
60. think Senator COnkling ADVISED him to do
better. only wish he had stuck to II one day
longer.
Mr.. Beck was doing injustice to Senator Conkling.
Mr. BECK cannot yield to interruption, have
not . done Senator Conkling any Injustice, have
m0ny shows that he was the counsel tor these
men.
Mr. HALE-The gentleman is certainly in error
M. BEoK-He was counselling and advising
Senator or member should be allowed TO act as
counsel in such cases, and that Is the object Of my
amendment. What chance for justice mad mer-
chant when the Collector, the Naval officer, the
Surveyor the special agent, the intormer and all
the Oficias to whom he could look for information
against him, and when the leading Senator SA' 81
the administration and one OF the ablest pott-
Cdl m6mOerb Vi Lu6 mousse were COuuEet iOr the
informery Under circumstances like these was Il
not evident that the merchant had to pay what
eyer w was demanded' Would not yoa have done
Treasury. but BY his snbordinates. These very cry
very often the creatures OF the men who have con-
tnRent fees in the cases before them. II Is asking
honest, to ask him to decide against the man who
ne knows could turn him out Of ONCE. Spies and
inlormers soon learn what senator or member
they can best use before these subOrdinates to OBJ
tain any decision they want Does any man in
this House believe that the present Secretary OF
under this administration would dare to have re-
lieved Phelps, Dodge Co., when men like Senator
Conkling and General Butler are standing BY and
demanding these penalties.
Mr.. ROBERTS, ask the gentleman from Ken
Senator hereP He knows that Mr. Dodge ex-
planned That the Senator happened to be In the
room, end that he supposed he was there not as
mr.. BEcK-Mr Dodge did not say that. have
read what he said. Judge Davis said that Sena-
tor Conklng was there, reading the law. expound-
ing 1t, appearing as the friend and adviser OF
custom House officers, thing which he had no
business TO do and winch no senator and no KEEP
amendment prevails they never Will 10 1t any
more.
tleman think II just thing to say that q man is
guilty because no evidence Is submitted that he
Mr.. BECK-No guilt attaches at all He had the
right to be there under the law; but say that
law should not exist. deny that man who Is o
leading ADMINISTRATION senator should have right
to go and advise against citizens, and to have the
weight Of his influence and his name and hts au-
comes here to demand justice.
Mr.. ROBERTs-1he gentleman says that the Sem
atOr had right to be there?
Mr.. BECK-He had. .eH 0ri
Mr.. RoBERrs-Dld not Mr.. Dodge also expressly
disclam any belief that he was there other than
case9 at
Mr. BEoK-I will read what he did say (read-
ing): 4t #H4st .a4 asHg ia
the other Day NJ Dodge that there We're
members Of Congress who were acting as counsel for
Sr RoRo.-I aia say 40 So t,.. ~. .oru,,.. =,
M
out the name OF only one such member, while there
n. poDcs-l only intended to speak ftwo have no
been SAID before his committee. Ssys paTpe.siy
may snswsr the question
e 81 hs agent sc Sd employ II a
that Senator Conkling in New York and in consul
In far
was concerned ne meyer would SSnsen 2 settle short
& fe9sps Do fS
wish he had stuck to 1t one day longer
Mr. BECK (continulngl The Naval Oficer of New
York was known to be the appointee Of that Sena-
tor; that the custom House ring there Is sup
ported Dy tne same aumlulSLraLlOQ Oh winch CnaC
Senator Is q leading man, and 1t uses the money
thus stolen from merchants IN order to carry on
the party machinery.
WHOLESALE ROBBERY.
insist that this third section should be struck
out OF the bill as perpetuating system which
ought not to exist for one moment. The custom
houses have become dens OF corruption, and are
kept up on account OF their political power to
control primary elections, pack conventions. stun
ballot boxes and perpetuate frauds such as
ought to be impossible In any free coun-
try. The Collector OF New York has salary
Of $1,000, the Naval Omcer has 5000 and the
Surveyor mas $500, and yet during this admins.
tratfOn the Surveyor has received Tor his share OF
penalties $169000, the Naval Onicer 100000, the
Collector $174,0 and the informer $49l. 900, max
ing total Of $9S6,000 that has been paid to In
formers and officials, and why Was 1t because
there was 50 much duties withheld from the gov.
ernmentP No. In the Phelps-Dodge case $271, 900
was paid when there was only $1,000 due TO the
government The system ls Kept up 80 that the
the worst OF purposes by the worst men.
At the close OF Mr.. Beck's speech Mr. KAssoN
quoted the testimony OF MIR. Dodge. as follows:--
~ Y had h~ AtotoAS tAna xhsf