New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-22
MIR. SCHURZ DENOUNCED.

MR.. SCHURZ DENOUNCED.
SEVERE SPEECHES IN THE SENATE BY Mr.. JONES
AND MR. MoRGAN-A LANE DEFENCE BY MR..
MATTHEWS.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March 21.-There was another de-
bate in the Senate to-day on the stumpage tax
question, but it was not as exciting as on previous
occasions
Mr. Jones' of Florida, made very strong speech
against the policy of the Secretary of the Interior in
sending a notorious detective j. g. Hester,
as disguised Spy to Florida, and for the
general oppression of his people by the In
terror Department in connection with the luhper
trade. Mr.. Jones represented that the city IN
which he lives Pensacola is the largest lumber
shipping point in the United States; that II com
petes with Quebec, Canada; and that instead OF
that great interest being fosered. encouraged and
commended its promoters are accused OF crime. He
said that the great firms in Florida will not buy
logs if they think they have been stolen and he in
dignantly defended the honesty of his constituents.
Early in the debate he referred to the
sections in the Revised Statutes which
fix a penalty for the cutting, hauling, sale or pur-
chase of Government timber; and by another sec
ton (which he read he showed that the execution
of the statutes in question is vested solely in the
Secretary of the Navy and that ii is mpertnent IN
Secretary Schurz to interfere He quoted Burke to
show that even the English Government, in its
treatment of the Colonies, not oppressive as
the present Secretary of the Interior.
Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama, spoke against the course
of Mr.. Schurz. He SAID that instead of making an
appropriation TO aid the Secretary of the Interior to
send spies into Florida, Alabama, Mississippi Louis
iana Arkansas, and the Territories there should be
q committee of investigation ordered on what
had been already done. He also denounced the
sending Of Hester, Mccormick and Carter to the
Southern States to place embargo on their ports
He denounced the seizure of lumber and timber by
the Government and said the next move of the
Secretary of tue Interior would be to seize all the
cattle and sheep grazing on the public lands.
Mr. Matthews followed. His speech was dlsap-
pCntment. 1t was supposed that he would make
strong defence of the Interior Department, and as
sail Mr.. Blaine and the position of those opposing
the Montana stumpage tax and the oppressive meas
ures in the South; but Mr. Schurzs praci-
cally to have been abandoned Mr. Matthews spoke
on the General question, and was by no means exp-
cit Hesald he believed with General Grant that the
best way to repeal an obnoxious law faithfully to
enforce its provisions. He read letter from gen.
tleman in Helena, Montana, to the Interior Depart
ment, commencing the course of Secretary Schurz,
and said that wood is no higher than formerly,
before the one dollar cord stuInpage tax was
levied by the Interior Department.
Senator Chafec could not understand this
philosophy and asked Mr.. Matthews if So cord
might not be charged under the same theory.
Mr.. Matthews read letter from the notorious
Hester in regard to alleged depredatons in Florida.
saying there are $500 sevedores at Pensacola, and
in the vicinity 5000 wood-choppers.
When he had finished his speech, which attracted
small attention. Senator Jones again took the floor to
show the falsity and absurdIty Of Hester's state
ment. In answer to questions from Mr. Blaine he
said the entire population of Pensacola is between
5000 and 5000 people and it was thus shown
that there could not be many stevedores and
wood-choppers as Hester had reported by several
thousand.
The indications are that there will be several
more speeches before the Appropriation Bill, of
which this subject forms a part, reaches vote.
There is no doubt of the complete humiliation of
Mr.. Schurz.
Referring to the same debate it is of interest that
Appointment Senator has contemplated the introduce
ton of the following resolution for the purpose of
settling at once and finally the much vexed ques-
ton as to the abuses perpetrated by the agents
lected by the Interior Department, $50 strongly
dwelt upon by Senator Blaine and Others and by
Senator Morgan. of Alabama, in his speech to-day,
but which are as strenuously denied by the officials
of the Interior Department and their friends:
Resolred That The President be requested, If in his
opinion not incompatible with tie public interests,
communicate the senate the correspondence and
ports received from the agents. marshas and attorneys
the United in the States and Territories rela
ting 10 trcspassing the public domain the
seizure Of logs, lumber and naval stores which have
been suspected have been taken from the public
lands OF the United States the result OF the suits in
sttuted together with list OF all suits pending, and
upon what authority such suits brought, whether
patmen by direct instructions from the Department
Of Justice upon reports of such special agents.
resolution was passed by the Senate some time
ago calling for information, but its results were
meagre in the extreme because the resolution only
called for tho instructions given to such agents. and
did not touch the question Of their conduct seizures
ETC., under such instructions. Senators and MEN,
bers of Congress considering therefore, the pro-
pretty OF having q committee with power to send
Tor persons and papers examine into these
matters, ana such committee will probably be APP
pointed at an carly day. One of these special agents
has been here for some time and j. G. Hester
another them, has just arrived here from Florida
90 that the PROJECTED movement would appear 10 be
timely. 1t was principally from information de-
rived originally from Special Agent Hester that ,be
kb,lrd story about the kidnapping OF negroes Of Tho
South and sending them INTO slavery in Cuba WAS
published.
THE TOLEDO WAR.
rlE WINTERS FIGHT FOR THE POST OFFICE NEAR
ITS END--MR. REED BEATEN IN COMMITTEE.