The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-10
CONGRESSIONAL,
SENATE.
WASUINGT

WASHINGTON, Feb. g.
Mr.. COwan presented petition in ia
vor of a protective tariff. Referred t.
the Finance committee.
Mr.. Sherman presented petition fo
a reduction of the tax on agriculture
implements, which was referred to tht
Finance committee.
Mr.. Guthrie, of Kentucky, presented
the credentials of George Houston, Sen
ator elect from Alabama. Mr.. Guthrie
stated that Mr.. Houston, during the war
was a constant Union man. The ere
dentials were ordered to be laid on the
table.
Mr.. Sherman presented resolution
which was agreed to, calling on the Sec
retary Of War for compendium of med
ical 81 atistics collected during the war
Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, offered reso-
luton declaring that as charges OF spec
ulations ard fraud had been made
AGAINST the cotton agent of the Treasury
Department, therefore, resolved, that a
committee be appointed to investigate
those charges. Mr.. Davis had been in
| formed from various sources of the truth
of these charges He had been told by
a friend of his, who had means of know
| ing, that within his own experience in
| the South, there was not a man connect
ed with the Treasury Department within
a sweep of a thousand miles, who had
not been corrupted He would agree to
substantiate the charges, if the commit
tee was formed.
Mr.. Sherman said that the charges OF
Davis was very sweeping in their char
acter. The Secretary OF the Treasury
had told them that the most violent
charges were generally brought against
the most faithful officers. He called
upon Mr. Davis to make a specific
charge, and he would guarantee fair
investigation.
Mr.. Davis called for the appointment
of a committee, the majority of whom
would be favorable to fair inyestiga-
ton. He had been told that General
Dana, while in command on the Missis-
sippi, seized and appropriated cotton be-
longing to a private citizen and used the
proceeds for his own benefit. He did not
think it fair to place such an investiga-
tion in the hands of men who wanted to
stihe it. He would ask nothing more
than fair committee.
MIR. Sherman said that while he was
member of the House he never sanction
ed an investigation Of charges against
Democratic administration until they
were properly certified to. He had no
objection to the proposition of Mr.. Da-
Wis, if there was reasonable grounds for
it.
Mr.. Davis said he would agree to
prove other frauds committed by federal
officers in Kentucky.
Mr. Fessenden of Maine, was afraid
that Mr.. Davis looked upon every one
connected with the government with
such jaundiced eye that he would, If
charged with the investigation proposed
unintentionally do them injustice. he
could not therefore agree with MIR.
Sherman that Mr.. Davis might with
propriety be intrusted with the conduct
of such an investigation. While he, Mr.
Fessenden, had charge OF these agencies,
he had heard OF a great many accusa-
tions against him, but they We're all un-
founded. Finally he adopted a rule to
compel all charges to be reduced TO VIII
ting and after that he had heard no
more.
Mr. Conness moved the poStponement
of the subject under consideration tor
the purpose of taking up the bill to
extend the time for the withdrawal OF
goods from the public warehouses.
Mr.. McDougal offered an amendment
| IU Dario' posolutinn so as to make it in
clude an investigation 1nIu all tho ohorg-
| es against government officers at New
Orleans AID in the Mississippi depart
| ment. MIR McDougal in the commence
| ment of his remarks, stated that he
knew Of man who had been rejected
| by the Senate for Captain and Quarter
master who was nothing but common
gambler i'll California, and not worth
10000 dollars. After his rejection by
the Senate he went down to New Or
| leans where his brother was in command.
He engaged in operations there and in
short time died, and by his will, which
w as received in the Surrogate Court in
New York, it was clear that he had made
100000 dollars. He supposed the Sen
ate knew who he meant
Mr.. Davis knew of several who had
gone into the army very poor, and had
| become rich on very moderate salaries.
| He confessed that he had his preIudloes
on this subject, and that he would com
mence the investigation with conNlc-
ton thatEthere was great deal OF
swindling done.
| Pending this discussion the morning
| hour expired. and the Joint resolution
| to amend the constitution of the United
States was taken up.
The Bankrupt bill was taken up and
| various sections discussed
| A bill was introduced glvIHg three
months pay TO officers honOrably'd dis
| charged the service since the 18th OF
April, 1860 Referred to the Military
| Committee.
| Adjourned.
HoUsE--The House was engaged IN
considering private bills.
Major General OsteThaus was formally
introduced 10 the House. The Speaker
made brief speech to which General
Osterhaus responded and was greeted
with applause. The members were then
personally introduced. Generals Crook
and Ward We're seyerally introduced to
the House amid applruse- The Speak
er introduced them in appropriate terms
to which they responded.
The House cencurred in the Senate's
amendments to the Freedmens Bureau
bill
The House proceeded to act on the
amendments reported from the commit
tee of the Whole to the Navy Appropri