New-York tribune., 1875-01-14
HoTsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. Cox Dem., N. W presented the memo
rial of tho National Revenue Reform Association OF
NewYork City as to the reduction Of cost in the coee
ton OF revenue.
Mr. MONROE Rep. Ohio) from the Committee on
Education and Labor presented report In regard TO
the condition Of the agricultural colleges o1 toe ohteu
Mr. CANNON (Rep. Ill) introduced bill to promote
portaton Of persons and property the Atlantic
seaboard and the Western states.
Mr. cox tDen. N. ", from the Committee on For
eign Affairs reported adversely bill relative TO the
ownership Of the Island OF Nayasso Lad on the taoe
Bills were introduced aud referred as follows:
BY Mr.. PAGE (Rep, Cal)-ConcernlDg shipping COM
missioners. Also, concerning naturalization M ,.o,.
BY Mr.. RANDALL (Dem. Ponn.l-TO prevent persons
formerly in the Patent Office from prosecuting applca
Tie House then proceeded to vote on the bill that
pending adournment yesterday granting right OF
way the public lands for toll ROAD ID tus Cot
tonwood CafOn, Salt Lake County Utah Tho bill was
The Presidents message on Louisiana matters de-
lvered TO the House at O'Clock.
THE CHANGE OF DUTIES EFFECTED BY THE REVISED
LAWS.
report from tho Secretary OF the Treasury In regard
TO the change rates OF duties being imposed by the
Treasury Depar in consequence OF some supposed
change made In the laws by the revision OF tho
statutes was presented 10 the House, and discussion
arose az to where the should be referred
TO the Committee OF Ways and Means or the COMMITTEES
Mr.. WOOD Dem. N ~ argued in favor OF the
former reference and stated that material and im
portan alterations Of the law had been Lade in the
MT POLAND Rep VT argued that as it WAS a .mere
question Of the OF the revision 1t should 10 TO
the Committee on that subject.
Mr.. sCOFIELD (Rep, PENN intlmated that the orr
gin OF the complaint that the Treasury Department
efficiency than formerly He said that there we're l60oo
10000 appeal III the Treasury Department, ana
that hall OF them were IN Tue nse sge ee
lawyers to merchants and induce them 10 appeal
the decision OF the collector and N they succeeded
the merchant got o0ehaf ami these lawyers the other
half The whole amount of money depending ON these
deoisons 50 100000 or 81 100000.
Mr. wOOD-It is the revision affecting the tariff that
has created these evils.
do not wish TO make any lnsinuaton against the
honesty of that form OF customs brokers OF ANYBODY
from unjust charges will be extremely cautious about
making them against others. only know that there is
very large proportion OF the appeals and officer whose
duty 1t is in respect TO decide upon them Ia the
firm lately than they used TO be, and hence the
complaint There may have been more rigld examina-
ton OF the cases, and something which may have ap
peared OYeturnng TO extent OF cases that
had formerly slipped through. 1t Is In this way think
the gentleman from New-York has originated.
Mr.. KASSON tRep Iowal-That Is precisely what we
Mr.. CHITTENDEN Dem n " declared that there
department Of the Government which so much
required Investigation and reform as the New-York
CustOn-hOuse Tne complications the confusion. the
craft, aud the difficulties which prevailed there were
disgrace the Government. The revision or rathca-
ton of the Tariff laws had only intensified the trouble
1t the last straw that broke the Gamers back He
appealed 10 the House to let that inquiry go on; 1t
could not be much longer concealed or avoided.
Mr.. BUTLER Qsep, MassJ remarked that good num-
Der of the OF Ne1YOrk were better than
editors, still he thought that the complaints should
be inquired into He thought t1, hCWeve1 M that the
OF laws That revision had only brought the laws
out Se fS oHes of 40 maS
50 many legal technloalties, 50 many diitcui
Iot,o ha Rnh nh-CO fhe Judiciary
was trying to perfect that legislation and would soon
pc ready to h, to t a1dssD sns
of the utmost strngency, yet where an honest mer-
chant trying to pay his duties honestly and fairly
ing his tue department or the courts IL was
great hardship to merchants 20 have three or four mil
lions OF their locked up In the Treasury awaiting
Mr. DAWES Bep., Nasal remarked that while 1t
might very hard the merchants to have three
four millions locked up in the Treasury 1t was little
ming out without the knowledge OF anybody, which
until It was stopped at the last session lie
complications surrounding the honest administration OF
the Customs laws, about which the honest mer-
SRey were more yexatious and burdensome than
tbe duty itself was, and had brought tariff
Of the blame on themselves. The Committee on Ways
and Means had often asked them to pat ther
it administered, and the Committee would consider ~
lint the Committee had got nothing from them but the
compIant It had got no Of their experience
Nothing but complaint on one side, ana deVlces 10
eyade the duty on the other. -, ,,-
MIR RIJTLER remarked tnat it was the business OF a
Committee to know enough TO draw bill TO remedy a
-. ,-. .
Mr. DAwEs-Nobody has asked the merchants Of
New-York TO draw a bill. .
Mr.. BUTLER-I understood you to complain that
they had not done So
Mr. WOOD remarked that the proposition was only
20 change the OF the Secretarys coDmnnca
lion No class OF people more oppressed than the
merchants Of NewYOrk; nrst by the laws themselves
and then by the in which the laws were admin
istered But when they found that new duty was Inn
posed in the absence OF any ieEissuon oy Co9gTess'
York were gentlemen OF honesty and OF reputation.
They we're constantly struggling for simple JUSTICE and
when they found themselves Injured they aha complain
since The passage Of the Revised Statutes alterations
had Ieen made which mad affected individual arms In
New York 10 the amount OF over S.250,O00 The C0m-
mittee on WAYS aud Means desired 20 investigate the
facts OF and o nd out whether the fault was
I'M the new law IN its administration.
Mr. cox Dem, n " argued for the reference OF The
ouestion 10 the Committee Ways anu Means, aud
rad abatement OF the increase OF duties put upon GER
rain articles since the statutes were revised.
Mr. POLAND (Rep.. VIZ remarked that that statement
was not true. - a. =.
Mr.. KELLEY Rsp, Pann) remarked that the state
fnent was madO upon decisions Of District Courts which
deosOns had Ooen Ogoraed w the supreme COURT sud