The native American., 1838-06-02
NARRAGANSETT.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, May "a, 1898.
INSULT TO CONGRESS.
Message of The President on Pntpers.

x
Mr.. HOFFMAN rose, and called the attention
of the House to the fact that very exceptionable
document had been ordered to be printed, and was
yesterday laid on the table. He referred To- a
message of the President of the United States en-
closing communications from the Secretaries Of
State and the Treasury, in reply to resolution
of inquiry, adopted on the 3Oth April, 1898,
calling for information as to the extent to which
the deportation Of foreign paupers to this country
had been carried on. That document contained
two extracts from the New York 6 T'ruth-'Tel-
ler,'' in which there was nothing at all pertinent
to the subject of inquiry, but which consisted oil
anonymous and violent denunciations of the Mayor
and City Council Of the City of New York. Mr.
II. said he could not believe but that the trans
mission Of this document, as reply to the reso.
luton of April 80, was the result Of mistake, to
which the President himself could have been no
party. The documents alluded to contained
gross personal attacks upon individuals of charac-
ter and responsibility in New York, and Mr.. III.
thought that this was the first time that an ephe-
neral article of this kind, from the public press,
without signature or responsibility had ever been
III message to that House from the
Executive, and that House asked to stamp it with
their sanction. The President, if this indeed
were the result of mistake, should have an op-
of correcting it, should also the Sec
retary of the Treasury, neither Of whom, Mr.. II.
could have purposely transmitted such
documents to that House. If it was intentional.
the person actually responsible should be ascer-
tanned, and held up to the apprehension Of the
House and the country.
Mr.. IL. presumed that every member of the
House had read this message. He was happy to
say, as he did, with pride and pleasure, that many
gentlemen of that House, well those in favor
OF the Administration as those opposed to it, had
expressed themselves in terms of strong dsap-
probation with regard to that document. He
gave notice that it was his intention to offer the
following resolution at the proper time, or some
thing like 1t. tie moved that the resolution be
read for the information Of the House:
ResolDed, That the select committee TO which
was referred " the Presidents message, together
with reports from the Secretary of State and the
Secretary OF the Treasury, with accompanying
papers, IN answer TO the resolution of the House
of the 3Oth ultmo, relating to the introduction of
foreign paupers into the United States,' be dis
charged from the further consideration of the Two
papers numbered and 9, annexed to the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury, and that the
same be returned to the President.
Mr.. BEATTY objected to the reception OF the
at this time
Mr.. HOFFMAN moved a suspension Of the
rules to enable him TO introduce the resolution.
and asked the yeas and nays, which were order
ed.
Mr.. FOSTER hoped that this subject might
De postponed until tomorrow.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, OF North Carolina, demand
ID the reading Of the documents alluded to.
Mr.. HAMER asked for the reading of the re-
solution Of inquiry, under which this informa-
ion was given.
Mr.. CURTIS said that it was recited in the
Message in question.
The CLERK then read the resolution Of the 3Oth
April, 1898, as follows:
ResoiUed, That the President Of the United
states be requested to communicate to this House
opies of all correspondence and communications
which have passed between this and any foreign
Government, and the officers or agents thereof,
elating to the introduction of foreign paupers into
he United States; also, what steps, if any, have
'een taken TO prevent the introduction of such
'aupers into the United States: provided such
communications are not incompatible with the in
crest Of the United States"
Mr.. HOFFMAN proposed that the documents
marked and should be read, emitting the pre-
iminary ones
Mr.. CURTIS was desirous that No. might
lso be read.
Mr.. GRANT called for the reading OF two
'thers of the documents in question.
All these documents (no objection being made)
we're then read.