Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-10

Proceedings Of Yesterday Afternoon.


In THE SENATE, yesterday, after our report
closed
Mr.. Fitch, from the Committee on PRINTING tn
which the subject was referred, reported bill
providing for a reduction in the prices allowed
Tor the public printing, and providing for the
binding of the public documents, reports. and
journals.
At two O'Clock the Sergeant-at-Arms annea,sd
| at the bar Of the Senate with Thaddeus HYATT. of
New York. "
The Vice President asked if he was now pre
pared to answer the Questions which Were bro
pounded to him the other day.
MI hyatt replied that he was He had his
answer in writing, but was not able to read il
himself Saying this, he presented a large roll of
manuscript, which was laid upon the desk Of the
| Secretary.
Mr.. Mason moved that the answer be examined
| to see II 1t was under oath. required
The Vice President looked at it, and stated that
| 1t was in proper form.
Mr.. Mason then moved that It be read. which
was agreed to- "'0
The Secretary accordingly commenced reading
| the paper, but had only read few pages when
MIR. Mason remarked that it was yerv ann.r.r.
that under the pretext Of answering the f,st oues
ton Propounded, the witness had gone into lone
legal argument on the question to the power OF
the senate to summon him 1t was UNNECESSARY
| to consume time in reading that and he tberefore
proposed that the Secretary should omit that and
read the answer to the second question. IA to
"nerne1 ne was now ready to appear before the
long discussion ensued several Senators clair
Ing that the Senate was bound to listen 70 the
whole answer, and other Senators denying the
right of the respondent to read a lecture IS the
body when called on to purge himself of con.
tempt ''''
The motion that the entire answer should he
read was finally agreed to-yeas 40, nays ~
The reading having been concluded,
Mr.: Mason said the answer to the question
Wnetner ne would not appear and testify was
evaslve ana intended to be 80: He says he is
III he A,,lo \.
that ne 10 ready to answer the questions. Mr. M
then submitted resolutions thatMr Hyatt be com
| nlttea 70 the common jail of the District Of Co.
lumbia to be kept in close custody until he shall
| signify his willingness to answer the Questions
PIoPounded to him by the select committee, and
an Other legal and proper, questions that may be
propounded to him by said committee
MIR. Doolittle and MIR. Fessenden were not will
Ing to Vote upon this matter without further ex-
animation Of the subject
On motion by Mr. Mason, the witness was re-
named 10 the custody of the Sergeant-at- rms;
and lhe other resolutions will come I'D as unfn
lshed business on Monday next. The Senate ud.
journed until Monday next.
HousE.-In the House, after going to press, the
| resolution allowing additional com pensation TO
the former employees of the House was passed.
Mr.: Gurley reported from the Committee on
Printing tue following joint resolution
gress to employ its own Printer to execute its own
| work.
Be it rssolred &c. That the third section of the
act entitled an act making appropriations for the
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial expenses of
| Government for the year ending 30th June Is6O.
approved March 3, 1859, be, and is hereby, re,
Printer Of the House of Representatives be. and
| they are hereby, directed to cause to be printed
such regular and extra number of documents and
| reports as may be required by their respective
Houses Of Congress Prorided, That the Printer
| of each House shall be allowed one-half of the
rate now allowed Tor composition and no more,
and composition in no case shall be paid for with
out satisfactory evidence is furnished the Surern-
tendent OF the Public Printing that said com posi-
ton was necessary to the printing of the docu
| ments and reports, and that it has actually been
executed.
During the discussion which ensued "a 70 the
purpose and effect Of the bill
Mr.. Houston understood the binding had been
Let out for this Congress, and that there was a
charge in responsible newspaper that a portion
Of it was let out after bid had been received
from responSi bic party at a lower rate Yet the
gentleman from New York presented himself as
the advocate of REFORM and told them that patron
age and plumber only corrupts. He would like
to know II the gentleman could disprove that
charge.
Nj Haskin said there was not word Of t,u,h
in the charge. The committee let the bi ndinp to
persons II responsibility who were the lowest
bidders, and subsequently, he understood one or
two men connected with a small newspaper here
had endeavored to levy black mail upon the con-
| tractors. The subject, however, was In the hands
OF committee for investigation.
AIoUstoH lHuulleO WueIc the parties who
received the contract live.
Mr. Haskin said one lived in Ohio and the other
| in New York.
MIR. Houston said one lived in the gentleman's
own district, and the other in the district Of the
gentleman from Ohio, (AIr. Sherman) He asked
| again when that lower bid came in and If 1t was
| after the contract was let.
| Mr.. Haskin asked if the gentleman was the
| champion OF that newspaper.
| MIR. Houston was not but he was the cham ri on
| Of the truth
MIR. Cox, Of Ohio, said this charge Of levyinp
| black mail involved the integrity of Mr. COMBS
| the editor Of the Republic, who was well known
in Ohio as in this city, an honest irreproach.
| able man. He was Republican Senator i'm Ohio
| and his character was never impeached. He was
surprised that the friends OF that gentleman should
| SIT stlll ana hear this charge maze against him
Mr.. Stanton of Ohio. endorsed the character of
| Mr.. CoOmbs, and would have spoken before but
| that this whole discussion was irrelevant. He was
prepared to discuss this whole biect of the bind
| ing, but would not interpOlate it upon another
| subject.
MIR. Gurley said the committee acted unani-
| mously in all they did respecting the binding
| and did nothing which they desired to cover up
| He had not read the article In the Repubic but
| il what he had heard of it was true its charges
were totally false, and he would demonstrate that
| fact before the committee charged with the SUBJ
ject.
| The resolution was laid on the table, by vote
| Of 9S yeas to IS nays.
| Alta Quarter to the House adjourned, to meet
| on Monday next