New-York tribune., 1869-03-01

sENATE-THE CONTESTED ELECTION CASES
REPORT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AC-
CoUErs-THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT RATI-
FLED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF KANSAS
p, GEN. CAHBYs REPORT ON THE STATE OF
AFFAIRS IN TEXAS. -i ''i
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1859.
In the Senate last night Senators Sherman and Cole
introduced important to Cuba and
Greece, and Mr. Wilson bill to secure more equal
distribution of the National Bank circulation.
Schencks House bill to strengthen the public credit
was taken up, and most interesting debate ensued
lasting until midnight, when the bin passed by
the overwhelming vote of 80 to 16 Several amend
ments were made. but they were of such nature as
to insure no doubt Of the speedy concurrence by the
House. The passage OF this bill will be sufficient
indication to the world of the sentiment entertained
by the representatives Of the people Of this county
in regard to our national debt, notwithstanding that
hints are thrown out by some OF the particular
friends Of the President that he will cause 1t to fail
by pocket Veto s- . -.I.'@ s.''.'.. I''s''N
The time Of the House yesterday was CONSUMED
wholly in the settlement of contested election ease
from the State Of Louisiana. Great interest was
manifested for the reason that one Of the contest
ants was 4 fnlbbleoded negro J. Willis Menard by
name. Leave w0s given him to address the House
in his own behalf, which he did, occupying the floor
for 10 minutes. - The galleries crowded,
and tho House gave him its undivided
attention. no being the first negro in
the history of the country to whom the privilege
granted of addressing tho House Of Representatives
Io was very modest in his marks, refraining from
buncombe and merely reciting the facts OF his case
After long and tedious debate lasting all day, the
whole subject was laid on the table and the scat
allowed TO remain vacant The Indian bill was re-
ported from the Committee in the evening session.
and debated till adjournment.
T-t.. rac
next House will be unprecedented Already notices
have been received indicating that the number ex-
ceeds twenty and others are known to be in prepar-
ation A large amount Of documentary testimony
has been received by the Election Committee bearing
on the various IL is said by an officer OF tho
House that the expenses attending the Investigations
and pay OF conesting members willreach somewhere
in the neighborhood Of 100000 for the next Con-
gress II is likely that some effort will be made to
reform the present custom Of paying all contestants
whether successful OF not for tho time preceding the
decision Of the cases. ..r ..r rI
Con. Grant came down to Congress yesterday. and
had talk with Representatives Boutwell, and Grls-
void Il was Immediately binted that Boutwell, and
Grswold were going into the Cabinet but it appears
that the General only wished to consult with these
gentlemen about some legislation in regard to the re-
construction of Georgia The General is also drsiI1as
that no provisions viii DO made in the
Army bill which will prevent HIM i'ou
nominating Sherman 10 be General Sheridan 70 b,
Lieutenant-Genera Schofeld TO be Major-GeEera',
aud Reynolds aud Sjckles 20 DO Rugadisr- GENERALS.
A man named McKennan, from Western Pennsyl-
vana, said 20 be relative Of Gen. Grants, ana
whose father served for tree weeks rs Secretary oi
the Interior of President TayloTs Cabinet arrived
here to-day II is said 10y some that he is the coming
man from Pennsylvania Messrs. Hulburd aud
Churchill Of tho New-York delegation called on
Gen Grant last evening In the interest Of some New
York appointments.
The Hot, ~. NJ. Broomall. Chairman Of tho House
Committee on Accounts. reported last night III Iuu
npon the order of tho House TO investigate the con-
ngent disbursements Of the House for 1867 and 1868
II says Is great mistake To suppose that the
unnecessary expenses Of the House are as enormous
as some of the papers aTe fond of presenting them
Neither il il true that any glaring instances
Of fraud involving largo sums OF money,
can be traced 10 tho door of any member or
officer OF that body. The evils consist OF multpl
| city OF petty assaults upon the Contingent iuhu
| amounting in the aggregate 10 considerable sum-
but by 40 mcaps such TO satisfy the morbid taste
for enormous frauds that has been cultivated in tho
public mind Of late. All the expenses OF the House.
except salaries members aud officers, are paid out
! of tho Contingent fluid, aud all expenses must be
| approved by tho Committee of Accounts be-
| fore payment aud In the XLth Congress
over 400 distinct matters, amounting to over
! 10000 have bcen examined aud passed upon
J by this Committee The average annual amount OF
contingent expenses from 1888 TO 1861 inclusive, Is
AaJ 7O6 Extremes arc found highest in 1883 at
All SEP and lowest in 1863 at sl9s li. The of
1863 is an anomalous one the average OF the four pre-
| ceding years being <g3s.S6L This is 10 be
accounted for by the fact that the num-
| ber Of members in 1863 was at its mini
mum. and the additional fact that the necessi-
ties of war caused variety Of expenditures such rs
| the item of furnishing the Hall and Committee
rooms, which swell the expenditures of subsequent
years The frst or long sessions of Congress- from
8jth TO the 4is show the following range OF various
| items:
carriage 1000, sI.c71. ssll9. Sos o. 1908. S. io1.
Cierks 10 Copiaittees aud Temporary clerks-eeo9lg y
t6;sl tls $50 iisg3 tW9s folding documents aud MA
israis sSoSS. Hscs sCs.oco :iOcs, 6S' ssO0s tSc
al bidi%S GLOBES IN xxxvth.tsosts xxxynh H.
49, aaa 'hen S.i;SygRHs ~ list
XxxvlI-,t.s and the. 81 too Sdis"PPSSnrss A., "a,
h.s%%.oS hqss1t: ies.sssS S & i;si. $3.50 Ss.O
'SS Ss%:pSsGa-,Sa0 sa.G.Sa,Sa0 nsics HaSS, Hl,s1E s0s7s.
fSec, and Temporary Maa ''Sa' 'io1Ss.
RspcrSS and injhshi0 Daily GOoes1iosO, t2lcso.
| tls5C1, Slsg5l, s26,i7s. t3s.Jli. o,-,,....
gaa@s k:es Pasins s5 q, nSIts iss s,, ass stationery
Seis eJ Oon0resslgnal 09oe ~" appear " AAA'iAi""
| CoHgreSs -tio,ois, tJo,l4O tl'loo
These figures look large, and It Is not to be dehieu
that they are greatly in of what is necessary
pnl il is difficult to ascertain tho amount OF excess
Public affairs never can bo administered as econom-
icallv as those Of AN individual. No man doyotes his
whole attention 10 the interests of the community as
be does 10 his own The only fair method Is to con-