The New York Herald Newspaper, March 26, 1874, Page 3

NO MORE GHOIETIES. Mass Meeting of Merchants at Steinway Hall. Seathing Denunciation of the Moiety System. LEGALIZED OPPRESSION Report of the Special Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, Speeches by Joseph H. Choate, Jackson 8. Schultz, The special meeting of the C which was held last evening in Steinway Hall “to hear the report of the Committee ou Revenue Re- | form as to the action recently taken by them in Washington,” was indeed @ special meeting in more ways than one, Special technically, accord- ing to the call issued for it, it was also special in that it was one of the largest meetings of ‘solid men” that have been held in this city for years, The entire body o1 the nall was filled, with the ex- cepiton of the last two rows of chairs, with mem- beraof the Chamber not only, but with importers. who are not members, and merchants gene- rally, who have an interest as strong, though it may be not so direct, as that which the importers have in seeing the infamous moiety system speedily destroyed. On tne platform were George Opdyke, Vice President Chamber of Commerce; A. A. Low, J. 8. Schultz, S. B. Chittenden, Cyrus W. Field, George W. Lane, William N. Fogg, William M. Vermilye, Leopold Bierwirth, Joseph Seligman, J. A, Stevens, Jr. ; James M. Constable, 8, B. Kugrles, Ambrose Snow, D. C. Robbins, Joseph Stuart, Joseph Choate, Gustave Schwab, Olver Hoyt, Jonathan Sturges, L. E. Chillender, Samuel Sloan, M, K. Jesup, James 8. T. Strunahan, James, M, Brown, William F, Lee, William C. Stuart, Wilham J. Peake, Charles Mall, Elliot C. Cowdin, Charles EB, Beebe and J, N, Phelps. Aiter Mr. Opdyke nad formally opened the pro- ceedings Mr. Joseph A. Chote was introduced. His speech was listened to witn rapt atiention, His sarcastic aliusions to the percentages enjoyed by the United States District Attorney, the Nava, | Officer and the Collector, and to the fact that they were “great distorters of the legal mind,” and that there had been found a man, to use Lord Chatham’s words, “of sufficient profilzacy” to argue that the jaw of 1363 authorized te sc of merchants’ books and papers was constitutional, created a great des) ot merriment. His telling hits at the expense of the Custom ilouse oillcers who, in conjunction with ‘a leading depredator upon the pockets ‘of New York merchants,” had che injamous Jaw approved by the Secretary of the ‘treasury ; his denunciation of the spy system as an iniamy ‘and his assertion that the oniy way to amend the law was to atolish it altogether and “put nothing in its place’ were loudly ap- pimuded, His respects to Jayne and “men wortiy of his name” were paid in a vein of biting sarcasm that brought Gown the fouse, When ve first mentioned his name the whole meeting broke out iuto bisses, showlug quite plainly that Jayne, “the great imperial iniormer,” as Mr. Choate called him, Will by no means hereaiter be consid- ered either as te general delight or as the par- ticular joy forever of the ‘mercantile community, The speeches that followed were all brimiul of Jacta and figures relative to the reigu of terror which the importers have so long jabored under, and thongh they, uo doubt, Were unable to give their hearers, importers ti.emselves, anything new in the matter of the extortions sud¢red by the mer- chants by reason o1 the mode in which the law of 1863 1s enlorced, the speeches certainly served to wake up tle merchants to the lact that they had pn rights which even tue government had to respect. As an expression of the general sentiment of the merchants o! this city a8 to tie Iniamy of the law, W ich places them virtually at the mercy of sples and miormers, the meeting was numbers, influence and entnusiam a decided suc- cess; and it 18 highly probable, when the special committee’s report apa the proceedings o1 the meeting are read at Washington that the stand the mmporters nave openly taken, as evinced at the meeting, will have no small influence upon Con- greas in its proposed legislation for “Revenue Re- | jJorm.’? ‘The meeting was opened by Mr. George Opdyke, | who said that this 18 @ special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, with Waom were associated: many mercantile triends. invited to hear the report | of te commities of the Chamber on revente Fr form, and to appoint a committee to visit Wash- ington, and, in co-operation with commitvees trom otier Chambes gress the necessity of adopting some radical change In the law relating to the collection of cus- | He said, in conclusion, that the REPORT ON REVENUE REFORM would be read by Mr. John Austin Stevens. The report is as tollows:— The special committee to which the Chamber of Com- merce jnirusted ihe presentation to Congress of tis reso- lutions on revenue reform respecttuliy report that in obedience to its instructions, und having jomed to them~ reives able counsel, they proceeded to Washing on on. the 16th day ol ‘ebruary. They were there met by a delegation trom Boston, iso assisted by counsel. A jou plan of wction was agréed upon and the presentation ihe subject allotted, muitice ot Ways and appeared beiore that vody ou the mornin ‘When, atter short consuitation, during wh toms. in response to request of the Com- Means, through its chairman, they of the 17th, Mr. Dawes, the chairman, stated his inability to be present on ac: count of urgent private business in Massachusetts, the hearing Was posiponed unitl the dd of March. This ai rangement was quite in contormiiy with the views our delegation, pending the printing of the report of the Sec! f the ‘lreasury upon the fines and for- feitures the last four years. ‘the Chamber ag well as the publte at large remember, that subsequent to this adjournment a special agent of the Treasury appeared before the Committee ot Ways and Means and indulved im violent personal attacks ‘upon merchants who had suffered trom the law and in detamatory aspersions oi the mercantile class at large. It iy not uéce-sary here to dwell upon this subject nor to give io itau undu af alot An allusion is only n je to bring out arly the reason why an applicauon Commutiee of Ways u venue sysiem in part drifted into a personal con- troversy between the intormer and his vicums. The personal element having. however, been introduced into the controversy, it was ciearly the judgment ot your committee—a judgment concurred in by the committees of oiler cities—that it should be disposed oi betore the Presentstion of the resolutions with which we were charged by yourselves. When at last our ey! wi hud there were present the committees of Boston, Phil; aelphia, Baltimore and trom the National Beara ot Trade, ‘The cast for the merchants wag opened by the counsel of the »osion delegation in an able argument tor the re- Pealof the moiety aysem, showing its demoralizing lendencies and its uniortunate influence in alienating the affections ot the merchants from the government. In this view the counsel was supported by the gentlemen from the Boston Board of trade, who each in vwrn ad. dressed the commitee, and were examined in detail by its members. ‘This branch of the subject disposed of, your delegation were calcd upon, and in their turn submitted tarough counsel SU eee upon the unconstitutionality of the seizure of books and papers and tie genera! hai OA of the law, with copious iltustrations irom cases within their personal practice. The various members of your delegation were also heard and examined in detail, and at the close the gentlemen from Philadelphia and Bait- d the representative of the National Board gave timony in the same direction, and sustained the for a radical change in the system. Alter carerut Poetics ot views the delegation had reed 10 confine themselves to @ demand tor tive changes in the law. A copy of the prinied form which they submitted to the Ways and Means Committee is ap- vended to this report. ‘The proposed clmnges consist, rst, of a repeal of the law authorizing the seizure of Looks and papers. Second, of that giving moities to in- formers and others. ihird, to limit actions to recover penalucs and forieitures on the pa of the government to two years. Fourth, to limit all orfeitures to the items ‘of an invoice in which there is fraud, Fifth, to render the payment of duties conclusive upon all parties in av- sence of fraud. The ‘arguments brought forward in support, of the and Means for a change in Various changes are too familiar to the mercantile com- munity ‘to need ‘any lengthy repetition hove. The ens: Harrassment created to merchants by the seluire and ae- tention ul their books, arresting theit business, injuring thelr credit, without, in eases of innocence, cither re- dress or reparation, is well known, Not so the general Jow standard of official character into whieh the House seems to have tallen—a, demoralization and Widespread enough to excite the comment and con- tempt even of the informers who profited by it With regard to the system of moieties, it ts certain that there is no compensationan the amount of revenue " eneral temptation to permit fraud asa source of profit to oilicials and Inf orm~ ers. For it is certain that the interest of each of these classes ig rather promoted by a loose administration of ‘the Custom House than bya severe and strict super- vision of the minor officials, which would wholly prevent any iniringinent of the laws ag Worthy of remark that a very large proportion of the cases of traud brought to the notice of the Congressional Committee by the Special Agent, Were of collusion bevween the importer and some Custom House official—olther measurer, weigher, gauger or liquidat- ing clerk. such trauds'as these deserve and should re- ceive severe punishment; but is taere any sufilcient reason why an exceptional law should be made for that Punishment, which falls, within the penal coder Prac- Heally, as ailmitted by the District ‘Attorney tn his testi: mony, the fraudulent merehant is fined in large sums, while'the gutity official has in no instance of late been Drought to justice, or even threatened with suit; and its Murther charged by revenue agents themselves that, al- though comp) of, they still retain their positions, Surely ho Rtronger proof Of the evil working. of tho ed be gi moiety law ven. The request to limit’ actions for penaitie: forfeitures to a period of two years is certainly moderate, ‘The present law admits of suits brought by the government at any time within five years. This is mani lestly unjust. ven two years isan extraordinary peri "All of the committees Laid great tress upon the limita tion of forfeitures to the specific items in which fraud or i Juation are proven, and asked that the taint Mould note Whole invoice. Pi pA no part of ¢ investigavon aroused more interest and diversity of a opinion than this, and from this yery diyersity there in’ point of | rs ot Commerce, to urge upon Con | NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, of members of the Ways out relerence to precon- free trade or protection, to so OG ae oy re lor 4 Simple classification certainly tor the ite f y rew a disporition on the Sed Means Commi tise, wit ceived opinions as to amend the (tariff lay government, that edie nes ial ciate at irregularities by which government only cla! bave suffered du! ferred to thr earth ee not be turt! 1 ae ehcteese aang o ie: ; ‘on any other principle. Bankers wil ety ta Dusiness on any, [etcivis wil heir credit ‘bills of cannot be ol inal seulement and merchenies not sately their accounts if government retain the perpetual revision. ri were not charged with the det any private inuoresta, In thle regard they oniy conned to wequett whlch wena a ineniae Othe themselv nies iy oi ae Means rei led byt Pont ta urge, thateach an va0n avaailed, ou! have ‘an opportunity, ag Heard in iis de! Though interested and, with the complet triumphant detence of the great house of which ¢ orod President of the rise imember, they did not feel it their duty to take any part therein, and the subject is only here alluded to that they may, bear this. just wit. hess 10 the thorough vindication, Your committee are glad to believe that thetr efforts have wot been in vain, and that from the preseut move- 4s to result, During the long t great permanent rin, Investigation. befo Ways and” heans: Gominities they were gratified beyond micasure at the constant, un- wavering and pa ient attention shown by every ember of this important body, papog sessions oceupyi | eral hours of the nd of evening, an nearly two weeks @t@ period when the current busi- ness of the House of Representatives demanded careiul attention, each andy ery member gave the same un- | wearied hearing, and their many ana pertinent queries | as to matiers of detail in the revenue laws showed the | general resolve to master the subject Yegisiation as shall redress tho grievances complained of ri walle not neglecting the sa‘ety of the revenue. Vor the many Instances of pia? 110 indness and courtesy on the part ot the officers and members your committee will be Not the least pleasing part of this expe- nce Was the entire freedom trom political or partisan feeling in the course of the investigation, Ail seemed anima: y the lable motive—the pros] a zood of the country. ProeperRy | cone! our committee 2 in comptuse® 2ialés chauaes peeke bee thee oaks ported by which they purpose to continue iheir e obtain the relief so long and patiently waited tor. of which 1s respectfully sabmitted. For the JOHN AUSTIN STEVEN! Resolved, That the Chamber of Commerce, and the merchants of New York in concert with them, wholiv and heartily ee and endorse the changes in the revenue laws asked {or by the representatives ot th | ihereantile interests of the great commercial cities, aud ea y urge upon the Ways and Means Commnttee of | the House of Representatives to reporta bill in con- formity thereto, without annecessary delay. ‘The above report and resolution was then put to the meeting by the Chairman (Mr. Opdyke) and were unanimously adopted, SPEECH OF JOSEPH H. CHOATE, Mr. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN—It seems when we see that the Chamber of commerce, the recognized representatives of the commercial in- terests of New York, has taken the matter in hand— have volunteered their services and pledged them- selves to carry it out, tocarry the war into Africa, as we are assured they are determined to | do by this report which we have just heard read— | it thug seems that the reign of terror under which the merchants of tie country have so long suffered and to which some of the strongest and most honest merchants have succumbed, is near its end, and that the chains whch have bound them under unjust laws are | about to be broken. (Applause.) And, for one of another profession, I must say that the mercnants are to be warmly congratulated on the present aspect of aflairs, “And one who has looked quietly on ior the iast ten years, since the passage of the | noted law of 1863, and seen how it hus been per- verted to @ Weapon of destruction to the honest importer and unoifending merchant,.cannot but express gratification and pride that at last the merchants oi this great clty have been roused toa sense of their, danger and taken their vindi- cation in thelr own hand, must, be said, however, that the importers and the merchants lave, to 4 great extent, themselves to thank jor the oppression with been harassed aud the tyranny exercised over them. ‘The merchants seem to have awakened to a Knowledge Ol their rights, aud now knowing are determined to maintain them, (Applause.) true as regards them a8 in the political sense, “that they who would be iree themselves must stvike the plow,” (Applause) The matter is now in their own hands, and tre grievances tuey have so long suffered under will vanish like mist be'ore’ the morning sun the moment they have made up their minds to state them and to resist the op- pression which imposes on them these grievances, ‘The merchants walt, above all things, to be piaced in such an attitude before the Jaw that they can’ understand their rights and duties under the law, and thus to be abie to take care of themselves; that the.extraordinary motives. for extortion and corruption that bas been placed in the hands o! ra- pacious omicers and more rapacious and corrupt in- | Jormers shall be stricken oat of the law. (Applause.) The great evil that hes at the bottem o! ali this is In the ad valorem, instead of the specific, system of duties. The greatévil which tlre Chamber of Com- merce is likely to strike with one full swoop 18 the iniquitous moiety system by which these extraor- dinary inducements—too great, in fact, for human, nature to resist—are held out for injustice and op- [teased You ail know to what I reter. S | | goes to the defrauded government and the other Half 1s divided, oue-hall to the informer and the other half goes among certain revenue officers who are supposed to be charged with the protec- tion of the government and the collection of the | honest duties of the government. I now come to the great engine of oppression which the law of | Congress has placed in the hands of revenue offl- cers and injormers—I refer to the weli known act books and papers of the merchants whom the revenue Oiticers and informers may: de- | sire or pretend to suspect of frauds. I be- Heve that the merchants generally and the Cham- ber of Commerce of this city demand that this law shall be stricken from the statute book and nothing ot the kind ever again put in its place. (Applause.)’ You ali remember what the famous Lord Chatham said about the great maxim of English liverty— that every man’s nouse is his castle—and why? Be- cause it is surrounded with @ moat or delended by walls and ramparts? No, It might be a hut of straw, tie winds might whistle through it, the rains might enter it, but the King himself couia | not, (Great applause.) lt that was a good doctrine for Englisumen before our Revolution is it not good doctrine for Americans under our con- stitution ? (Cheers.) Now, the only way to amend this obnoxious law is to abolish it alogether. (Ap- plause.) What is the great plea for it? Necessity— necessity, the tyrant’s only plea. Even our District Attorney, on whose judicial judgment it rested to | say whether @ prosecution should be instituted under the law, receives his share of the spoils, | And our present District Atiorney went to Wash- | ington the other day and told the committee of Congress that he could not see how the govern- ment could dispense with it. Well, tv must be said that the law was never thought of tll 1863; and Wf the government ana people of ‘this country could get along harmoniously in the matter of revenue from the foundation of the government unti! 1863 1 cannot see how they cannot get on without it in the tuture. The mitory of the passage o1 that law is | weil known. The law never was passed with the knowledge of the people of the country—it was what is vulgarly called a put-up job—a job put on the merchants by informers and Oustom House officers, (Applause.) The law was passed in 1863, when our great and glorious Secretary of the ‘Treasury that we bad on that day was overwhelmed with the terrible prospect before the country— when the itie of the nation stake, and he was anxiously devising the means of successful rescue; then it was that the leading depredators on the private rights and pockets of the merchants got up that law by the aid of revenue officials. Under these considera- tions the law recelved the nominal, if not the vir- tual, assent of the Secretary of the Treasury, and the law passed Congress beiore any one knew that such an oppressive clause was incorporated in the Revenue bill, Lord Chatham said that the most oppressive and obnoxious of laws was that of general warrants to enter a man’s house and search and seize, if they were to be found, all papers or books or other articles that might be used to testify against him. Lord Chatham said about the same time that he did not believe @ man could be found of suiticient profigacy to advocate a law of that kind; but it rk Chatham was with us to-day he wouid not be dis- appointed in nis search ior such @ man or any number of such men, (Applause.) I doubt if you can find @ man among any of those men who re- tage who will coincide opinion. But, no mat- ter whether the law Was constitutional or not, the way in which it is administered in this city makes. it one of the most oppressive instruments of wrong and tyranny that were ever invented in a iree country. Any honest merchant, if you please—and even in these times every merchant is presumed to be honest until he is proved io be ar I—any honest merchant who discharges a dishonest clerk or disagreeable porter in his employment Is sub- ject to the revengeiul feelmgs of the discharged employé. How shall he have his revenge t— that is the question. He turns his eyes immedi- ately to the moieties. He has been with his em- me’ many years; knows all the contracts that ave been made in the business of the house; knows all the secrets of the books of the firm; all the little irregularities, all the technical grounds of forfeiture; knows Of some entries made. under an innocent mistake—some cidental omission of some petty cuarge for cartage, for in- surance or freight, and ne hears of Jayne, that great imperial informer, oo gyn He under- stands that Jayne has made several bargat with other parties in his position, discarded clerks, and so he goes to Jayne’s office or some other special agent worthy Of the name of Jayne— (laughter and applause) —and he says to nim, ‘‘How {huh will L be allowed if 1 give you some informa- tion that will lead to large torfeitures!”? “Weil,” says the special agent, “what will be the size of the forfeiture?” “Oh,” says the clerk, “1 can make it as big as you please.” (Laughter and applause.) And so they arrange for @ share of the share of the informer. ‘That 18 what Jayne meant when he talked of the $280,000 that he had to divide with others, He finds out that on some importations for three or 1our years there 1s a screw loose some- Wwhere—something left out that should be put in. No fraud is tutended, but there 1s @ chance for a stake and they go for it. (Laughte: ‘they want to get at the merchant's books and papers to search for something to accuse him. The law en- nh they have | itis | The law: y which in every caxe of foreiture only one-haif of 1863, providing for the examination of the | was at)! ables them to do this effectually. It is the maxim of the law that no one svall be called on to Aceuse bimsell; but that is ignored by the law, and the seizure of books and papers 13 made the in- strument of penalty ai nishment, The law Saye that the “and paj of the merchant shail be seized and carried off whenever it shall pe to the satisfaction of the Judge of the District ourt that @ traud has been committea, Then the a -lasne his Perey to the Marshal to seize the books ana papers relating to the Bup- an affidavit, sed fraud. So they. Who swears to it? the Aisoatacd clerk? Oh, no; hes back, About three out of the four—nine o which watrants ai d have ‘ti g of the spe special agent bat does he know about it of his own knowledge? Nothing; absolutely. nothing, What does he swear? He swears upon his information and belief that he has r “to believe that Jonn fraud upon the revenue sud whut Ie relates to cer- rat Tevi a . tain ImBortations, and that it 18 neceasary to seize uh books and oar of the importer, That is not what the law means, bad as it is. Not atall, What the law means is, it must be made by adidavit to appens, to the pa tion of the istrict Judge, that a iraud has yn committed, Does the District Judge know anything more about + because Jayne or bis assistant awears he be- jleves that @ iraud hos been commitied? No, You such an affidavit, a6 shat not get sn order for the arrestor any | Manon such an affidavit as that. such a law | as that strikes at! the very root of hberties of the people. So oppressive and de, ing has the law become that a merchant not long since sald to me:—“It is cheaper to pay $10,000, although not committing the slightest offence; tham to be compelled to spend three or four weeks tn the District Court to have it deter- mined whether he was an-honest man ora knave.’’ 1 say fearlessly that tlie law Js such @ terrible weapon of oppression that no free man should sub- mit to it fora moment. (Applause.) But you are not without relief, Congress has already been reached, and J do not believe that there is Custom. Howse influence enough on the part of informers or moiety hunters in Cougreis to defeat the just demands o! the Chamber oi Commerce. (Applanse.) SPEECH OF W, B, BARBOUR, The President then introduced Mr. Barbour, President of the Board’ of Trade of Paterson, N. J. Mr. Barpoun said :—Mr, President and gentlemen, lam glad to see among this large audience of mer- chants and manufacturers so many of the well known friends of our firm. Iam giad’to bave an opportunity of meeting them lere and explaining to them why for so many long months we have been unable to deliver dur merchandise to them with the same regularity as we bad done for the laa} twenty years, I need hardly give you, gentle- men, the story of the long list of oppressions and outrages practised, upon us and upon our manulacturing interests by those shielded ples of the revenue laws. (Cheers.) That story I ave been induced to pice beiore the public within the last week, and I have been asked by many friends and acquaintances if that statement, long as it is, is all true. I say to-night before you that that statement is true as gospel, (Cueers.) We are im @ position to prove it. ¢ bad been induced by the liberal laws o/ this country to come over with our flax machinery, We had the misiortune to come over here with capital, machinery and skilled workmen. We made vestments in Pater- son, erected machinery and started our enter- prise, For seven years we went on uninterruptedly and, in the development, we were considered to have carried on.a very energetic business enter- prise. Last year, gentlemen, 1 think we were culled ‘upon to pay local taxes to the amonnt of $8,700. I have already stated how our trouble com, menced in the Revenue Department. Wo did not wait to have a warrant issued ior the seizure of our books and papers, We carried our books down to the Kevenue Department. (Cveers.) We asked the officials to go carefully through them to sce if they could detect any error, clerical or otherwise, upon which to found a charge | of fraud. We asked those ofiicials to 40 | through our works and examine all the ramifications of our business, and see if they could substantiate any charge they might make against | our goods. It was of no avail. I think we had backbone and pluck, alter fourteen long months of acontest with those revenue officers, and I wonm recommend any importing firm to show their backbone and pluck. (Cheers.) I think the | Dest. thing any one can do when these pleasant gentlemen, the revenue ollicers, come in, 1s to | Wand them over your cashbox and tell them to | help temselyos, (Cheers.) It is right to remon- | strate against these proceedings. There are many large i!rms whose names I.could repeat, and with which the public aré Jamiliar, who have | Within the past two. years ceased to keep a stock | of goods here, They simply represent their busi. | ness by sampies, and deliver their goods as Hiey arrive by each steamer, , by this means they,avoi the risk of having their property seized aud con- fiscated upon some imaginary charge or clerical error, Ihave had some twenty years’ experience | | in this city as an importer, and I think the | merchants here preseut will agree with me in say- | ing that in the importing business there is of neces. sity a cing number of details, We lrequently re- ceive the invoice by the same steamer which brings our goods. ‘There is generally a great hurry | in making up an invoice, and it is quite impossi- ble or merchants to be responsible ior every little detail that enters Into the making up of an invoice of merchandise. (Cheers.) You can easily sec, gentlemen, what an immense temptation it is toa Pons, clerk or employé when he is offered a large rive as an Informer to get up a little irregularity or. some clerical error so as to divide. the spoil be- | tween the Informer and the revenue officers. Ido | not know, gentiemen, that I need say anything to | | pgs about the law. That matter has been clearly | laid down by my friend on the ae (Mr. Choate). There 1s one law, however, that I understand as | well as any lawyer, and that is the law of right | and wrong— (cheers} d 1 think that if alaw | exists to-day which permits those revenue officers | to march into our counting houses and take away our books and papers, the sooner all merchants turn round and stare such a law square in the | face the better. (Cheers.) The sooner we stand | together, shoulder to shoulder, tn deience of our | | Tights the sooner we will be safe. (Cheers.) | There is one thing merchants prize, even above | | their books, papers, money or property —that is, | their good name and reputation, (Uheers,) J | should like to know what inducement can be held out to foreign capitalists to invest in developing | the resources of the country ? (Cheers,) A mer- | chant wishes to hand down to posterity the honest | reputation 0! a lifetime, and was this to be fliched | away from him by the government that he may have done much to uphold and mamtain? (Cheers.) SPEECH OF JACKSON 8, SCHULTZ, Mr. JACKSON S. ScHULTz was the next speaker. He said that ths revenue officers of this district | hea chargea tue merchants of New York w.th | petit larceny, with bribery, with having im- properly influenced public officers and with hav- ing aap sG the public treasury of its due, Tbat was the indictment. Were they gulltyor not ‘uty? He had put in the plea tor them at Wash. | | ington that they were not guilty. (Cheers.) They | | Should not allow statements to go to Wash- | ington without the antidote. He read a letter irom Mr. H. B, Clafin, stating that some changes should be made in the Revenue laws, though sone houses bad been led into troubie trom the perplex- ing character of the taruf. He replied to that | note, calling attention to irregularities at a cer- tain former time, about four or five years ago, and totnis came a reply, stating that they had some | | correspondence witli the Secretary of the Treasury. | ‘That was all that Pheips, Dodge & Co, dia, It began ana ended with @ correspondence. When Mr. Claflin stated that he neyer had any trouble in Regard ig the Revenue laws he was mistaken. ie land freight on goods should be added to the cost of them, and when Mr. Claflin went down to | the Custom House and was told he most pay he | did pay. Tbat was belore Mr. Jayne and his reign ofterror began. If this had occurred in Jayne's time Mr. Ciafiin’s books would have been taken down to the Calcutta Blackhole in the Custom House, and ii this bad been done to him he proba- | bly would have acted more in unison with his fellow citizens and merchants. (Cheers.) Under the administration ot Jayne Mr. Ulafin’s importations probably would have subjected him to trouble, In 1865 an order came irom Washington to seize the books and papers of @ most respectable merchant in this city. dhe spectal agent sent for a young man who had been in the employmeut of this mer- chant, and on hearing what this’ person had to say it was replied that the Saaanat. of this great country couid not afford to go into so small and mean a business, (Cheers) That great merchant | was A. T. Stewart. (Cheers.) ie speaker re- ferred in severe terms to Jayne, who, he said, had no objection to seize letters and peers Papers, even the letters of ladies. (Chee le went on to show that Woodward, Robinson Co. did fot intend to do avy wrong. Jayne admit- ted to the committee of the House that he had taken $50,000 trom this tirm, and the statement enraged one of the committee so muchthat be (Mr. Schultz) thought he would have broken Jayne's other leg and Oung him out of the window. (Cheers.) Jayne waa the direct agent of the gov. ernment, superior to the Coilector of the Fort, | and could they imagine any terrorism greater than that of Jayne hoiding handcuifs before a wituess, and telling Lim to declare the whole truth? | The possibility of a new. issue of inconvertible paper i regard with amazement and anziety, and, in my judgment, such an issue would be a detri- ment and a shame. —Cuan.es Sustven. FATAL RESULT OF A BROOKLYN FRAGAS, | Death of Sigusmund from the Blow of a | Stone. Jacob Sigusmund died at the Long Island College Hospital at an early hour yesterday morning irom the effects of w fracture of the skull by a blow irom a paving stone thrown by a boy in the street, as detailed in the HERALD some days ago. The stone struck him on the left side of the head, knocking him senseless to the sidewalk. The brother of the prostrate man procured assistance and had him removed to his home in the vicinity. A few days after Ne was taken to the hospital, where he was trepanned, and fragments of the skuil which haa been the brain were re- moved, rd patient great relief and restoring consciousness, which he re- tained ior two days, or up to within five dais before his death, The assailant Crowe, who is only seventeen Yeats of age, was artested last week and arraigned before Justice Delmar, who committed him to jail. Deceased w: about twenty-five years old, a native of Germany and a baker by traae. A post-mortem examination will be made and the inquest beld to-day, | the District are to be taxed twice. MARCH 26, 1874.-TRIPLE SHEET. WASHINGTON. Prospect of a Vote on Finance in the Senate To-Day. LOUISIANA’S CREDITORS Double Taxation in the District of Columbia. WASHINGTON, March 25, 1874, Bimance in the Senate and Inter- state Transportation in the House— Gleomy Prospect for the Latter Measure. In the Senate the finance yuestion was resumed in @ lengthy and able speech by Senator Bayara, of Delaware, strongly protesting against an increase of the currency circulation and urgently advo- cating & specie basis system of national money ob- ligations, Senator Conkling was again brought to his feet to make a legal defence of Secretary Richardson, in which the Senator most positively contended that the issuing of the forty-four million reserve Was proper and justifiable. Senator Sher- ‘man, who does not take this view of the case, came into the discussion, and contended that the Secretary was unauthorized in law or in the inten? tion of Congress in delegating power to him. The bill to regulate commerce by railroads among the several States, which has been a fruit; ful theme for several weeks past, was brought to @ vote in the House this aiternoon on ordering the main question. The yeas were 138 and the naya 96. Mr. Niblack, of Indiana, moved that the bill Me on the table, which was lost by yeas 92, nays 129, The hour for adjournment had arrived and all turther effort to get a final vote was useless, When that vote is taken it will be very close, with the chances against its passage. The democrats voted solidiy against the bil!, with many of the leading republicans, Even if the bill passes the House the Senate will certainly reconstruct it or never act upon it at ail, Probable Passage of the $400,000,000 Amendment to the Currency Bill by the Senate. i The report of the meeting held in New York last night to protest against turther inflation, has been a source of casual remark without the ac- companiment of any sertous consideration. The speeches ofsome of the participants provoked laugh- ter among the inflattonists, especially those made by parties who imporiuned the President and the Secretary of the Treasury, on one Sunday at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, to let loose the whole of the forty-four million reserve, and thus help avert, as they argueagJthe panic of last fall. It may be truly said that the petitions and resolu- tions offered in the Senate for and against Inflation have not the slightest influence upon the | Senators one way or another. The determination to inflate is as fixed in the Senate as in the House, | and it 1s expected that to-miorrow a vote will be | taken fixing the legal $400,000, 000, A Bil to Authorize United States Cir- cuit Courts to Issue Writs of Man. damus—A Measure to Relieve the Cred- itors of Louisiana. Mr, Cox to-day Introduced a billin the House to, authorize the Circuit Courts of the United States to issue writs of mandamus in certain cases. This isin the interest of the Louisiana bondholders, who are anxious to prevent the spoliation and confiscation of their moneys by reason of the so- called Funding bill of Louisiana, Under the deci- sion in Graham vs. Norton, 15 Wallace, 427, the courts of the United States have at present no power to issue writs of mandamus, The petition tender circulation at of those aggrieved, headea by Morgan, Seligman, | &c,, &c,, Blows the total tunaed and unfunded debt of Louisiana to be $24,283,886. The annual Interest is $1,493,268. Proposed Means of Paying the District School Teachers Thelr Salarics—Taxing the Citizons Twice for the Same Object. The bi\27 xing, appropriation for the payment of the teachers in the public schools in the District of Columbia provides also that the government United States by collecting a tax to an amount equal to that appropriated, $97,740, upon personal property, including banks and other corpora- tons. Im other words, for tne privilege of en- joying @ loan trom the government the citizens of The bill is likely to be defeated in the Senate, as property owners do not like the {dea of being compelled to bear the burdens of the bankrupt District govern- ment, Tho Louisiana Contested Election Case. The Committee on Elections have finished the examination of the case of Pinchback against Sheridan for the seat trom Louisiana, and it is un- derstood will report next week thatthe record evidence on which both claimants rest their re- spective cases has not enabled the committee to decide between them, Proposed Modifications of the Customs | Revenue Laws. Mr. F. 1. Roberts has recently presented to the Committee on Ways ana Means three bills to amend the existing laws’ in regard to moteties to informers, seizures of books and papers, and what is technically known as damage allowances. It is understood that the bills have been prepared tn and represent the views of the Treasury Department. | mittee, but it is very likely that their general prin- ciples will receive the approval of the committee, and that some such measures will be reported to the House before Jong. The Extradition Treaty with Ecuador Officially Proclaimed. The Extradition treaty between the United States | and Ecuador has been officially prociaimed, and is to continue in force ten years, Outfits of Clothing for Enlisting Sea- men—Petition of the Officers of the North Atlantic Squadron. A very interesting memorial was sent by Secre- tary Robeson to-day to the Naval Committce of the House. It is a letter signed by every ofMcer of the Wabash, Congress, Franklin, Brooklyn, Juniata, Dictator, Mahopac, Ticonderoga, Oxsipee, Kansas, Lancaster, Shenandoah, Canandaigua and Pawnee, vessels of the United States Navy which comprise the North Atlantic squadron, asking that an outfit of clothing shall be allowed to our seamen. It will be remembered that the Hon. Leonard Myers’ bill for the outfit was reported by him from the Committee on Naval Affairs, and is now on the calendar, and this indorsement of the justice of the measure will no doubt materially ald its passage. Rear Admiral A, Ludlow Case, commanding the fleet, forwarded this petition, urging the grant of the outft in a letter of great force, and Secretary Robeson warmly approves the bill, Soldiers and marines are allowed their clothing, but In the navy its cost is deducted from the seaman's pay. causing much dissatis/action and frequent desertions, The passage of Mr, Myers’ bill will not only be just to the sailor but will aid the eMciency of the navy. Woman's Rights on the Briny Deep and in Marine Registers. The Secretary of the Treasury decides that in case where a woman 1s owner of a yacht there is nothing in the laws of the United States which can prevent her from being named in the marine papers as the master thereof, THE FINANCIAL FEVER. ———$ The Senate Approaching a Vote on the Equalization Bill—The Status of the $44,000,000 Reserve—No Resumption Without Contraction—An Amendment Fixing the Volume of Currency at $400,000,000—Pertinent Questio: Wasninaton, March 25, 1874, ‘The Senate did little else of importance to-day than to discuss the financtal question. Several petitions from merchants relating thereto were read. Mr. MonTON, (tep.) of Ind., presented a memo- rial of the tron, coal and other companies of Ohio, Stating that business there is in a state of stagna- tion on account of an insuMcient volume of cur- rency, ani asking that the same be increased and free banking be authorized. Referrea to the Com- mittee on Finance. Mr, MoRTON said the memorial was signed by Mfty-one firms, and, as the Senators from Obio had not heard of the petitions for more currency from that State, he desired to call their attention to this. He also presented resolutions for more cur- rency adopted by a large meeting of business men at Indianapolis, Ind. Referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Ferry, (rep.) of Mich., said a few days ago he had the honor to present a memoria! for more currency from merchants of New York, and one of the papers of that city had been pleased to question the fact of the petition being genuine, He felt thankful to some of the New York papers for publishing the memortal in full and vindicating him, Mr. Logan, (rep.) of Ill., presented a petition | of 164 business men of New York for an increase the Finance Committee, The morning hour having expired the Senate resumed the consideration of the bill to provide for the redemption and reissue of United States notes, and Jor tree banking. AMENDMENTS, Mr. Scuvnz, (lib.) of Mo,, moved to amend the first section of the bill by Striking out “eighty- two”? and insertng ‘fifty-six,’ so that the Max- imam iumit of the United states notes siouid be $356,000,000, instead of $852,000,000 as Axed by the Mr. Wricar, (rep.) of Iowa, gave notice that he would offer an amendment to strike ont the whole oi the first section of the bill, and insert a section oviding that the amount of United States notes | for circulation be Axed at $400,000,009, Mr. SCHURZ argued against legalizing the por- tlon ol the $44,000,000 reserve now in circulation, | and said that it had been the intention of Congress | to retire that reserve, aud there was LO authority jor its reissue, Mr. BAYARD, (dem.) of Del., opposed any increase of irredeemable paper money. He read from the Journal of Congress of December, 1865, where the Senator from Michigan (\lr, Kerry), then a mein~ ber oi the House of Kepresentatives, voted Jor con- | traction, Mr. FERRY, of Michigan, said he did 80 vote then, having yielded his judgment to that of the Secre- tary ol ihe ‘Treasury. He aiterwards saw tue oily of contraction and voted to arrest it. NO. SPECIE RESUMPTION WITHOUT CONTRACTION. Mr, BAYARD said whether the road to specie pay- | ment be hard or easy it must be travelied. He did | Yot mean to say that by contraction wlope coula specie payment be reached, but 1t could never be | reached without contraccion, He would never | give his vote for any bill which proposed to in- | crease the currency. As to the rzissue of part of the $44,000,000 reserve it was wit 1out the autuority Ol law, and he couid not vore for §382,000,000 greeu- back circulation provided for by this bili, as it legal- ized that issue, He agued that |t wasa gross mis- | nomer to style any postion: of the greenbacks | Which had been retired as reserves. | not understand that any part of the $44,000,000 had | been cancelled or destroyed. The whole amount had been withdrawn in the nature of a resarve by Sec- retary McCulloch, The law meant that they should be retired and go into a reserve. Mr. BaYARD said there was: no question upon which there couid not bea difference oi opinion, and now that the Secretary of the Treasury was in sore straits ior the justification of his illegal those who would side with him, He (Mr, Bayard) argued that tuere was but one fund which ever could be called a reserve /uud, and that amounted to $60,000,000, and had long since passed out of existence, SECRETARY RICHARDSON DEFENDED. Mr. CONKLING, (1ep.) of N. read irom the de- bates of Congress to show tuat the Secretary of the Treasury was periectly justified in placing the | construction on the law Wiich he did, and his action in reissuing @ portion of that reserve was not in violation of law. ‘The omission to aeclare in the law that the Secretary of the treasury should not reissue the money enabied him to construe the law as conlerring she right upon him to reissue | it The argument made by the gentieman from | Ohio (Mr. Sherman), @ few Gays ago, that the pro- | vision forbidding the reissue was not putin be- | Cause it was not deemed advisable to send the bill back to the House jell to the ground, as the bil Pa amended in otuer Ways and weut back to tue louse. Mr, SHERMAN, (rep.) of Ohio, said this legal discus- | Slon as to tue right of the Secretary to issue tie | reserve was a Joss of time. The notes bad been | Issued and the government was responsible for them. There was good ground Jor diiference of opinion on the subject, but he hoped it would not be discussed now. PERTINENT QUESTIONS, Mr. Scorr, (rep,) Of Pa., Said after all the discus- Sion on this subject, and faving beard all the finan- | cial theortes trom the time of Marco Polo down to | Amasa Walker rehearsed here, he utterly de- | Spaired of throwing @ single ray of light on the subject. It was not his purpose to discuss the financial problem geuerally, but there were three | questions which he would refer to—first, how | and when is the pledge contained in the act of | 1869 to be redeemed? Second, what character of | | United States? Third, whas | rency shall be issued ? | He said with either one of these questions un- Settied business would be unsettled. No sane quantity of that cur- upon specie payment immediately, and as | couid not be given for notes he would redeem , them in bonds of the government, which to-day | are bie ote as gold. No financial system could ve devised which would prevent panics. As to the | Character of the currency to be furnished the Beople, he desired to see currency redeemable in gol . He believed there could be a paper currency brought to par if it be redeemed in gold or bonds, That currency should be founded on the nauional Jaith, Before concluding his remarks Mr. Scott yielded 1o Mr. Schurz jor a motion that the Senate proceed to tie consideration of executive business. THE VOTE TO BB TAKEN TO-DAY. Mr. SHERMAN gave notice that to-morrow he would ask tie Senate to remain in session until oid shouid be reached, Mr. LOGAN hoped there would be an agreement entered into now to commence voting to-morrow afternoon at half-past two o'clock, If the time be fixed Senators would then be present. Mr. SHERMAN submitted resolutions providing | that alter half-past two o’clock to-morrow atter- | noon speeches on the Financial bill be limited to ten minutes each. Mr. BaYanD objected. He said he did not.desire | to see such @ rule adopted. There was a principle | against Mmiting debate upon @ sapject like this, Were it upon an appropriation bill, involving no important principles, he would not object. He | should be leit to the entire discretion of the mem- | bers of the body. | Mr. SHERMAN gave notice that to-morrow he would ask tle Senate to pass the resolution, | The motion of Mr, Scnurz to go into executive Session Was agreed to, The possibility af a new issue af inconvertible paper I regard with amazementand anxiety, and, | in my judgment, such an issue would ve a detri- ment and a shame.—CHARLES SUMNER. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Testimony Regarding the Contracts for | Paving Streets in Washington City—_ The Old and the New Government. WASHINGTON, March 25, 1874, At the meeting of the District of Columbia In- vestigating Committee this morning John Collins | testified that he had laid sewers, raised houses and done parking aud other public work for the | Board of Public Works amounting to about $100,000 | without any contract, except that about three | Weeks ago he signed @ contract and gave a bond, | | both dated back to September 17, 1872, for tho | faithful periormance of certain work amounting to less than $1,000, all of which was done and paid tor fifteen months previously. Ex-Mayor Bowen, called by the memorialists, testified that the Board had taken away from his property certain pavement, bricks and iron rail- ing, and that the District Assessor had reiused to | allow him credit for this old material for the rea- son assigned that @ certificate had been issued against 1s property for the entire cost of the im- rovements, Subsequently, however, he had paid 18 Dill, With interest thereon, and was allowed credit for the old matertal, but no interest on its value, Neither had he yet received the certificate his property. Counsel for the District authorities at this point stated to the committee that no certificate has ever been issued against the property of witness. A recess Was here taken. On the reassembling of the committee Mr. Chris- tie, for the memorialists, moved for leave to file @ precept for a number of witnesses from a ais- tance, The reason for the motion was an expec. tation to prove the leading facts alleged by tho ane ae im their charges. The motion was ie 8. J, Bowen, ex-Mayor of Washington, recalicd, testified as iollows:—The average price paid by the old corporation for grading was sixteen cents er yard, and each contract contained a clause direeting that tne earth removed should be de- posited wherever the commissioners of the sev- eral awards should direct, the understanding be- ing that such cartn shouid be ready for Muing the atreets requiring to be filled. Peter McNamara testified that he ts an old con- tractor; was a large contractor under the old corperation; contracts under Bowen and Emery were not aniiormly let to the lowest bidder; the price for grading was about eighteen or twent, cents per yard, and it was the universal custom of the contractors to use the earth taken Irom the in the volume of the curren¢y. It was referred to | aetion, it was to be expected that there would. be | of the District of Columbia shall reimburse the | Currency sliall Congress iuraish the people of the | | man would say that the government could enter two or three decisive voles on the Financial bill | hoped the Senate of the United States would be | They have not yet been considered by the com- | the one place left in the country where the debate | which the Assessor sald had been issued against | excavations to Ml! lots owned by private parties, for which they got very good pay! the Witness stated that the price for grading under the Board fort; ts per yard for old gravelled at inieastaa gies it Pnteiea cesta contractor compelled in all cases to aepostt the earth In the streets necessary to be filled; the asis of t CO! acts tu the basis established by ihe Board of Puvlic Works, The possibility of a new issue af inconvertivle paper Iregara with amazement and anrtety, and, in my judgment, such an tssue would be a detrt ment and a shame.—CHABLES SUMNER. SANBORN’S “COLLECTIONS.” pu S SAE sre es The Revenue Office “Assist” Him—Dine trict Attorney Bliss Admits Receiving Perquisites Under the Contract—The Great Sanborn on the Stand—The Com- mittee of Ways and Means Refuse to Listen to @ Restricted Statement fram Him, | WASHINGTON, March 25, 1874, The Committee on Ways and Means gave another | hearing to-day in the matter of the Sanborn con- | tracts. Mr, Bliss, United States Diatrict Attorney for the Southern district of New York, made a de- talled statement as to the connection of hs office with the coliection of the claims under Sanborn, and parried with a great deal of dexterity the at- tempts made by various members of the committee to obtain an admis‘ion from him that the contract ‘was made in bad policy and was unnecessary. He said that with the lights now before him he would not now make a contract; but that at the time 1b was made it was apparent ihat whatever should reach the Treasury under it was so much clear gain. He admitted virtually, however, that the great discovery made by Sanborn, the key of the whole position, was the obtaining from the Surro- gate’s office of the list of estates which were sub- Ject to the legacy and succession tax. He charac- terized that list a8 a scoop net, from the contents | of which the big’ fish, thaestates, which had not | actuaily paid the tax, w @ alterwards silted out | by compartson with the records of the Interna) Revenue Collector's oMice, There was no reason why the regular officers of the government coulw not have obtained the same information, but it. was like the egg of Columbus, which anybody might make stand on end after he saw how it was done, He expressed nis belief that the $64,000 col- lected in New York under the Sanborn contract would never have been collected:through the regu. lac (nstrumentalities of the government, It could have been, perhaps, but it would not have been. THR DISTRICT AUEORNEY’S PERQUISITES, On Delbg. gagananed uy Mr. Niblack in reterence to his own five per cent on the amount collected, he jascided ms course by saying that tf, with the conseut of his superior, be could at any time get Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, (rep.) of N.J., sald he did | money Jor rendering services not fervidden by law he was very glad to get il, and he thougnt vbat everybody else would be, except, perhaps, members of Congress, Mc, Nioiack said :—Judge Noah Paps testified beiore us that he declined the same offer. Mr. Bliss—£ do not know whether ne testified it or not. Mr. Niblack—He stated 1t before the committee. Mr. Biiss—I am content to have my position and that of Judge Noat Davis as they now scand be- lore tue country relatively judged. Solicitor Bauteld followed Mr. Bligs. He ap- | peared, he said, not in the interest of Sanborn, or | any otver contractor, vuc at the request of the | Secrevary of the Treasury, to explain tae relation of the department 10 tid contract question. Ap- plication tor contracts to collect delta due the | government Kad been made as early as 1869, and, | altongh she Secretary aud the Solictor were not | layorably disposed to the system, contracts were | given to'several parttes at commission Varying Irom twenty to Miy ver cent on the amounts to be colkeeted, The contractors to pay all the expenses; but the invariuvie result had been | thar doting Was collected ; at ail events, that the | Government got nothing. The system Was Bbro- gated AVG WAS DOV resumed Until the: passage of the law under which the Sanborn contract waa | given, anu leas care was taken to limit the com- mission under Gide contract than there would | have veen 1 1t had been supposed that anysching would be collected. The Solicitor was SHARPLY CROSS-QUESTIONED | by Mr. Beck as to why Internal Revenue Commis | Sioner Douglass was hot called into. consuitation by the Secretary and the Solicitor when they une | dertook to carry the law into efiect, and also as | to What authority he had to write letters to Inter- ) Bal Revenue oMcers, directing them to ald San. | born when the law Tequired that te should aid | them. ‘fo the first question his reply was thas the law referred to “debts witnheld’’ and not particularly to internal. revenue matiers, and ta Ube second that the idea of assistance was that it suould be Mutual, and that Sanborn could not very | Well assist the regular oificers uuless they were | willing to assist him. In reply to @ question pb; | Mr. Sheldon, tne Solicitor said he bad no knowi- | @dye, Delie! or suspicion that any oMcer of the | Sovernment had received or expected to receive | anytiung in any Way from the Saabora coniract. THE GREAT SANBORN IN THE LIFE. After che examination of Mr. Banfield was con- | cluded Mr. John D. Sanborn himselt came bejore | the comumitéee, but, instead o1 proceeding with | statement, he said that he had within the J: twenty-iour hours been advised by nis counse | that, in view of the indictment pending against Dim in Brooklyn charging him with collusion with | revenue officers to defraud the government, it would be injudicious for him to make the Juli statement which he had been ready and willing to make. He was ready, however, (o give to the committee such general information on the sub- Ject as he possessed, | Be was informed by the Chairman and other | members of the Committee that the Committee | could not sit aud tisten to any partial statement; | that he was present uot by order of the committee | but of his own. volition, and in accordance with bis own request in order that he might make @inil and fair statement of all the circuiustances connected with his contract. If he was not pre | pared to do that and to auswer such questions as | the Committee eget desire to put to tim the Com- mittee would decliue to listen (o any partial or re- stricted statement. Mr. Sanborn’s counsel (Mr. Woodbridge, of Ver- mont), justified the position taken by his client, | although he expressed his belief tuat nothing which Sanborn could say could prejudice his case; but still, out of caution, he thought it better toc him not to submit himse\t to whe examination oj | the committee. He alluded to tue fact that there | Was @ gentleman present (understood to be an As- | sistant District Attorney from Brooklyn] watching to take advantage of anytuug chat Sanborn might say. ‘The upshot of all this parley was that the com- mittee adjourned without any decision whether | Sanborn sould or should not be made & withess, BOOK TRADE SALE, | Second Day’s Sale. . | Considerable surprise was manifested by the at tendants on the trade sale now going on atthe Trade Salesrooms of Messrs. George A. Leavitt & | Co., Clinton Hall, on account of the large prices obtained for the pnblicatiaus of Messrs. D. Apple ton & Co., whose invoice inaugurated she sai¢ on Tuesday. This house was represented on the stand by Mr. Walter 8. Appleten, and it Was due to his | exertions that the books of this firm were so eagerly sought for. It would be invidious oo make any particular mention of the offerings by this firm, Sufficient to say that their lines embraced scientific, medical, educational and classic works, ruling as standard among the trade. Their tn- | Voice brougit over $15,000. Yesterday's sale was commenced with tae in- | Voice of Messrs. Estes & Lauriat, of Boston, cou- sisting of historical, botanical and standard works, varying from twenty-five cents to $75 each. This | Was followed by the contribution of Mr. William J. Widdieton, o( New York, comprising choice clas sics, histories and) other works. Messrs. Little, | Brown & Co., of Boston, followed next on the cata. logue, wifh Ine selection ot various publications, all of their own manuiacture. Messrs, Willkam Wood & Co., of New York, had a fall line of medical and scientific works, On their school books a periect raid occurred, Ot “Brown's First Lines of English Grammar,” t- Voiced at 250 copies, vver 5,0u0 volumes Were Bold atrull prices. Hinton & Co., of New York, had a small invoice of selected pubitcations, which sold well up to the regular prices. Great interest was manifested in the invoice ot Messrs. Lee & Shepard, of Boston, A raid was made on the “Oliver Optic” sertes. | Robert Colyer’s works sold well. Elijah Kel- logg’s works, Mrs, Madeline Lestte’s books, “Lite Canary” series, “Sophte May's"? books, | “potty Dimpie” stories, “Littie Prady’ svories, | “Rosa Abbott's’ stories, “Sunnybank” stories, | “Springdale” Ties, ‘Household Series of Stand- ara Works,” the “Musical Series,” “Twilight Stories,” Professor Townsend's worke, “Vacation Story books," Cates & Woodward's “Encyclopraia | of Dates” at $15, $18, and $28 per volume. lew Handy Books” and new pubhcations ior the spring ol 1874, besides other standard works, sold fully up to the lines and regular prices, Charies L ver, of Puiladelphia; Mason, Baker & Pratt, of New York; G. W. tb Rochester, N. Claxton, Remsen & Hatelfinger, of Philadel. poy » and A. J, Holman & Uo., of Ptuladelphia, each ad ‘good invoices in yesterday's sales, which throughout bi nt full prices. Messrs. J. K. Pratt eee KR. Leavits were the suctioneers at ‘To-day’s offerings commence with a fine Invotce of English works contributed by Messrs. Scribner, Wellord & Armstrong. The posstoitity of a neo tasue af tnconvertinie paper T regard with amazement and anxiety, and, in my judgment, such an tssue would de a detri ment and a shame.—CHARLES SUMNER. ——