Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-10
XxXVIIth CoNGREsS-FIrs Session.


Mr. CoLLAMER reported back the bill pro-
viding that dead letters be returned to the
writers, instead of being destroyed.
Mr.. TRUMBULL, from the Judiciary commit
tee, reported in favor OF eXpeling Waldo z.
johnson, senator from Missouri.
Mr.. WILSON reported bill organizing the
signal department Of the army also bill or
gauizing the stats of divisions of the army
also increasing the clerical force of the adj uant
general office.
Mr.. SHERMAN, from the select committee on
compensation, &c, in the departments, report
ell bill /; also one regulating the compensation
OF army officers.
Mr.. HALE presented petitions of the citizens
OF Pennsylvania, that whereas great frauds
have been perpetrated on the treasury by the
appointment of Mr.. Cummings by secretary
Cameron, and of Mr.. Morgan by secretary
Welles, they therefore ask that a statute lie
enacted to prevent the appointment Of such
persons.
Mr.. HALE also introduced bill to prevent
frauds on the treasury, which provides five
and ten years hard labor to any person obtain
ing government moneys traudulentIy and il an
officer OF the government be discharged and
punished, he is after that ineligible for
any office. heterred.
The house resolution relative to duties on
bonded sugar, coffee, S., was taken up and
paSSed-23 against Is
The Trent affair was taken up. Mr.. SUM
NER addressed the senate.
Alter MIR. SUMNER concluded, Mr. HALE
moved to take up the bill providing tor twenty
mail steam gunboas, the question being on
substituting the president for the secretary of
the navy in the order to build. Mr.. HALE
favored the amendment. He said the secreta-
tary of tie navy is undoubtedly honest, but lie
has made il mistake.
Mr.. Dixon thought this was not the proper
mode of reprmand for an officer admitted to
be honest in intention and this would be gross
injustice towards the secretary OF the navy.
Mr. SHERMAN favored the amendment. He
said the action OF tie secretary Of the navy
could not be defended.
Mr.. DooLlTTLE said it was not for the sen.
ate to pass Il bill Of condo mnation on ex parte
testimony taken by committee Of the other
house. He wanted to know if any eXplanl-
ton had been asked of the secretary.
Mr. SHERMAN said, senator called on the
president, ami it was understood that the facts
were admitted.
Mr.. WILKINSON said it was a question
whether the secretary of the navy was to be
entrusted with a large amount of money. He
was unwilling to do it alter what had passed
He did not believe secretary .Welles an honest
man or, liz this emergency of the country, lie
would not have permitted the treasury 10 be
robbed for the purpose of enriching his family
connections. He cared not who the man was
or what position he occupeds
Mr.. DooLITTLE said he was informed that
the secretary OF the navy employed Mr.. Nor
gan in the first place TO break off fraudulent
contracts and prevent imposition, and he un
derstood that his employment saves four hun
dred thousand dollars. 1t was not with the
consent of the secretary of the navy that any
money Vas taken from the treasury. de un.
derstoud that these facts We're in the report of
the committee OF the other house.
Mr.. HALE asked, if the secretary of the
navy did not want the money to go out of the
treasury, why, when he was informed OF the
matter, did he not stop it instead Of letting it
go on?
Mr.. DooLITTLE said he had advised the
naval committee to call on the secretary OF the
navy ior an explanation.
Mr. HALE said, when he wanted advice he
would call for it.
Mr. WILSON, by consent introduced reese
luton that the secretary of the navy be re-
quested to inform the senate OF the facts in re
gard TO the employment of Geo. B. Morgan
to purchase vessels, and the amount of com
pensaton paid him, which was agreed to.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The bills introduced for the payment of in.
tereSt in certain cases on claims against the
government, to punish fraud against the gov
ernmeht anu to establish an arsenal at SPRING
field, Ill, were referred.
The house proceeded to consider the bill
abolislling the ranking privilege.
Mr.. CoLTAx said that a bill for this purpose
had several times passed the senate, but had
never before received the sanction of the
house post Office committee. Only one mem
Der of the committee dssented. If passed, it
would save millions annually to the govern
ment Other reforms were intended, among
Them to collect postage on the tons OF printed
matter now carried by express companies.
Messrs. EDWARDS, Roscoe CoNKLING,
and PoMERoY, continued the debate. The lat
ter offered a resolution to recOmmit the bill to
the post Office committee, with instructions to
report new bill embracing the following prin-
cipIes list abolishing the transmission of all
written and printed matter free of postage, eX.
cepting that ordered printed by congress and
81, such matter shall be stamped public docu'
ments, and being franked, shall pass through
the mails free
Messrs. WRIGHT and KELLOGG of Illinois
opposed the bill. Mr.. CoLFAx replied to the
objections urged against the pending measure
Mr. HICKMAN opposed the abolition of the
frauking privilege, and Mr.. 'WRGmT moved
to table the whole subJect-negatived, 81 to
70. A ljourned.