Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-09
CONGRESSIONAL.


SkHATk-Aner our report closed yesterday
The bill TO admit North Carolina and other
southern states TO representation in Congress
was discussed mp TO the hour Of adjournment
oy nessrs. Nickers, salisbury, Norton, Trum-
bull sherman, and others.
HousK.-After our report closed yesterday
Mr.. Shellaberger (Ohio) offered Q resolution
that Chas. W. Wooiley, who ts now under ar
rest for contempt Of the order of the House. be
ordered TO the bar of the House to make a state.
ment to purge himself of the contempt Of the
order of the House.
The Sergeant-at Arms then presented Mr..
/ Woolley i'm front Of the Speakers desk
The resolution just adopted was then read by
the Clerk.
( The Speaker to Mr.. woolIey. Are you
ready to make such explanation as will purge
/ House7
Mr.. Woolley. 1 am sir
MI; ooiiey then produced roll Of manu-
SCRIPT from his coat pocket, ard was about to
unite 1t, when
Mr. Shellaberger said the witness was here
ior ms contempt in refusing to answer q ques-
lon OF the committee, and could only purge
himself OF the contempt by pressing his will.
hngness TO answer the committee
MIR Eldridge raised the point Of order that
tnat was not the proper state of the case. Mr..
Wooiley comes here and proposes to make 8
statement which will purge him of contempt
He asks that the House will hear him, and Their
If the House orders him to answer a certain
question, be will obey the order.
The Speaker read the resolution, and said
that II contained two propositions, the first of
which was that Mr.. Woolley was in CONTEMPT
of the House, and the second that he be brought
here to answer that conttmpt.
MT. Woolley.-l have my answer and state
ment here in writing
Mr.. Shellabarger said he was not in the
House when the witness was committed, but
ne understood he was guilty of the contempt in
refusing to answer in the committee, and not
In refusing to answer TO this House, and all
that is required of him is to answer the COM
mittee He can say whether he is ready to do
so or not
Mr.. Woodward (Pa } argued that under the
resolution just adopted Mr.. Woolley had a
right 10 purge himself of the contempt in his
own way. and upon his own terms. The wit
ness Is In contempt Of the House for not an
sWering certain questions put to him by a
committee of the House, and il is impossible
Tor TINS House to prescribe rule and manner
for the witness TO purge himself II is per.
1ecuy competent for the witness TO show that
improper questions were put to him.
Mr.. GARFIELD said the House had on another
occasion ruled the questions to be proper. and
them.
Mr.. Woodward still insisted that the witness
could answer here in his own way.
Mr. Covode (Pa) said this whsle question
was unprecedented. He had never known a
I witness who was in contempt TO be allowed to
answer IN the House a question put to him by
,ne committee. The witness is not only in con-
tempt, but is also under a charge OF perjury
remark.
The Speaker said the committee had hitherto
made a report accusing WoOlley of perjury,
and ne would submit the resolution to the
house whether II was In order to thus allude
to IL.
Mr.. EIdridge protested against be subm,s.
sion OF all these questions 10 the House. and
contended that the Speaker should rule upon
them.
The question was put, and the House ruled
Mr.. Coyode in order by a vote of 30 TO s.
Mr.. Butler commended that the witness could
make no other purgation than 10 say whether
ne would or would not answer the question o
the committee, and in support of this PROPOSE.
ZION ne lnstanced the case of Thomas HYATT,
VINO was IN contempt in the Senate at the time
OF the John Brown rad. If the witness says
ne Will answer the question. then he will be
examined and discharged. If he still refuses TO
answer, he must be recommitted.
After some further discussion upon thus
Mr. Shellabarger offered a resolution that in
purging himself of the contempt for which
Charles W. Woolley has been committed by
the House, the said Woolley be req uired TO saw
II ne Is now willing 10 go before the Commit.
tee OF Managers OF the House, before which the
lnNesugauon Is In progress, and answer the
questions for the refusal 20 answer which he
mas oeen ordered into custody; and il he is
willing to answer, that he be summoned before
the Committee as soon as they can be convened
and that IN the meantime he remain in custody:
ana mat II ne still refuse 10 answer thar be be
again committed until he Is ready 10 make
answer to such questions as the committee
NAV require.
The Speaker then read the resolution to Mr..
Woolley, and propounded 10 him the ones
tons contained therein.
Mr.. WOolley.--I ask that the uupstions of tho
committee be read.
The Clerk read the questions that had been
propounded to the witness relative TO the dis
patches to Sheridan Shook, and the deposit with
Harney, ellis d Co., which the witness had
decllned TO answer, as they did not bear upon
the matter OF the lmpeac hment.
Mr. Eldridge made the point that the aues.
mo- fha
VIZ olley was in contempt, but that the oues-
ton was IN relation TO a sum OF si5,Oo0
Some discussion ensued with regard TO the
Mr.. Woolley SAID, if he was permitted 10 do
so. he would state what the question was.
The Speaker read the resolution under which
Mr.. oOlley was committed, add asked him il
be was ready TO answer all proper questions
put 10 him by the committee.
Mr.. Woolley.-I am.
After some discussion with regard TO who
should say what were proper questions, the
Speaker again propounded the inquiry. and
Mr.. Woolley said as his client had ans Wered
the questions read in the House, and inasmuch
as ne considered this partial order of the
House that he should answer these ouestions
he would answer them.
Mr.. Woolley then retired in custody of the
sergeant Arms, and the House took re-
cess.
The House reassembled. and as in Committee
OF the W hole, resumed the consideration of the
Tax bill.
The 55th section was amended on unotIsn of
MI Jenckes. by providing for continuance of
suits under the Revenue laws. upon cause
SHOWN on motion of the District Attorney
Also amended, on motion of Mr.. Garfield by
providing that In case of compromise of SUITS
the opinion OF the Solicitor shall be placed on
file.
Also amended. on motion OF Mr. Price nv
providing that NO compromise of a suit shall
be effected unless The party offending shall nav
penalty double the amount Of the tax
Section t5 was amended on Mr. Schenck's
motion, by providing that when an offence is
commit ed in one district and continued in an.
other II may be punished in either.
A new section was inserted after the 6-th
providing that the Revenue Commits ioner NAV.
IN his discretion, remit all penalties against any
person who may before proceedings are COM
menced against himself. discover the guilt of
other parties who may have been en- ged with
him.
Section ., which relates TO transfer of suits
from State to Federal Courts. was amen ded nv
proyiso giving United States Circuit Courts
original jurisdiction IN all revenue cases No
material amendments Were made TO the other
sections discussed. Adjourned.
TTHE WASHINGTON COOPERATIVE
uS BCILDlNG AND DE- POSIT ASSOCIA-
EL