Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-01
LATEST NEWS.
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
rAmerican Telegraph Office, Lincoln House Block-J
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS Second Session:
MONDAY. Feb. %.

MONDAY. n Gu. 20.
SENATE.
Mr. Pugh moved to take up the homestead
bill Negatived-26 to -.
Committees of conference were appointed,
to meet the House on the Legislative, Execu-
tive, and Judicial appropriation bill.
Mr.. Houston made his farewell address to
the Senate He had been 46 years in public
life, and he would leave it to posterity to de-
termne how he had spent it. He was content
to stand on the foundation where it had placed
him. He embraced the occasion to rebut the
calumnes with which he was assailed by per-
sons animated by the deepest malignity, and
especially cited Rev. James H. Perry, of New
York, who had recently lectured on the battle
of San Jacinto, and who had been for Il years
seduleusly OBTAINING his character, although 1t
was owing to his (Houston's) clemency that
Perry was not executed for holding commune
cation with the enemy. Mr. ii. concluded
with tribute to the great abilities OF his asso-
ciates in the Senate, expressing the hope that
light, knowledge, and patriotism may guide
them, and crown their exertions with peace
and prosperity.
The Post Office bill appropriation was taken
up. Its appropriations amount to $l9,oO0,OO0,
including SO $780, 900 deficiency of the present
fiscal Year. 1t was discussed at great length.
After much discussion, the third section was
stricken out, and in lieu thereof was inserted
a section providing that the sum of S6,O000OO
be appropriated from the Treasury TO meet the
deficiencies ofthe fiscal year commencing July
1st 1852 but that the Postmaster General
shall, in no event, expend or incur any habili-
ties whatever over the appropriation for the
current fiscal year. Adopted.
About six hours were spent in the discus
sion of the bill and its amendments. The de-
bate was uninteresting, and much confusion
prevailed throughout the proceedings.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Broderick,
was adopted, reducing the salary of the Cali
fornia mail agent from $1,000 to 81 500.
Mr., Wilson amended by cutting down most
of the miscellaneous items, such as advertising,
mail bags, wrapping paper, Post Office blanks,
&C., making total saving of over So0,0O0.
In reference to the blanks he said he was cog
infant of the case where Mr.. Rice, editor of
the Pennsylvania, had a contract for printing,
for $4,000, what cost him $4,000; the profit
being divided, so per cent. to the Washington
Union, 5 per cent to Hon. John Appleton, AS
sistant Secretary of State, and per cent to
paper published in the interest of member of
Congress.
Mr. Mason said, if the facts were so, it was
due to the Senate and the country to lay the
facts before them.
Mr.. Wilson reiterated the statement and
said that Mr.. Rice himself had said so, and,
moreover, that the arrangement was with the
coy llZance OF the HreSluent.
Mr. Cameron said the facts were notorious.
This Rice was till recently creature Of the
Presidents; but, having had quarrel, he
went round the Capitol blabbing about it.
Mr. Mason-Did Mr.. Rice tell the Senator
so?
Mr.. Cameron-The way to get this informa-
ton is, to appoint committee ofinvestigation,
or to sue me for SANDER. | am responsible for
all | say here or elsewhere. Just bring here
Billy Rice and the President They know all
about it, and | think my colleague knows
something about it, too.
Mr. Mason-Did Mr. Rice tell you so
Mr. Cameron do not speak to MIR. Rice.
Mr. Masop-Then you bring here the rumor
and hearsay of the country to make these
grave charges of fraud.
Mr.. Cameron said to prove his sincerity he
was prepared to move for committee of in
quiry.
Mr. Wilson's amendmentwas adopted.
Mr.. Iverson proposed to add clause to the
BILL increasing the rate from three to five
cents. Lost 10 to u.
At 12k on motion Of Mr. Green, the Senate
by yeas %, nays II, adjourned.
HOUSE.
The business commenced with personal
explanation between Reagan and Bryan, with
reference to recent discussion.
Mr. Reagan wanted to know whether MIR.
Bryan intended to impute dishonorabe motives
to him.
Mr.. Bryan replied, that if his colleague felt
aggrieved he knew where he could right the
wrong He Bryan was responsible here and
elsewhere for what he said,
Mr.. Reagan then went on to state that his
colleague had sought to place him in false
position by representing that he was not good
Southern man.
Much excitement prevailed during the col
loquy.
The House took up the naval appropriation
bill, and concurred in Shermans amendment,
reducing the appropriation for repairs, arma-
ments, &c, of steamers, from IS, lOU,OO0 to
100000 The vote stood 122 to &c. The
amendment reducing the appropriations for the
navy yards from 81 100000 to $4,000, was
also concurred in, by So majority. The bill
passed.
Mr.. Phelps asked leave to report bill to re-
vive, for two years, the act authorizing the
issue of treasury notes, but the House refused.
1t then went into committee on the miscella-
neous appropriation bill
Mr.. Washburne, Of Wisconsin, moved to
strike out the appropriation of S250,000 for the
survey of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Re-
jected
At twenty minutes past clever the commit
tee rose and reported the bill with its amend
ments to the House.
Mr. George Taylor, from the committee to
investigate the accounts of the Superintendent
Of Public Printing, made report. They say
the books have been loosely and negligently
kept. Few of the accounts could be explain
ed, and none of them were entirely satistacto-
ry. The facts conclusively show that com
bination existed to compel contractors in some
way to pay for the contracts, which was the
almost universal practice.
The report is very long, exposes a widely
extended conspiracy to rob the public treasury,
directly duplicates Mr.. Seamans in selling con-
tracts, and in corruptly sharing the profits OF
all grades of contractors and closes with the
following resolve:
Resolved That A. E. Seamans, late Superintend-
ent of Public Printing, has been guilty of improper
and Illegal practices in the discharge of his official
duty, and in violation of the act creating the office
and defining its duties.