The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-02

!
MI. STEWART, of Pennsylvania, inquired whether
if this report printed, 1t would not give every gen.
tleman an opportunity to examine it, and it, if
thew saw fit to attempt it, Whener the printing of the
report would be better for th other side of the House
| Mr. HALL replied he thought would not be better
for his side of the House the country that this report
should be first printed, and an &c parte statement be
spread before the country That was not the way to do
justice.
Mr. HOUSTON OF Alabama resumed the floor He
had been referring the extent of the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Public Expenditures, not for the purpose
conveying the impression that he any other member
on his side OF the House desired the suppression of that
report but for the purpose OF showing that Was piece
OF the party machinery OF the other SIDE OF the house.
and not intended to eucidate and bring forth the facts OF
tie case as they existed The rule which he had read,
defined the jurisdiction of the COMMITTEES on Puoc Elk
pendtures and they saw that according TO their own
statement, the majority had transcribed their Jursdc,
ton. The report of the Secretary oil the Treasury had
not been referred 10 them, but they, eager to
ate party capital, had gone beyond the extent OF their
powers and grasped after the report of the Secretary
OF the Treasury and drawn il within the vortex OF their
investigations Let them go further and see how this had
been done One would imagine that the object OF the
report to bring forth facts connected with the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury but instead OF that the
fact was admitted that the Secretary had not been adj
vised of the investigation at all Ii gentlemen desired TO
know the truth, and publish to the world whether the
Secretary of the Treasury had been correct IN his state
mens, why had they not gwen nm the opportunity OF
being heard when they held their sessions Why hold
their sessions secret only far the Secretary OF
the Treasury--whose statements and allegations were
under examination by them--was concerned, but why
hold them in secret as far their colleagues the
mttee were concerned 1t had been stated in this debate
that preparing this pare statement which they had
endeavored force upon the country involving interests
of such magnitude, they had not advised apart of the
committee well as the Secretary OF their proceedings
| Mr.. STROHM (the floor being yieded) said he was
chairman of the sub committee and had taken particular
pains inform the gentleman from Virginia OF ITS meet
ngs and that he had promised to attend bui had taken
no notice of it, and never did attend and neither was ne
present when the whole committee were called together
Mr. BEDlNGER could not suffer this statement without
notice to go forth TO The world, and the impression to be
lie that he, as one OF that committee mad mad il
meetings He said he knew nothing OF the sort The gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania had notified him ortwice
that the committee The did say the sub-commlliee)
would meet He had never dreamed of this committee
appointing sub commteeto consider and spring on the
House such report that and from such acomttee as
that to which he compelled to say ne had been de-
graded from the Committee Military Affairs He
had had idea of it and the gentleman knew very
we'll that half of the time they had not known IN what
room they meet they had not met at first, because
they could not find then, because they could not
get quorum; and, finally, when ne had despaired OF
meeting the subcommittee, the whole comm'tee were
astonshed by having this bundle OF false state
ments hurled upon them. And when they asked ten
days to set the before the country correctly they
told that they had had time to prepare; that ne
IAIr BEpINGERl was one of the subcommittee appointed
to work such wonders He had his doubts whether any
member OF that committee had prepared the report ne
find elsewhere Certainly he could not be charged with
delinquency with neglect Of his duty in such case as
this when he had gone for days and not been able to
find either,the sub committee or the committee
Mr.. HOUSTON, of Alabama, said that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania mir. SrRoHMl had confessed in the
face of the House and of the country that he had given
the Secretary of the Treasury opportunity to explain
what the majority thought TO be discrepancies or errors
Then it must have been his intention to obtain what ne
might call facts his way and through his own
medium No one woud deny but that statements, and
especially those which naturally and necessarily pertain
to report from Secretary of the Treasury, are dIfcult
of proper understanding and particularly by those un
acquainted with such calculations and reports Different
men put different constructions upon the same sentence
understanding it to mean different things lie had no
doubt such regard to the report OF The Secre
ary of the Treasury yet upon those very points OF doubt
and misunderstanding, on the part OF the committee
they have refused an explanation from inc author OF e
report; whose political reputation, II not his Prl'
vae character was involved. He could see neither alr
ness, justice proprety in this; nor would any 1a
thinking free from party BIAS approve the course OF
lie asked gentlemen if they willing to publish that
which would inurously affect the character OF an ohcer
or a citizen without knowing whether II Is true-whoui
giving the individual thus to be injured an opportunity
to explain .,
If gentlemen desired nothing but fairness why did they
desire to send forth parte statement! why moi
agree let the minority report be printed and FORM ar
OF the document with the majority report II they
believed in their own report they would not iear hey
would prefer that the views of the minority should go
with theirs, side by SIDE giving TO the country aT op'
pounity to and determine upon their respective
merits dement's. Such were his nouons OF justice anu
iberality 80
1t was not his purpose TO defend the present head OF
the Treasury Department because democratic aiInnis-
tration was in power. No such thing. he Would de-
end upon the same grounds and under like circumstances
auy public iunctionary any administration III run De
the object let have it; and to OBTAIN IT, let us adGp
those means BEST calculated to bring forth lie appealed
to gentemens sense OF proprey ana rl2ht ne appeea
to their love of Justice and truth and asked whether the
course pursued by the committee was OPEN frank, OF
manly Ii the report development OF facts ana an
exposure of error why let the minority SEND thell
views with it He wanted this report published, ana
woum regret its suppression. The minority desire II
made public; they believe it abounds with mistakes and
errors All they ask Is an opportunity 10 exhibit those
Mr., STEWART asked whether it would be entirely
proper to go to the Secretary with request lor MN 10
attend upon the investigation of committee
Mr. BURT could not think the House would print
document purporng to expose errors IN the estales OF
The Secretary of the Treasury, while ii alleged that
INST and fair examination OF the books would sustain the
department The claim OF the minority OF the committee
was matter of sheer usice and II was, moreover,
courtesy which always accorded to mlnoflues MI
Il stated his recollection that IN 1914 there were lVe re-
ports made from one committee upon the same question:
and they were all printed by order OF the House. lie
said the present report too elaborate Tor an nVesSa-
ton of a few days fortnight was wholly ihsuincie''
to 90 through with it thoroughly
The morning hour having expired "a
Mr. MCKAY here called for the consideration Oh the
special order, but withdrew the call
Mr. OUTLAW, from the select committee 10 Whon
was referred the subject reported bill making proV-
SION for the families of such commissioned officers, non
commissioned officers, musicians and privates wheher
belonging TO the regular volunteer corps, VINO nave
been killed in battle, died from wounds received OF
diseases contracted in the during the present war
read twice, and referred to the Committee OF the Whoe
] AZ. a. IT,,ar