The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THE EWING INvEsrIGArIoN COMMITTEE.

- ne IollOWlng natneu gentlcInen nave Deen APP
pointed by the SPEAKER the select committee to
inquire into certain matters connected with the Of
fetal conduct of the Secretary of the Interior, in
pursuance of the resolution of Mr.. RICHARDSON,
adopted yesterday, viz:
Mr.. w. A. RICHARDSON, of Illinois.
Mr.. SAMUEL F. VINToN, of Ohio.
Mr.. A. G. BRowS, of Mississippi
MIR. julius ROCKWELL, of Massachusetts.
Mr.. W. p. HALL, of Missouri.
Mr.. ALEXANDER EVANS, of Maryland.
MIR. THOMAS Ross, of Pennsylvania.
MIR. WILLIAM J. ASTON, of Alabama.
Mr.. c. l.. DusHAM, of Indiana.
Mr.. BAYLY asked the unanimous consent of the
House to report from the Committee of Ways and
Means the Deficiency bill and the Senate's amend
ments, that they might be referred to the Commit
tee of the Whole on the state of the Union
Mr.. INGE insisted on the regular order of bust
ness.
Mr.. BAYLY begged to state that his committee
could not be reached to-day, and the bill ought to
be referred.
Mr. INGE insisted on the regular order of bust
rfess.
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE pEFALcATIoNs UNDER
THE LAST ADMINISTRATIONS.
Mr. EVANS, of Maryland, asked the unanimous
consent of the House to offer the resolution which he
submitted yesterday, as an amendment to that OF
Mr.. RIcHARDsoN: That a select committee be APP
pointed to inquire into the DENLY, Collins, and
Wetmore, and into all other dealcations that took
place under the administration of Mr. Polk; and
that the said committee, for the purpose of ascer
tanning the character and extent of said defalca-
tions address to the heads of the several Depart
ments particular Inquiries with regard thereto,
and particularly respecting any knowledge by
the late administration, the heads Of any Of the
Departments thereof, concerning said defalca-
tons or any of them. And whether any writers
for newspapers held Office under the late admins
tration and il so, for what papers they wrote and
the Of said writers; and also that the commit
tee inquire whether the late administration, or any
head Of any Department thereof, opened or paid
any claim that had been rejected by previous ad
ministrations and whether said late admnstra-
ton, any officer thereof, has allowed or paid in
terest on any claim; and II 50, to whom and the
amount thereof and that they inquire into the
names Of all persons having an interest in said
claim.
And further, That the committee inquire whe-
thcr any officers Of the late administration, in the
Post Office or other Department. were engaged in
making electioneering speeches about the country,
while receiving pay from the Government; or whc-
ther any officers OF the Government were engaged
political writers heads Of political clubs for the
purpose of influencing the elections.
And further That said committee inquire into
any and all frauds generally committed by officers
OF the late administration.
Objection was made 10 the introduction Of the
| resolution.
The SPEAKER stated the regular order TO be a
resolution reported from the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads, directing the Poetmas-
ter General 10 cause all mail matter intended for
members Of Congress and its officers 10 be made up
separately, and delivered directly at the Capitol so
TO avoid the delay which exists under tho present
arrangements.
| The resolution was debated, and then, on motion
Of Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Pennsylvania, was laid
/ upon the table.
Mr.. BAYLY again asked that the Deficiency
bill might be reported from the Committee Of Ways
and Means.
Mr.. WENTWORTH objected, insisting upon an
| Mr. EVANS, Of aryland remarked that the
other (tbe Demooratic) side said yesterday that
they would pass his resolution. Objection was
The SPEAKER. Objection is made.
Mr.. EVANS. Who objects' don't hear any.
There is no objection.
The SPEAKER said that the resolution would be
| reported.
Mr.. INGE said that he did not wish the time oil
the House 20 be consumed in. this frivolous way
but he withdrew objection ON being informed by a
friend from Tennessee that the Democrats said yes
terday that they would not oppose the resolution o
the gentleman from Maryland. And he expressed
the hope that the gentleman from Ohio would with
draw his objection.
Mr.. CABLE, TO crafty the gentleman, did 30.
Mr.. WILLIAMS remarked that the gentleman
from Maryland was now absent, and had requested
should the resolution come up. TO be sent for.
The Clerk commenced reading the resol ution
and had not proceeded far, before
Mr.. To0MBs objected to its introduction.
GRAND LODGE oT ODD FELLOWS ov THE DISTRICT o.
| COLUMBIA.
Mr.. BROWN, from the Committee for the Dis
trict Of Columbia reported bill 10 incorporate tn
! Grand Lodge I. o. o. y. Of the District OF Colun
bia; and he moved that II be referred 10 the Com
mittee Of the whole House.
! Mr.. JONES moved that the bill be laid upon tn
table.
Mr. POTTER inquired whether Il would be il
order 10 move that the bin be rejected
The SPEAKER. Not now. Several voices
"Lot the bill be read."l
IL was read accordingly; the charter TO continu
fortwenty five years and until Congress shall other
wise determine; prohibits banking and permit
the Grand Lodge 70 bold property 10 the amount O
Sir. BROWN asked for the yeas and nays on tn
motion TO lay the bill upon the table; and they
ordered.
Mr. JONES withdrew his motion, and said that
on former OCCASIONS since he had been here, bill
the Masonic Fraternity and the Grand Lodge O
Odd Fellows. Ho then opposed both, and gave hi
reasons very briefly. II was not from any opposi
Of one Of them. He asked for Il no privileges, n
the other one, which now made the application, h
was not q member, but he believed lie objects pro
fcssed 10 be "Triendship, Love, and Truth" am
that great coed is effected through its instrumen
talty. Yet he did not believe that this Government
has the power 10 grant acts Of Incorporation, am
he believed that, when allied with Government
these benevolent institutions are stripped Of tn
power to do good, And he would oppose an act Q
incorporation Of this Order, az he would Of the on
Of which he was member