The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-29
sLANDERoUs CHARGES
Against the Late Tariff Commissiop
Talk with Mr.. RoteIer.

Against the Late Tariff Commission.
Talk with Mr.. BoteIer.
For several weeks insinuatlons have been
seen IT. the press against the integrity Of the
late Tariff Commission. In the Washington
Star OF last Friday evening was an article in
which, with other severe sentences, was the
following:
III Messrs. Kenner and Porter are fair
samples OF the material OF which the late
Tariff Commission was composed, that peri.
pretty bad lot. Some Of the letters OF
found their way into print from time TO
time, are not only such documents as would
be discreditable 70 any one holding public
position, but they indicate doubtful In
fiuenees and methodist plainly that q shade
OF suspicion must be cast on all the doings
and recommendations Of the body To which
they belonged. This result Is greatly TO be
regretted, since there was believed 10 be q
real need for such commission, as there was
also reason TO hope that considerable good
could be made 10 follow It's investigations.
There would, however, seem to be nothing
left for Congress TO do, In the light OF the rev.
Citations that have been made, but TO quietly
ignore all It's reports and recommendations,
and relegate the several members OF the com.
mission TO the various interests they seemed
10 have labored so earnestly TO serve"
Knowing that Hon. A. R. Boteler, mem.
Der OF the Commission, was In the city, re.
porter called upon him last evening, and
showed him the article quoted. He was
thunder-struck, and pronounced the insinu-
atoms slander0us and false. Mr.. kenner, he
said, he had known for many year,, having
served in Congress with him before the war,
and In the Confederate Congress during the
war. He Is an honorable, high.toned gem
tleman, and can afford to treat all such ma
licious assaults upon him with The contempt
they deserve. MIR. Porter ia in Europe. where
he was sent by the New York tribune to
write series OF industrial articles. We're
he at home, Mr.. Boteler says, he would at
once put his fipger upon the author OF these
ISLANDERS and give him a lesson he deserves.
The charge Of having been led by improper
influences 10 favor the manufacturing inter.
ests, Mr. Boteler thinks is sufficiently an
swered by the fact that the manufacturers
were disposed TO be dissatisfied with all the
recommendations Of the Commission until
Congress began cutting down.
About the time the Tariff Commission
visited Wheelipga an attack upon 1t was
printed In 0 western paper, and this was fol-
lowed by Others, all plainly showing that the
author was actuated by malice. The Start
article, quoted above, has the same appear
snce. These articles originate with man
named Postgate, who has a situation In Q
Government department at Washington, and
is also connected with the press. He was em'
ployed as an amanuensis with the Commits
sion until Detroit was reached, where he was
discharged for dissipation. He has since been
venting his spleen upon the Commission.
Mr.. Boteler says the Commission congrat.
ulated itself upon the courteous treatment
it received at the hands OF the press, with
the exception OF the articles referred to and
those which appeared Ia the New York
World, and this paper being recognized as the
organ OF the free traders-"the worst enc.
mics of our country's prosperity" Mr.. Butler
pronounces them-its attacks ibid not
count" He regretted 10 see so false and
slanderousa statement in the Star, however.