The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-07
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.


WASHINGTON, April Q. 1874
THE POSITION OF MR.. PAGE ON THE HERALD's
EXPOSURE OF INDIAN FRAUDs-THE NATURAL
INDIGNATION OF FRIEND OF THE RING.
Congressman Page of California, affected much in
dignaon in the Indian Committee yesterday after the
examination Of tho HERALD correspondent con-
cudcd. He expressed his determination 10 force an
answer 10 his conundrums At the bar Of the House, but
the other members OF the committee did not agreo
with him. and they advised him let the matter drop
and say about It He did seem inclined to
rcicnt, however, unfit he informed that, in the
opinion OF certain members OF the committee he could
not compel the correspondent 10 answer his queries
they were not in tho line Of evidence
der consideration Mr.. Page protested In
subdued way but at last yielded TO the better judg-
mcnt or the committee He then referred TO the
mcnts made in the HERALD to the effect that he
inclined to be examining witnesses,
and defended himself by saying that he eiling to
extend every courtesy to ordinary Witnesses but as
for the 4KRALD correspondent he for one. would not
admit him to the room during the meetings OF tho
committee. To use his own metaphor, he would be
damned II such trash should DO permitted in his
presence.
The only for Mr. Pages hostility il that the
correspondent gave damaging testimony against the
Indian Ring and said that he had heard ex-Comm,s-
tioner Smith admit that he had violated tho law
and took his chances also that ths cor
respondent nd truthfuly reported few e<Mr Pages
extraordinary remarks made du w me 3zsmnations,
showing that Mr.. Page owbeat e4s and acted
in such way that hr sNles fAf man, arose 10
to his foet aud sa,d ia. NJ, <pA ssa not bully tho
COMMITTEES Mr rs:MNk. 81 e0kkt to have his own
way, as1b< s4.S s6s ,sAsAs Ast week that he
woNi3S ii kl 1ekt tf 81 ~ rdt Int he should have
w.4qSzss lib AusNtft III AS wanted Chairmcn
Whit tzt aAA &4sN tkS1 ould protect witnesses
and sAe fs4sf ~ ~ 200 country. Mr.. Page con-
solod e w saying that II he was to be dictated to
he sheui- leave the Mr. Scales gave him TO un-
derstand tnat the object Of the committee was to in
vcstgate frauds and have the truth come out and 90
to tho world.
SECRETARY BRIsTow AND THE wHIsKEy RING
THE MILWAUKEE, sENsATIoN-HIsToRY OF
THE BARK MARY MERRITT, AND THE SEC
RETARYs CONNECTION IHEREwITH.
The sensational story from Milwaukee about Secre-
tary Bristows connection with the alleged smuggling
case Of the bark Mary Merritt Ia pronounced
ton OF the Milwaukee wh,skey Ring The facts Of tho
matter a. they appear in tho official record at the
Treasury Department arc as follows
First. tho vessel not seized for smuggling;
second, General Brstow retained counsel
In tho and never received cent, though he had
givon advice TO the brothers Tricc, who his per-
sona friends and won't before Secretary Richardson
them. but with the express agreement that he should
cept NO compensation as he practsed before the
Department. third the rcopened by Secretary
Richardson, but not decided; fourth the case, then
under law decided upon statement OF facts by tho
United States District Judge who tried IT, aud upon
statement from Judge Drummond, who also heard thu
case, that evidence OF wilful neglect or pur-
pose TO defraud shown, and lastly
upon the opinions OF two successive solicitors Of the
Treasury. the decision OF the last one Major Bluord
Wilson, receiving the assent OF the United States Dis
trct Attorney who had becn engaged for years
in pressing the against the owners; fh General
Brisow when he became Secretary rejected prop
ostion to compromise, and refused to have anything
to DO with the case because tho attorneys Of Tree
Brothers had vcnturcd to use his name with tho Dis
trict Attorney holding friendly views in regard to
their casc sixth. when In the regular VI Treas
ury business the was reached IL went into tho
hands or Assistant Secretary Conant, who bound
by law to decide tho matter upon the statement OF
BY the District Judge and all this
fully set forth in tho warrant Of remission from which
It appeared that forfeiture incurred without will
full negligence or any intention to defraud"
Tho OF the bark Nary Merritt was this:-Trice
Brothers, Of Hopkinsvlc, KY, bought vessel in
1865 of n Canadian and she engaged in . regular
and legitimate commerce Of the lakes, and never
charged with smuggling In 1869 shc was seized
upon the report OF informcr that she
q foreign bottom and owned by Americans,
which prohibited her registry under laws There
was nothing secret about this kind Of Ownership q
the Trice Brothers explained their fully
Congress year before the seizure and asked be
allowed take regular register AZ length seizure
took place the technical violation Of Law involved in
the purchase OF the vessel from British subject IL
was in the nrst instance simply OF iniormers
seeking moicties, IN the present sarbcd and
fair publication OF the purely the work or the
Milwaukee whiskey Ring. In reply TO private
despatch from Solicitor Wilson Secretary Bristow ele-
graphs tonight from LousvilIe:-
never was counsel in the Mary Merritt case; only
took part IN argument before Secretary Richardson as
q friendly act Tor Feand aud Evans did not receive
afarshing. nor was anything promised or expected.
Ny letter TO Evans and one to General Hamilton ex-
plain my connection with tho case.
THE CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL BoUoHToN
Tho charges against General Bouyhton Clerk OF tbs
Military Committee. the truth OF which Is under
investigation by resolution Of the House, are that
Boughton. being Assessor OF the Fourth district Of
Texas 1862 entered into conspiracy with Douglass
Rhone n Co, Tyler Texas 10 run their distery
without paying and divide the spos between the
Assessor and his assistants named Browning Fianna-
gan and Hitc. This dist,iery, as alleged ran under
this arrangement Tor time and produced . large
quantity OF whskoy, but was finally caught bv Super
visor Brdgeand When the dstilIcrs they
claimed to be innocent, and said that Boushton had
represented 70 them that this thing done all
the country and he agent OF the government
they believed him. They paid ~ 600 In settlement Of
the case the amount OF unpaid the whiskcy
manufactured Boughtsn and his associates then
offered 81, 800 compromise, which taken aud
paid INTO the Treasury account ~ taxes due
The evidence IN the case Is 10 the Internal Revenue
Department consisting OF afdaviis OF three members
Of the arm OF Douglass, Rhonc Co. also OF the Col.
aud Supervisor OF the Internal Revenue and spe-
cial Agent Yaryan.
The vote for and against Mr. Dana being given In
executive session, very inaccuratcly reported