The New York herald., 1869-02-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, II

WASHiN6ION, rcu ., AooSs
ELECTION IN MISSISSIPPI.
Mr.. BECK, tdem.l OF KY, introduced bill provid-
ing for the holding OF an election In Mississippi Re-
ierred to the Committee on Reconstruction.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT
Mr.. Ella. trep.l Of N. H., from the Committee on
Printing reported joint resolution in relation to
the stationery contract OF the Interior Department
with Dempsey 4 O'Toole. 1t directs the Secretary
OF the Interior not to receive make payment for
100000 sheets OF bond paper claimed to have been
ordered At s4 c00 withhold the payment OF So $50
for printing 1900 patent heads, the work not hav-
ing been performed. Also, to withhold the value OF
$1,000 sheets Of bond paper at eight per sheet
now nthe custody OF the contractors Also to de-
duct from their unpaid bill the amount charged for
gooGs not included In the contract, above the ordi
nafy market price,
| and the reasons Tor the Jolnt resolution.
MIR LAFLIN, (rep.l Of N. Y, commended the indus
| Try. assldulty and regard for the public interests
manifested by Mr. Ella in the prosecution or the in-
veSrigaton. The language VI the report indicated
fair, liberal spirit towards all the parties involved In
the matter. The result OF the investigation showed
on the part OF the ocers OF the Interior Department
either gross stupidity, gross caressness, or gross
| crillnallty
! MIR. MILLER, (rep) OF Pa inquired whether these
features III the interior Department. took place under
| the present incumbent?
| Mr. LAFLIN replied that there was nothing in the
testimony taken before the committee that rejected
on the integrity or capacity OF the secretary OF the
|
| suDordinates in whom ne had confidence. lie went
| on TO show the defective and cheating principle on
! which the contract had been awarded, ins.anclng
the case OF bond paper which was contracted for
eight cents sheer, whereas fair profit would have
accrued at two cents sheet.
| Mr. MAYNARD rep.) of Tenn, asked Mr.. Latin
whether the contract system was not defective ana
| If il could not be changed.
| Mr. LAFLIN replied tnat, In the opinion OF the
Committee Printing, tire whole contract system
rs connected with stationery in all the departments
was wrong in principle and wrong in execution.
a md gn dcnnn rntH
Dill changing the whole system OF placing the
supply OF stationery under the same law and regula
OF his remarks ne made some re1ections upon the
Acting Commissioner OF Patents (Mr. Stout, intimat
ing tnat from certain facts which he stated there
must have been some understanding between Mr.
Stout and the contractors.
Mr.. CAKE. trep1 Of Pa. another member OF the
commlttee), remarked that he was not tender
about the secretary OF the Interior as the chairman
OF the committee seemed to be. He did not think the
Secretary's skirts clear did he coincide
in throwing the blame on Mr.. Stout, VINO was only
two months IN the position Of Acting Commissioner
OF Patents. He believed that il the investigation
had been carried through 0tner departments similar
| frauds would have been discovered
Mr. STEVENS, (rep) OF N. H., asked il the Secretary
Mr. Ella said he was.
Mr.. sTEvENs-Then how can he dives himself Of
the responsibility for these ,rau1ss
Mr.. ELA-He u sometimes msled by cunning
subOrdinates.
MI. CovoDE rep) Of Pa. remarked that It was
evident high crime had been perpetrated. lie
wanted to know VINO was the criminal. For paper
that should only cost 600 the government had paid
$4,000. Each member OF the committee seemed to
be defending some one against the charge and the
House was not informed who the high criminal was
After further discussion the JOINT resolution was
Mr.. Ella, from the same committee. reported bill
to provide stationery for Congress and the several
Departments; The bin provides that tue heads oi
Washington and the Secretary Of the Senate and the
Clerk OF the House shall have estimates made quar-
terly and at each succeeding session Of Congress- OF
the stationery required for the year, and that the
same Is to be supplied by the Congressional Printer
under contract. The Dill waS passed.
PERvERsR WITNESS rs.
The Sergeant-at-Arms at two O'Clock appeared be-
fore the bar or the House. having In custody Florence
Scannel OF New York, under u warrant issued by
the Speaker for contempt OF the House In refusing to
answer questions put to him BY the Select Commit
tee on the New YORK Election Frauds.
Mr.. LAWRENCE, trep.) of Ohio, Chairman OF the
Select Committee, offered the usual resolution, d.
recng the Speaker 70 ask the witness q 70 what ex
tons OF tue committee aud as 10 whether he was
now ready TO appear before the committee and
answer.
After some discussion between Messrs. LAWRENCE
WOOD and ROBINSON the resolution was adopted,
and the Speaker addressing Mr. Florence SCANNED,
put to him the two questions embodied In the re50-
Mr. Scanned, who was quite selFpossessed through
the scene, replied that he had reason for
fusng to answer except that he had given TO the
gentleman whose name the committee had required
him e e. dye promise that ne would not S mention ano
then, and the gentleman was willing his name
should be given. Consequently, he mr. Scannel)
was ready to appear before the committee and an
Mr.. scaflnel was then RENTED to custody until he
should be examined by the committee.
The Sergeant-atArms again appeared at the bar
with another recusant witness from New York,
Henry Johnson, In regard TO whom similar proceed
The SPEAKER stated that he had received letter
addressed 10 him rs Speaker from this witness,
place designated by the officer VINO had served the
summons and that the oncer was not present; sec
ond, that his pecuniary means had prevented him
from coming 10 Washington to obey the subpoena or
the committee. This letter, the speaker added, he
had presented TO the chairman Of the committee.
The witness Henry johnson, In reply 10 the two
questions put TO him by the Speaker directed by
tae resolution. sald"l have never refused or neg
lected TO obey the summons OF the committee, and
| an ready TO answer any questions that may now
be put 10 me.n
Mr. LAWRENCE, OF Ohio moved that the witness
remain in custody uniil he should De examined BY
A lively discussion arose between Messrs. Law.
HENCE WOOD. RoSNsoS BIN % and Others, Others, con,end,ng
and should be discharged from custody.
In the course OF the discussion Mr.. ROBINSON,
We have presented is the best example Of the yran
meal course which men VIII pursue when dressed in
the spEAKER, interrupting, said he doubted
whether those remarks were parliamentary.
Mr.. RoBfNsoN-I have made no reference TO any
member OF the House.
Mr.. INeERsoLL, lrep) Of H., required the words to
be taken down.
The words having been written out Dy the reporter
and read by the clerk, tie SPEAKER ruled that the
words were not parliamentary, the House Itself nsv-
ing ordered the investigation and having also or
deed the arrest for apparent contempt OF ais author
| ity. In reference TO the remark OF the gentleman
| from New York that he had not applied the words
TO any member, the SPEAKER thought that the nrst
part OF the language applied directly TO the rasac
tion before the House. which was the resolution on
| the New York election frauds.
| Mr.. ROBINSON rose to explain, but MI HlcBY
lrep OF CAL. and others objected, and he was re-
| Quired to resume his seat.
After considerable discussion the motion OF Mr..
\ LAWRENCE was agreed to, aud Henry Johnson was
RENTED to the custody OF the sergeanat Arms un-
I'll he shall have appeared before the committee ana
testified.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. ,
| Mr.. MOORE, (rep) OF N. j. presented the petition
OF John r. Bodne and eighty other citizens OF
williau,stown, N. j. praying that the constitution
of the United states be 80 amended that God shall be
| acknowledged as tho source OF all power and the
| Lord Jesus Christ as the ruler OF nations.
BRIDGING THE CONNECTICUT RIVER.
The House then took up the business OF tue morn
Ing hour-the bill reported Yesterday rom tne Com.