The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-13
THE FORTlETa CONGRESS-.
Second session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL 1867.

WASHINGTON, Dec IL 1891
mARuaL SUFFRAGE
Memorials were presented By Mr.. SuxsrR, irsp.) OF
Mass from citizens OF PeDps, ivania and by Mr. Poxs
Ror ep) OF Kansas from citizens Of Minnesota pray.
ing for impartial suffrage
THE COTTON TAI.
Mr. SHERMAN. rep, OF Ohio, reported from The Com.
meo Enance the bill in regard 10 the cotton ,ax
and gave notice that he would call 1t up Tomorrow.
HUDSON RIVER AID WET srsoRs RArIRoAp
Mr. HowAsp, trcp.l OF Mich, from tho Military CON-
mee reported back the bill granting the right OF way
through the lands West Point 70 tho Hudson River
ind West shore Railroad Company, which was passed
Contracts ron STATIONERY, ETC
M PATTERSON, (repJ cf ". from Committee
on Retrenenmcni, reported resolution that contracts
for stationery and other supplies for tho Executive De-
OF Tho country. and shall not DO made for . period
longer THAN onc ycar and that thoee persuns making
proposals shall be noiaei Of tho time and place Of
The resolution was adopted.
pEPARrxswr.
MT NvK, trep Of Nevada introduced n bin 10 amend
the various acts establishing the Navy Department
which referred 10 the Committee ON Naval Affairs
cArruRsp ABANDONED PROPERTY
On motion OF Mr. SHERNAs the Senate took up the bin
UNDER dscuiou Yesterday in regard 20 the proceeds Of
captured and abandoned property The question was
stated TO be on Mr.. Edmunts amendment
MT Epsv~rs trep OF VT. stated that since yesterday
he had learned thai the Secretary OF the Treasury
oses % sppon sss shs sness the ct
whether he had auth, rty 20 decide which captured
and abandoned property: The question had arisen
authority to submit questions 70 . commissioner and
particularly wnat had been called the Savannah cotton
The secretary Of a.. treasury, no bsSsd had sssn
Mp cotton In manner conEtctiug with that opinion
He r~ao letter from the Attorney General dated April
500 expressing The opinion that certain properly
unuslabiy sezed not having been sho property OF the
40 called Conedsras states This letter exoaerasd the
q ne 'res.o'y 'Im pess ss ,h blame me-.
Vas doubtless caused BY suca misapprehensou agsra-
waited ny dissatisfied claimants Of such property. Few
had any conception Of the trouble and difficulty eusaed
the Treasury Department by the largo amounts OF
property scattered all country vhicn had bean
sered Tn. law did not that the gross receipts OF
captured property should be paid into the Trcasury
Secretary Chase had established the prpcipe OF paying
tho expenses Of captured property Oh, Of the property
jushsny seized should no sold and The procseds paid
into The iressuryS Mr. Chase bad decided that would
b hIsi subject 10 proof The sixth section made
Il the duty Of The army ana navy selling
abandoned property to turn IL 10 the gov
e e.s They lad been n The haba o. sewing
tary ~ the treasury had property allowed proof OF
crsh'p 70 The act Of 1854 was provide that the pro-
the treasury under mich law be bad assumed the con-
troll Of that department lie had doubtless errsd In
cndorng opnian referred 10 Of tho Solicitor on ths
Treasury. without suncsnuy considering the difference
eeiwees captured aud abandoned property. But n
vssgaiisn would show ina, under his administrator
and popapy under that OF the Other Secretary, NO
property had been returned to owners when properly
subject 10 seizure They had exercised the most scra
puious csrssuch great care. indeed tha, part OF ths
ofcs SCI aside Tor that Investigation, with compe.
gentleman detscd 10 pronounce on the legal aspect
of the In addition to ha. he himself had always
examined the after their decision BY this bureau
and had sometimes set them aside He read from a re-
port Of The Secretary 81 the Treasury showing TIE d-
cues that bad arisen from such seizures some Of them
from MISREPRESENTATION, some being found fraudulent
The extent OF dues thcse officers were called upon
10 discharge and the principles under which they acted
IN attending 20 these duties we're numerose Mr.
NcCOiocn had simply followed the course marked out
ty himself and hgs predecessor, AMI he felt called ut,
10 come forward and take share " the blame In sny
proper IA regard 20 the $500 600 deposited
carty IN the SIMEON Draper matter. lie said that
had been taken because OF the transfer % the
claim In question 10 the Circuit Court OF New York on
account OF supposed Enffiendy eeng the part she
ssis IL wnlSa II hsa bssa previously bsosSbi ssssrSA