The national Republican., 1866-06-13
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
xxxIxTn coseREss-FrRsr SESSION.
TUESDAY, JusE II, 1906


copies Of the report Of the Commissioner Of Patent
which was referred TO the Committee on Printing.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported the House bill TO provide for the
settlement Of accounts Of certain public ofhoers,
which was passed. The bill relates to the disburs-
log Of moneys BY the officers Of the Frsedmsn's
Mr.. Grimes presented the petition Of the en-.
ployees Of the Presidents house and grounds under
the administration Of Mr.. Lincoln, asking for extra
compensation on account Of extra duties performed.
Referred to Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds
On motion Of Mr.. Chandler, tho bill making ap-
propriatons for the repair, presoryption and com
pletion Of certain public works heretofore com
mencsd under authority OF law, and for other Pur-
poses was taken up and passed. y
Mr.. Anthony, from the Committee on Printing
reported without amendment the resolution to print
So 900 extra copies of the report Of the Committee
on Reconstruction which was passed.
Mr., Conness, from the Committee on Post ohcss
and Post Roads reported the joint resolution 10 re-
lease the Pacific Mail Steamship Company IRON that
portion Of their contract Obliging them to touch at
Honolulu.
On motion Of Mr.. Fessenden, The bill making ap-
proprations for the legislative executive and ju.
dica expenses Of the Goverpment for the year end.
ing June 80, 1867, was taken up and laid aside In
formally.
The House bill to frrther provide for the safety
Of the lives of passengers on board Of vessels pro-
PEELED In whole or in part by steam, to regulate the
salaries Of stesnboat inspectors, and for other pur
poses, was tksn taken up and passed.
tTbe provisions Of this bill have heretofore been
| published.
The confederation Of the legislative, executive,
and judicial appropriation bill was then proceeded
with.
A number Of amendments n the Finance Com
mittee were agreed to.
An amendment, appropriating s160, 900 for th o
temporary clerks in the Treasury Department, to
be awarded at the discretion Of the Secretary being
under collaboration,
Mr.. Wilson declared himself opposed to confer.
ring such Discretionary power on the Secretary Of
the Treasury and especially to the present incum-
bent. II would have he effect Of placing the clerks
| Of the Department too much under the control oi
the Secretary.
Mr. Fessenden said that undoubtedly the politi.
cal course Of the Secretary Of the Treasury not
approved by many others besides the Senator from
Massachusetts,, but he was faithful public officer
| and performed In an abo and creditable manner
the duties Of his position, The policy indicated In
| the proposed amendment had been inaugurated
under Mr.. Chase and pursued ever since
| Mr. Hendricks regretted that the Senator from
Massachusetts, Mr.. wilson, should allude to the
Secretary in such terms. He did not think he was
justified in expressing want Of confidence in the
| Secretary. lie Mr.. II. regarded him q most
able financial officer, and was proud Of him as a
citizen of Indiana Political difference should not
be allowed to control the action Of Senators In such
a matter as this.
The discussion on the amendment was further
continued by Messrs. Howe, Trumbull, and Howard
Mr.. Wilson said he had no desire to reflect upor
the Secretary but It notorious that that officer
! had done many acts which were disapproyed Of by
| the people Of the country. He had made appoint
ments to office without requiring the conditions
prescribed by law. The policy at present IL
selling gold had also been condemned, and he Mr.
". had received letter from an eminent mer
| chant Of New York on the subject Other men were
also in favor Of recognizing the existence and the
powers of Congress, but the Secretary, in speech
which he Mr.. W. would not attempt to criticise,
had even gone beyond the President.
Mr.. Fessonden thought II unwise and wrong to
bring politics in q discussion Of this kind, and to
attack m absent person who could not defend him
self. He was as much opposed to what was dc
nominated the Presidents policy as my one, but
he did not talk about II in appropriation bills. II
these discussions were to be continued on the mp.
preparation bills, they should certainly not get
away from here by July. The Secretary Of the
Treasury performed the duties Of his office faith.
| fully. He Mr.. +. did not approve Of the speech
| made TO the gentlemen who called him out the
other night; thought 1t was an unfortunate speech
but rs the Secretary was unaccustomed TO public
speaking, he had probably gone further than he in
tended.
Mr.. Grimes said II was a prepared speech; that
he tMr. @. was present on the occasion and heard
it, and that the Secretary recalled sentences after
they were uttered, which showed that he had pre-
pared it.
Mr.. Fessendon said the Senator from Iowa looked
at the matter with prejudiced eye. He Mr.. f.
often recalled sentences here and so did the Sena
tor from Iowa. As to the appointment Of revenu,
officers who were unable to take the oath, he Mr.
y. would not have done that but on that subject
It not yet ascertaiued who was right, the Secre
tary Congress, lie Mr.. +. should not have ap
pointed the oficersi he would have let the revenue
go. That the Secretary supports the President
policy, is true. Thern he differed with him rs h
differed with the President; but why should thi
difference be continually brought up in matter o
business. 1t was his honest opinion that tn
present Secretary of the Treasury performed hi
duties faithfully. OF course he made some mis-
takes. He Mr.. i. made some when he was there
but nobody found II out except the Democrats, an
they said he was wrong from beginning to end, 10
which he did not care sixpence. He now hope
appropriation bill The Secretary Of the Treasur
was not responsible for the principle contained !
this amendment. If any one was responsible, h
Mr.. L. was more so than any one else, as he ha
prepared the draft In his own office. His preds
cessor had asked for IL, and got 1t without wor
Of opposition.
Mr.. Grimes said he did not agree with the sena
tor from Maine to the improperly Of criticisin
the acts Of absent men. 1t was certainly the righ
of the Senate to inquire into the acts OF public ON
GERS and criticise them. The action Of the Secrs
tary in selling gold at 81 when II was ruling at 80
was severely animadverted by the best hnancier
of the country. 1t was we'll known that the cu
which passed resolutions assailing Congress wa
composed principally Of Treasury clerks. Mr.. Nc
Culloch had not discharged these clerks which
was his plain duty to do. He would ask the senI
tor from Maine whether he would retain clerks VIII
assailed in such bitter and disgraceful terms th
Congress He did not know what the self-respeS
of other Senators would prompt them to do, but
Mr.. q. could not, consistent with his own, vote
appropriate any money for the payment of such IL
8 dividuals.
{ Mr.. Howe replied to some remarks made by Mr.
0 Fessenden.
Mr.. Conness said he could not approve Of o.
luding to such matters in debate on bills Of th
character. lie In favor Of giving the neeessar
amount to the Secretary to carry on the business
bis department, and to pay sufficient SALARY
prevent capable men from leaving the servic
Of the Government and going into private employ
. ment. He should have at once dismissed all u
clerks who made the dlsgraceful attack on Cor
gress. As to the speeches recently made,
thought 1t would have been matter Of pride an
honor to all Of the members Of the Cabinet II the
had refused to respond on that occasion and to sue
an assemblage, composed Of political scrubs, wal
dsrng minstrels, night hawks, cOrmorants, flung
miserable dependents.
Mr.. Howard. That is enough.
t Mr.. COnness. Yes, that is enough.
, Mr. Sherman explained the reasons which inaI
i enced the committee in offering the propose
amendment. In regard to the sales Of gold, he sal
[ that there were n number Of circumstances Whic