New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-18


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN THE SENATE
AND HOUsE-THE CASE OF w. w. CORCORAN
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-RE-
FORT ON THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Feb. II, 1869
.(he Judiciary Committee of the Senate. at their
meeting to-day after disposing of large amount Oh
current and unimportant business, instructed tnen
Chairman to report back the bill which passed. tn0
House providing for the submission of the CohS''u
ton framed by the Constitutional ConVehuUn -
Georgia. TO the people thereof, with an amendment
ono,,;r,, a sorarote vote ON the acknowledgements
olanse II is thought this action will be Satisfactory
20 large majority of the people of the State IL is
understood that the House Reconstruction CommlV-
toe will concur with the Senate in the matter Inc
action of the Committee in reporting against INC
admission Of Dr. Miller as q Senator from Georgia
indicates determination not to allow that State 10
have representation until she has fully complied
with the Reconstruction acts.
The Committee appointed by the Board OF Irus-
tees of Howard University, to cause examination ny
competent persons of material used III the DulIsS'
reported to the Board on Monday evening. Inc IT,
sults of experiments made and already puphsneu III
substance were submitted, together with partial
report from DR.. Craig the Chemist of the Surgeon
Generals Department. made at the request OF Prof.
Henry of the Smithsonian Institute. The facts re-
qarding the experiments Of both given without
expressing anys opinion as to the safety OF the
bnildipg. subcommittee was appointed to
prepare a report for publication. Dr. Craigs
letter was considered by many of the
BOARD as very unfavorable. Before adjournment
two Of the five members of the Examining Com
mittee and one member of the Board presented pa
per setting forth substantially that further occu-
pancy of the University building will not be pru-
dent, unless some such suggestions as those OF
architect Clarke for an inside framework be adopted
final report of experiments to be made to Gen.
Hardie, will show that building block under the
same patent is manufactured in the vicinity OF New
York and at various other points. experiments
prove that most of the specimens from these places arc
between two and three times as strong as those mace
here and the difference is attributed to the inferior
quality of sand, and want of care in its manufac-
ture.
In the Senate to-day a number of important bills
and resolutions were reported among Others one
from the Judiciary Committee that the Presidents
late Amnesty Procamations were without authority
of the Constitution OF laws Mr.. Stewart early in
the morning hour, got up the House message on the
Constitutional Amendment, and his first motion was
to agree to o Committee of Conference, but finding
no prospect of success with this motion, he changed
it to motion to recede from the Senate proposition
Then the disorderly scene of yesterday was
repeated, the Senate, getting itself into
q tangle from which, at one time, ex-
traction seemed hopeless First. Mr.. Wade would
decide question way, and anon he would secede
and decide it another, in consequence of which
appeal after appeal prolonged his curious rulings
The Senate half the time did not know what Ques-
ton was really before it, Sometimes, when the roll
was being called. Senators would arrest it half way
and make counter motions, which were received by
A. III.
record the proceedings, they will form a
singular chapter in Parliamentary annals.
Mr.. Stewart, who has had charge of this
amendment from the beginning, displayed
considerable bad temper at Ihis poor success
IN tue effort to rdsl tning through and his argu
uents that if the House measure was not cononrred
In there would be no Constitutional Amendment
passed had but little effect Senators would not give
up their individual opinions, and Mr.. Fessenden
newed the expression of his distinguished disgust
In which he was ably supported by Mr. Nye. The
Democrats seemed to regard the whole affair
as o family quarrel and did not take part
In the proceedings beyond fillibustering. by
making numerous motions to adjourn. During
the whole afternoon the greatest confusion pre-
vailed, and the chair was constantly rapping for
order As 1t grew later the Senate thinned out from
Senators constantly going below for refreshments,
and then little more decorum was observed The
motion to concur in the House amendment received
81 votes for TO q against, which was not twOthrds
Mr. Stewart then brought forward the original prop
ostion reported by him from the Judiciary Com
mittee, which was finally adopted.
In the House to-day the bill reported by the Bank
ing and Currency Committee providing for a re-
distribution of the currency, was taken up and
disposed Of after dreary and uninterestng fight,
occupying the whole days session. Mr.. Blaine acting
as Speaker pro tempore had his hands full in manag
ing the House, whose members at times showed
symptoms of disorder. He did it admirably,
however, notwithstanding the many difficulties
attending the bill under consideration The
principle fight was made on Coburns amendment
which was looked upon by the Eastern men as vir-
tually expansion. 1t was carried, however by
small majority after the Yeas and Nays had been
called half-dozen times. The Western and South
ern got to quarrelng among themselves on
section offered by Ingersol, which was looked upon
acOmpromise for Columns amendment This d-
vision among the expansionsts led to the defeat Of
the BILL motion to table 1T prevailing An effort
Will be made tomorrow to recOnsder the vote tabling
the bill.
The evening session devoted to the consdera-
tion of the Army Appropriation bill. Gen. Butler
commanded the close attention of the House In a
comprehensive and exceedingly forcble argument in
favor Of his plan for the reduction of the army No
definite action was taken.
The Senate Committee on the District of Coumbia
were IN session for some two hours this morning
having under consideration the claim Of w. W. Cor
coran, esq Senator Bayard, who had been handed
copy Of tine testimony of the witness Brener made
quite an address 10 the Committee. He denied that
lie had ever made any such remark in refer
ence 20 Mr. Lincoln as had been attributed
III