The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-22
An Insight Into Our Diplomatic
Service in China.
THE SEWARD BOOKS.
Senator Baine's Election Outrages Com
mittee as a Public Court
GREENBACKS FOR DUTIES.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.


GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Dec 81, 1878.
INVESTIGATING MI. Stewards CONDUCT IN
oHINA-TEsTIMoNY OF A CONSULAR CLERK AT
SHANGHAI.
Tho Seward Investigating Committee in
sion four hours to-day, all the members being
present except Mr.. Turner. of Kentucky.
Before proceeding with the examination the
chairman (Mr. Springer, of nlnois stated
that as to the question pending yesterday in
regard to whether Mr. Seward should be required to
obey the subpoena duces tem and produce the books.
papers and vouchers therein called for the commit
tee had agreed in executive session to leave the mat
ter undecided until the reassembling of the House
after the holidays.
The committee then proceeded to the examination
of Mr.. A. r. Lewis. consular clerk at Shanghai, as
witness for the prosecution Among his other duties
Mr. Lewis had charge Of the book in which was kept
the account of what known as the seamen's
fund, and he testified that all through his service
there an addition of five per cent had been put
the disbursements out Of that fund and charged
against the government. This had been done by him
under the instructions Of Mr.. Seward, and the ex-
that percentage was designed to cover the loss
by exchange; at time the percentage
was increased to twenty but order had been
ceived from Mr.. Conger then acting Secretary of
State in place Of Frederick W. Seward, who suf-
fering from wounds received while defending his
father from the attack of Pane). reducing the per-
centage to FIVE and requiring the reimbursement of
the difference. The chairman asked the witness
whether the receipts to the fund did not exceed the
disbursement. and whether. consequently. there
could properly be any deduction fol loss in exchange
but tho witness while aware that sometimes much
rs $4,000 stood to the credit of the government
the quarterly account for that fund.- could tell
how the general accounts of the Office balanced. He
also testified to his refusal occasion sign
quarterly voucher for 5000 for services in the Con.
suar Post ONCE the ground that no had not done
work in the Post Office except for very short time
during the quarter; but the explanation Of this ap-
parent irregularity that while the witness sal
airy in the Consulate $4,000, his nominal salary
consular clerk only 81 900, and that the differ
made up either out Of the Post ONCE fund
or Mr.. Stewards pocket
He was then Intercepted as to Mr. Sew
ards business investments in Shanghai, and
specified two mortgages. aggregating some
$4,000. which Mr.. Seward had taken about
the time when there was the largest balance on
hand from the seamen's fund and also spoke as to
Mr.. Stewards being the owner Of forty or fifty
Chinese houses in Shanghai, the aggregate cost Of
which, however. could not have exceeded $1,000.
Another point in his testimony was that Mr. Seward
the lessee of the Consulate building at Shanghai
ana sublet it to the government rental Of 5000;
whereas equally commodious building could be
obtained at much less rate. Then, after describing
the character Of the blottcrs in which the daily trans
actions were entered (which books not among
those transmitted to the State Department and within
the control Of the committed he was proceeding to
state how he went to look for them in the loft of the
consular building, where old books and documents
and other rubbish were kept: how he could not ind
them there. and how he learned from George Tor A.
Quill the Chinaman who had the key of the loft what
had become Of them, but before he could finish the
story (which would have been that the books were
packed up and taken to Pekin by Mr. seward he was
stopped by an objection from Mr.. Merrick
Mr.. Stewards counsel. on the ground that the tes-
timony hearsay and therefore incompetent
long discussion ensued on the part of the counsel
and members of the committee. and finally the Chair
overruled the objection. assigning reason
for his action that there had been bad faith on the
part of Mr. Seward and his counsel in withholding
these books when one Of the express conditions on
which the had been continued last summer was
that these books should be produced. Mr.. Merrick
MED that there was any such condition and claimed
that the books in question not public, but pri-
vate books An appeal from the decision of the Chair
was taken by Mr.. Bundy and the committee refused
TO sustain the decision. the votes being
YEAs-Messrs. Dean and Mayham.
NAys-Mcssrs Bame. Bundy and Dunnell,
Subsequently. with the consent and approval of
Ill concerned. the Chairman modified the remark
which had given much offence, and changed il
to "A violation Of what. in his judgment, was the
understanding" and the reporter directed to
omit from the record all ausion to the unpleasant
mess. The committee then adjourned to Monday.
THE SESSIONS OF THE BLAINE INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE TO DE HELD WITH OPEN DOORS.
The Select Committee of the Senate. of which Mr.
Teller Is chairman. charged with the investigation
of tho alleged election frauds at the recent elections
in pursuance Of the Blaine resolution adopted by the
Senate, held brief session this morning Mr. Teller
informed the committee that he had been unable to
carry out the instructions Of the committee with re-
gard to presenting Mr. Blaine with copy of the reso-
luton Of Mr. Bailey which adopted at the meet
ing Of the committee yesterday afternoon to the effect
that he dr Blane) should furnish the committee with
such specifications Of matters contained in the
original resolution under which the committee was
appointed. in order that they might have material
necessary upon which to base an inquiry. he being
unable to find that gentleman. resolution was
then submitted and unanimously adopted requesting
Senator Thurman to furnish the committee with any
facts in his possession relative to the matters men,
toned in his amendment TO the Blaine resolution.
and tho Chair requested to furnish him tAfr.
Thurman) with copy of the same early practi-
cable. Senator Bayard then offered . resolution pro-
wiling that the future sessions Of the committee be
held with open doors Agreed to. The committee
then adjourned until Thursday. January9.
The amendment of Judge Thurman referred to is
follows:--
The committee shall also inquire whether any citi-
zen Of any State has been dismissed or threatened
with dismissal from employment or the deprivation
of any right privilege by reason OF his vote or in
xention to vote ut the recent election, or has been
otherwise intcrfcred with. and to inquire whether