Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-02-10
Washington City Gossip.

the 4th, in the committee room where the
investigation about Wells, Fargo & Co. was
going on. Mr. Broomall, of Pennsylvania,
was conducting the examination of the
Washington correspondent of the Evening
Press Association, who is well known here,
and who is as respectable as any member oi
| Congress. After swearing the witness,
Broomall asked him if he was the author Of
a certain dispatch, and upon receiving an
affirmative answer, said it was a lie from be-
| ginning to end. He then, after some ques-
tioning, went into a most sweeping and bit.
ter denunciation of newspaper men, and par
| ticularly of Washington correspondents. He
| said in substance that their souls. brains, and
! principles were for sale, and he would no,
believe them on oath. He continued this
abuse till interrupted by Mr.. Getz, of Penn
sylvania, who informed the witness that in
| spite of what the Chairman said, there were
| two members of the Committee (alluding to
himself and Mr.. Plantz, of Ohio, who did
not share such views. The attack of Broo-
mall was SO gross that the photographer
was directed to omit portions of it. The wit
ness then said he would not submit to an ex-
animation in such a manner, when Broomall
threatened him with the power of the House
to compel him TO testify. The matter is the
subject of very general talk tonight, and the
opinion is general that the whole thing was
a cowardly abuse of the power Chairman
Of Congressional Committee has over wit
ness.
A resolution was introduced into the
House, last week, providing for the pay
ment of $4,000 to Mrs. Lincoln and her
children. The resolution was referred to the
Committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Orth. of Indiana, introduced reso-
luton into the House, to receive San Do
mingo as a territory whenever her people
should demand it. The resolution was ta-
bled by vote of 10 to 81. 1t is said that
an effort will be made to bring it up again.
lfthe joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution for the the exten-
sion of suffrage, which was passed by two
thirds vote in the House on Saturday, should
pass the Senate by similar vote, and be
ratified by three-fourths of the State Legis-
latures, it will become part of the Consti-
tuition, and thence forward, while it remains
so, the right of any citizen to vote, without
distinction of race, color, or previous con-
dition of slavery" will be indisputable.
The amendment forbids the United States,
or any State to make such distinction. IF
sec had been included, then the champions
of woman's rights would have been victori-
Gus, and the way to the ballot-box open to
under the amendment they possess, as ''cit-
izens," the right to vote.
The House seems to grow belligerent lat
terly. Hardly day passes, lately, that Demo
Gratis are not induced to raise small DON
nybrook Fair. On the 4th, after the dis
posal of the contumacious witnesses, by the
discharging of johnson and Scammel-the
latter being required to defray the expenses
incurred by bringing him here-the Indian
appropriation bill came up for discussion.
Delegate Holbrook, of Idaho, got the floor,
after debate by General Garfield and Messrs.
Window and Sidney Clarke on a motion of
the former to lay on the table, and denoun-
ced General Butler as having made state
ments that We're unqualifedy false. Mr..
Colfax called him to order Immediately, de.
claring such language insulting to the House
and wholly unwarrantable in parliamentary
debate. Holbrook, however, declared that
he would not withdraw it; thereupon Gen.
Sehenck offered a resolution of censure Hol-
brook stood in sulen defiance, not at all real
izing the humiliating and disgraceful posi-
tion in which he was placed. Holbrook was
brought to the bar, and the Speaker admin
istered severe eensure. The Democrats
even were ashamed of their colleague, and
none we're SO poor to do him reverence.
A resolution, to increase the salary of the
President to 800, 900 after the 4th or March
next, was referred to committe on appropri-
ations.
Mr. Schenck, of Ohio, remarked in the
House, several days ago, that he believed
the receipts from customs and internal taxes
the next fiscal year, would exceed four hun.
dred millions of dollars, leaving handsome
margin, after the payment of all ordinary
expenses and interest on the public debt, to-
wards the gradual extinguishing of the debt
itself. This is an encouraging view of the
national finances, and we sincerely hope it
may be fully realized.
The Paraguryan Dictator has given up
the Americans, Bliss and Masterman, whom
he has been accused of holding confined as
prisoners of State. 1t is said that Lopez re-
quires that they shall be tried in this coun-
try for conspiracy against his authority All
the trial they will be likely to receive here
will be of the same sort as that which has
already been held, by public opinion, upon
the late Minister Washburne.
Among the callers on Gen. Grant, recent
ly, was an inquisitive member of Congress,
who threw out feeler in the shape of a re-
marx that he had understood that President
johnson did not inoend to invite the Gener-
al to ride to the Capitol with him on inaug-
uration day. General Grant promptly re-
piled THAT there was constitutional reauir-
ment that would render it necessary for him