Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-10
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
In the Senate, yesterday, after We went to
press, the debate on the resolution from the
Printing Committee for printing 90, 900 extra
copies of the Senate's Kansas pacifcation bill
was continued by Msssrs. Toueey, Wade, Will
son, Bigler, Douglas, Hale, Stuart, Fessenden,
Toombs, Crittenden, Pugh and Foster; when
at p. m the said resolution was agreed to
without division
The Senate then adjourned.
In the House, the pending resolution for
the printing of 100, 600 extra copies of the re-
ports of the Kansas Investigating Committee,
majority and minority together with the tes-
timony taken by the said Committee, amend.
ed so as to reduce the number of copies to
10, 200, was adopted.
Mr.. Ball offered the following preamble and
resolution, viz:
Whereas, in an affidavit made in January,
1854, by Cornelius Wendell, who now holds
the position of Printer to this body, and which
affidavit reads as follows, to.wit:
THAT Alanson Sweet, of Milwaukee. Wis
consin, informed me that it cost him $4,000
for the alterations made in the Mobile custom
house contract; that it was necessary to fix
Mr.. Young, the architect Of the Treasury; and
that the 900 thus expended would be more
than doubled by the alterations he (Sweet)
had thus procured to be made; also, that to
procure said alter ations it was necessary to fix
friend of Mr.. Guthrie, and that he had made
the necessary arrangements to have him right.
G. WENDELL
"Washington, January ID 1854 Subscribed
and sworn to before me,
j. W. BECK, J. P"
it is charged that alterations in the manner
OF construction Of the Mobile custom house
have been made by the architect and others
entrusted with the construction of said build
ing, at the instance of the contractor and for
consideration in money; and whereas other
statements exist which tend to corroborate the
same accusation, and also to specify others
similar in character and in numerous in
stances and whereas it is the duty Of the
Peoples Representatives to inquire into the
truth OF such allegations, when sustained by
evidence such as to render their truth proba-
BILE: Therefore
ReSolUed, That there be appointed by the
speaker select committee of five members,
whose duty it shall be to inquire into the gen
erai management and expenditures connected
with the public buildings, or works construct
ed or purchased or in process of construction
by the United States, of whatsoever descrip-
tlon, whether at the seat of government or
elsewhere and that said committee be au-
tnOrlzed to send for persons and papers, and
10 examine witnesses touching the manner of
construction and the manner of awarding con-
tracts; whether any brides or fees have at
any time been taken by any officer in the SER
vice OF the Government as a consideration for
awarding any contract or for making any
changes In the original terms of any contract,
or for making alterations in the plan of any
work, or for using his influence in any manner
In obtaining any contract or xtra compeI sation
ior any person for such work, or for being in any
Other manner instrumental in aiding to defraud
the Government and that said committee be
authorized to inquire into the capacity as well
as character for integrity, Of any archi-
tect, superintendent, or any other officer; and
that they have power to appoint clerk to aid
in the performance of these duties, and also
authorized to report, in whole or in part, at
any time
Alter some conversation between Messrs
Cllngman, Houston of Alabama, and Ball.
the said preamble and resolution were ordered
to be printed, and to be laid over until the
next day.
Mr. Campbell, Of Ohio, called up his reso
luton for the expulsion of Mr. Brooks, and to
censure Messrs. Edmundson and Keitt, on &C.
count OF the assault Of MIR. Brooks on Senator
Sumner
Mr.. Cobb proposed a substitute for it de.
ciarlng that that the House has no jurisdic-
ton over the case, and therefore declines in
terfering in it.
Inc House were then addressed at some
length by Mossrs. Campbell, of Ohio, and
bingham for the original resolution, and
Messrs. Clingman and Orr against it In the
course OF the remarks Of Mr.. Orr, that gentle
man said:
He believed that the object was to operate
upon the public mind with reference to the
approaching election That was the founda-
ton OF all this clamor; for who had ever be-
fore heard Of a personal controversy between
two individuals being magnifed to the extent
that TINS had been This morning over eighty
members Of the House had voted to print one
hundred thousand copies of the reports of the
committee at the public expense, showing that
this report was intended as an electioneerinp
document, to be scattered over the North to
assist the Republican party.
Mr. hickman. L voted against the amend
ment OF the gentleman from Georgia to limit
the number to ten thousand. Does the GEN
tleman gay l voted for it as an electioneeTinp
document to assist the Republican party? I
say to the gentleman from South Carolina
that did not vote for it as an electioneering
document, and for the simple reason that /
owe no allegiance to the Republican party
L am opposed to it.
Mr.. Orr. All 1 have to say in reply to the
gentleman is, that if he has no utilization with
the Republican party his position is very
much misunderstood throughout the country,
Mr. Hickman. And l say
The Speaker. Does the gentleman from
South Carolina yield the floor!
Mr. Orr. The gentleman from Pennsylya
MIA can reply if l have said any thing that
touches him
But Mr.. Nichols objected So Mr.. Hick-
man was not permitted to respond further.
hen they adjourned, Mr.. Comins was en-
titled to the floor.
Proceedings of To-Day.
In the Senate, to-day, after the disposng
of petitions, reports, &C., they took up the an
nual Indian appropriation bill, and were con-
sidering it when the Star went to press
In the House, to- day, the resolution of Mr..
Ball for the appointment of a select committee
with power to send for persons and papers to
report on his allegations of fraud in the cor !.
structiOn of the extension of the Treasurv