Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-01-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHrNaroN. Fridnr. Jan. 16.

RCOICIdIJ VI Ilc navy, &C. n
Mr.. Mallory objected to its passage
as being aneedless exposure of the trans
actions which have gone beyond The
control of the Navy Department or the
Senate.
Nj. Houston contended that those
matters ought to be brought to light, SC
hat if the action of the Navy Board had
resulted in any good, it could be made
manifest to the country. IF the contra,
ry it ought equally to be known.
The bill was set aside for the special
order, being a bill providing for a settle
ment of the claims Of the officers of the
Revolution.
Mr.. Toombs said that he intended to
make the bill as odious as possible: and
that to the end, indicated various amend
ments, including one to compensate rev.
dictionary soldiers for depreciation in
continental money in which they were
paid, as a test question. He moved an
indefinite p~ostponement of the bill, which
was lost-22 against &c.
Upon motion of Mr.. Pugh, a consid-
Grafton of the bill was postponed until
tho first Monday in December next
Ye1s 2l, nays %.
The presiding officer laid before the
Senate, a letter from the President of
the Joint Convention o the Pennsylva-
mia Legislature, giving the information
of the election of Cameron as Senator
from that State.
Sixteen private bills were passed.
Adjourned.
HoUsE--The House proceeded to a
consideration of the bills on the private
calendar.
The House passed thirteen private
bills.
Mr.. Kelsey, rising to a question Of
privilege, offered a preamble, setting
forth that Joseph l.. Chester had been
fully summoned before the Corruption
Investigating Committee, and neglected
to appear, and concluding with a resolu-
ton that the Speaker should issue his
Arms, commanding him to take into
custody the body of Mr.. Chester, wher-
ever he may be found, and the same to
be brought forthwith to the bar of the
House, to answer for contempt of Court,
Mr.. Florence asked, where was the
authority for all this?
Mr.. Jones', of Tennessee, believing
the House had no such<power, moved to
lay the resolution on the table.
Mr.. Paine demanded the yeas and
nays.
Mr., McMullen regarded it as a very
important question, and that time should
by afforded to look into. His motion to
was decided in the negative.
IL -4~ao - NJ, H.. H. $3.50
addressed by the Speaker of the
House to the Sergeant ALARMS, com
handing the latter to ummon Chester,
vas read.
The preeept was returned with the
by the Sergeant-at-Arms,
hat he had served the summons on the
-4th inst. Mr.. Orr was permitted to
make the statement that this committee
las not acted in this matter, without
fully into the authorities, which
hey thought fully sustained them in
he application they had made. A case
occurred in 1917 or 1918 to this effect; a
,arty applied to Lewis Williams, a mem
Der of this House, and proposed to pay
him a ~pecuniary consideration to make
favorable reports on a certain bill.
MIR. Williams brought the fact to the
attention of the House, which ordered
he arrest of the party. In the language
# the resolution, now brought before
he House, which the present committee
lad copied from the proceedings in that
ase, the party was brought before the
and after a trial, reprimanded
My by the Speaker; they were unmiti-
-ated circumstances. After discharge
rom custody, he instituted action against
he Sergeant-at-Arms for false impris-
The case was tried in the Uni
ed States Circuit Court, and decided
gainst the plaintiff. An appeal was
lade to the Supreme Court.
That tribunal decided that the House
the power, and that it was properly
xercised. The Sergeant-at-Arms was
rotected, and the eomplaintwas dismiss
d. The witness in the present case was
ubpened, but failed to appear. IF the
louise had not the power to enforce the
tendance of witnesses, the investigation
mockery. He (Orr) should not
o%ntinue a member of the committee if
has not the power to enforce recusants
testify to the facts within their knowl-
dge-the investigation would fall to the
round.
Nh. Broome wished to make a state
lent relative to Chester; but Mr.. Jones,
f Tennessee, said they wanted to hear
about the matter.
Mr.. Harris, of Illinois, said that when
lie witness purges himself of the con-
l will hear the explanation {
NrioS of EEhaar haar NJ |,
Mr.. Broome-'I was informed this
orning that Chester was sick, and was
nable to be present before the commit s
e.. Whether they can produce evidence {
at Chester refused to appear {
Mr.. Paine-'That is of no conse- i
fence to the matter before the House."
The House refused to lay the r~esolu-
on IN the table, and passed it nearly
5
Adjourned. |
WASHINGTON, Saturday, Jan. II. /
The Senate is not in session to-day, =