The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-10
xxx coneREss---F1Rsr sEssro,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.


troduced to the House.. The Speaker made
responded, and was greeted with applause.
The members were then personally intro
duced to him.
Generals Cook and Ward were also sever
ally introduced by the Speaker, in appropri.
ate terms, to which they responded.
The House concurred in the Senate
amendment to the Freedmen's Bureau bill.
The House proceeded to act on the amend.
ments reported by the Committee Of the
Whole to the navy appropriation bill.
The House concurred in the report of the
Committee of the Whole, striking out the
appropriation of S298, 900 for machine shop
and marine buildings at Brooklyn Navy
Yard, with other similar items, but retaining
the sl05, 900 appropriation for the island ad
joining the Portsmouth Navy Yard.
All items for the Boston navy yard were
retained, except S25 600 for the purchase OF
the right of drainage through the yard now
held by the city Of Charlestown, Sl67, ,3sl
for officers buildings, $3.50 for the pur-
chase of oakum and Eldridge's wharf, $4,000
each for the protection of public property at
Norfolk and Pensacola yards, were retained.
All other items for those yards being ex-
plunged.
An additional section was added making
appropriation a. bounties for the destruction
of the enemy's vessels during the rebellion,
applicable to oil cases; also new section
that no part of the amount appropriated shall
be paid in violation of the act prescribing the
oath of office. The bill then passed
The bankrupt bill was taken up and various
sections discussed.
A bill was introduced giving three months
Ia n =
10Th of April, 1865. Referred TO the Military
Committee.
Adjourned.
Mr. Cowan presented petition in favor of
a protective tariff.
Mr.. Sherman presented petition for re-
duction of the tax on agriculturalimplements
These petitions were referred 10 the FL
nance Committee.
Mr.. Guthrie, of Kentucky, presented the
credentials OF George Houston, Senator elect
from Alabama. for the short term. Mr. Guth-
rie stated that Mr.. Houston, during the war,
was consistent Union man. The creden.
tials were ordered to lie upon the table
Mr.. Sherman presented resolution, which
was agreed to. calling upon the Secretary Of
War for a compendium of medical statistics
collected during the war.
Mr.. Davis, Of by, offered a resolution de-
claring that as charges of speculation aud
fraud had been made against the cotton agents
of the treasury department, therefore
Res0tred, That committee be raised to in
vestigate such charges.
Mr.. Davis had been informed from various
sources of the truth of these statements He
had been told by friend of his, who had
means of knowing, that within his own expe-
rience in the South there was not ms Oh CON
nected with the treasury department, within a
scope of thousand miles, who had not been
corrupted. He would agree TO substantiate
the charges If the committee was formed.
Mr.. Sherman said that the charge of Mr..
Davis was very sweeping in its character
The Secretary Of the Treasury had told him
that the most violent charges were generally
brought against the most faithful officers He
called upon Mr.. Davis to make specific
charge, and he would guarantee fair lnyes-
tlgation.
Mr.. Davis called for the appointment Of a
committee, the majority of whom would be
favorable to a fair investigation. He had
been told that Gen. Dana, while in command
on the Mississippi, had sei4ed and appropria-
ted cotton belonging to private citizen, and
used the proceeds for his own benefit. He
did not think it fair to place such an nvesti-
cation in the hands of men who wanted to
stitie If. He would ask nothing more than a
fair committee.
Mr.. Sherman said that while he was a
member of the House he would never sane
ton an investigation of charges against a
Democratic Administration until they were
properly certified to. He had no objection
to the proposition of Mr.. Davis, if there was
reasonable grounds for it.
Mr.. Davis said lie would agree 10 prove
frauds if the Committee was raised. He
would agree to prove frauds, in the name
of the Government, committed by Federal
officers In Kentucky
Mr.. Fessenden, of Maine. was afraid that
Mr.. Davis looked upon every one connected
with the Government with jaundiced eye :
that he would, if charged with the investiga-
tions proposed, undoubtedly do them injus-
tice. He could not, therefore, agree with
Mr.. Sherman that Mr.. Davis might with pro.
priety be intrusted with tha conduct OF such
an investigation. While he (Mr. Fessenden)
had charge of these cotton agencies, he had
heard great many accusations against men,
but they were all unfounded. He had re-
quested all charges to be in writing, and after
that had heard no more complaints, and
no man would take the responsibility of ma.
king charges against those agents. The Pres
ident and Secretary of the Treasury were
competent and faithful in discharging their
duties. He repelled the charge that Mr..
McCulloeh had refused to do justice to any
man. No commtte is needed until there are
definite and specific charges to investigate.
Mr.. Conness moved the postponement OF
the subject under consideration for the pur-
pose Of taking up the bill to extend the time
for ha RI Il ,r l. G. L
houses.
Mr.. McDougal offered an amendment to
Mr.. Davis resolution, so as to make it in
clude an Investigation into all the charges
against Government officers at New Orleans
and in the Mississippi Department.
Mr.. McDougal, in the course of his re-
marks, stated that he knew of man who
had been rejected by the Senate for Quarter
master. who was nothing but common gam
bier in California, not worth ten dollars.
After his rejection by the Senate, he went
down to New Orleans where his brother was
in command. He engaged in operations there
and in short time he died, and by his will,
which was now in the SurrogateB Court in
New York, it was clear that he had made
100000. He supposed the Senate knew
who he meant. The name of Benz. B. Butler
was familiar to all.
Mr.. Conness moved to lay Mr.. Davis reso-
luton on the table, which was negatived
Mr.. Davis knew of several who had gone
into the army very poor and become rich on
very moderate salaries. He confessed that he
had his prejudice on the subject, and tha. he
would commence the investigation with a
conviction that there was great deal oi
swindlins done. He would not ask to be upon
the committee. All he would ask was for a
committee aud fair investigation. Such q
committee and such an investigation might
bring millions into the treasury.
Pending this discussion the morning hou,
expired and the joint resolution to amend the
Ccn Sfifnfinn of tho IIr;toA C4a4..