The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-15

Minnesota railroad; which was referred to the Com
mitIee on Public Lands.
Speakers table, for reference 10 he COMMITTEES on MIDI
tary Affairs the Senate bill creating retired list In the
army OF the United States.
Several members obi ecisd leave was not granted
The regular order OF business being called toI,
The SPEAKER announced the hist business IN order
10 be The question the resolution closing the debate on
the bill 10 suppress the circulation OF small notes IN The
District of Columbia in hve minutes after the said bill
shall next again be taken up IN Committee OF the Whole
on the state Of The Union; which was agreed 10.
Mr. WILCOX rising 10 privileged question asked
leave he be discharged from further service
on ahe Committee Military Affairs.
Mr.. w. explained at some length the impossibliy,
up TO this time. OF getting quorum oil that committee
together, he having at all times atended regularly. lie
was not willing 10 be longer held responsible for the
aches OF The committee.
Mr. STANLY objected on the ground th at The expla-
nation OF Mr.. Wncox sufficient to satisfy the House
that his services there are important.
Mr.. HAVEN hoped that he would not be excused );
as If he should be. not minority of that comniit-
lee would hereafter attend. He was member OF that
committee himself. and he usually found but Mr. VII.
cox and himself alone in the commee-room, on the
mornings OF their regular meetings
Mr. GORMAN explained that The chairman OF that
committee, Mr.. BIssELL. and Mr.. GENTRY, member OF
The committee could not attend account OF illness
He himself usually attended
Mr. FREEMAN urged that his colleague should not
Mr.. STEVENS. of Pennsylvania also asked that the
House would not excuse him. He Mr.. s was MEM
Der OF The committee IN Question: appointed thereon, he
on account Oh MS military eeTVlCtb
MIR. FLORENCE wanted TO know where he had
served with such drlinctioni
Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsy lvania, replied, in inspecting
the lches lnes, alations, &c at Chrlsiana.
The question then put the motion 10 excuse
Mr. Wilcox; which was not agreed 10.
Inc regular S order OF business being called Tor,
The SPEAKER announced the first business in order
to be the further consideration OF the bill TO prevent
frauds on the treasury.
floor addressed the House length refuta,on of the
charges against Mr. Corwin and for the enactment of
the bill
Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee, addressed the House,
holding that nothing wrong had been proved asanst Mr..
Corwin and IN The course Of his remarks he was inter-
rupled by Mr.. WILLIAMS, Mr. JOHN SON OF Tennes-
see, and Mr. STEPHENS Of Georgia. with personal ex'
Mr. P. KING mex, demanded the previous question :;
which being seconded by the House,
Mr.. who, having reported the bill, was entitled 10
the floor rose 10 address The House. but gave way 10
Mr. ORR, who addressed The House in defence OF his
constueAi, Mr.. Waddy Thompson, Of South Carolina,
had been indirectly called IN question in the OF the
Mr. HOWARD also addressed the House in eYplana-
ton and defence OF the action OF the committee, and of
their report Mr.. H. also urged the enactment OF the
Mr.. KING. of New York. then closed the debate on
Mr.. SrEAKsR: The report of the committee appointed
under the resolution offered by the gentleman from
ONO Mr.. OLDsl has been discussed in different quar-
ters in the d.bae upon the bill before the House.
with some d ference Of opinion to the powers and
authority OF The coRmi.tes. concurred with the ma.
Iorl,y Of the Committee the opinion that il was
an appropriate part of their duty to investigate the
character OF the Gardiner claim This done and it
appeared IRON the Testimony before the committee, that
the clam oil Gardiner fraudulent that il
famed before the commissioners by whom ii was allow
ca upon fabricated testimony and f;gtd papers These
offences are provided for by law. aud was in The
hands OF the Judicial tribunals, indicted for false swearing
aud forgery. These indictments have moi yet been tried
Tlsy are pending in the courts OF this District
The committee were directly charged by the resolution
IvafG fhQ rnn rf btp ri
win then Secretary OF the Treasury with this clam This
was aso done and appeared from The testimony thai
Mr.. Cotwin. while senator Of the United States was
one OF The counsel OF Gardiner and that in connexion
with one OF the aforesaid counsel, Mr. Robert g. Cor
win, he purchased OF Gardiner fourth part of the
claimi that prior to his going into the cabinet Sec
fetary OF the Treasury he ceased 10 counsel,
and negotiated sale OF all hs interest in the Card
ner clam. and thiny'slx other claims in which he
ceived eighty thousand dollars 1t did appear in
evidence tina, Mr. Corwn had any knowledge that false
testimony or ior1ed papers had been be used
prosecuting the Gardiner clam The facts and the tes-
mony were reported by the committee.
NO law OF The United States found tina, prob bsd
officers OF The government members OF Congress- acting
as agent OF counsel tor claimants the govern
bl, vas introduced into the 'enate at the last
son OF Congress by senator from North Csrolna, Mr.
bADokR,l aud referred to the Committee OF Claims 1t
was reported back TO the Senate by that committee with
amendments, and believe passed The Senate That bill
prohibited the transfer of claims before their final settle
ment and the issue OF warrant for payment II also
The executive departments acting agent for claims
Ibe committee adopted the provisions OF that bill, with
some add onal clauses and The amendments of the
ate COMMITTEES oil Claims extending its provisions TO zen.
aors and representatives In Congress and officers OF
the Two houses OF Congress and in fixing the penalty
make violation of the law a pen,enuary offence.
III has been sad in the OF the debate here that
me practice OF employing members OF Congress and high
omcai functonaes upon contingent fees and other
pensaion as agents and counsel IN the prosecution of
claims against ibe treasury, has been general Tue prac
ice has not, thnk, prevailed TO the extent that such
remark would imply. have kno yn many members OF
Congress oil the legal profession who have not been thu
employed and who would never consent to be- | have
no doubt, however, that honorable gentlemen OF both
houses oil Congress- law existing the contrary have
been IN employed, and have been free from all mpu-
tallon In cases which have the know ledge OF
The public, the large OF the tee paid by the
claimant ushhes the suspicion that the official and per-
sonal influence OF the oicef, well the legal skill
oil the Counsel. was sought by the employer
Inc integrity OF our ublic occupying high official
positions should be tree from the suspicious and inpua
lions that cannot fail to grow out of such practice.
This subject, connected with public officers in,rust-
ed with the ad usment and settlement al accounts, has
received the attention of the Executive and in his last
annual the President that the laws
iecive and recommends such enacmsnts are best
calculated to remedy the evil.
My colleague, tMr. HAvEsl in addition TO the provis.
IONS OF The bill reported by the committee has prepared
and offered three sections observation-disclosures defining
The crime and liking the penalty Tor bribery, and two pro-
vdng penalties for the abstraction of papers records
the on file in the public Offices These add. |
ona sections approved by the members OF the com
mIttee, TO whom they submitted for examination
The whole bill - simple and direct it's provsionr
and Is, believe, fully understood by the House now