The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-06-11
HOUSE.

The Senate bill to regulate credits TO
prisoners for good behavior was passed.
Mr.. Davis reported bill amendatory
of the act for the removal of causes IN
certain cases from State 10 Federal
Courts, bv extending their application
to cases of ejectment where the parties
in interest are citizens of different States,
which was passed
Mr. Fitch as a question of privilege
called attention to the statement OF the
correspondent of the New York Post,
that General Butler had said TO him
that there was no direct evidence
against Mr.. Fitch, but that there was
indirect testimony.
Mr. Butler replied that it was not
correct and said he had not YET heen
able to report because the Judiciary
committee was too pressed with bust
ness to reach the subject but hoped to
do so by Monday next. In reference
to this correspondent he had simply
been asked a question by him not az he
understood affecting the gentleman
from Nevada. In reply TO the question
bv Mr.. Mccormick, Mr. Butler made a
similar statement.
Mr.. Fitch Offered the following reso-
luton:
Resolced, That W. Scott Smith, re-
porter ofthe New York Evening Post
be brought to the bar Of the House to
show cause, if he can, why he should
not he expelled from the reporter gal
lerv for libelous statements rejecting
upon members OF the House.
4 discussion cnsued, attended by Il
good deal Of confusion and excitement
Messrs. Dawes. Garfield and Butler
thought the proper course to he pur-
sued was to refer the matter to com
mittec
Mr.. Eldridge thought it better to
take them one at time.
Messrs. Farnsworth and ScofeId,
who expressed the opinion Of the core
spondcnts OF the New York papers par
ticularly, and of some Of the PhlIa-
delphia and Western papers, were very
truthful and careful as to what they
said affecting mems regulations,
and Mr. Bingham recalled similar
cases in both Houses Finally, the
resolution was adopted, without divl-
sion.
The Speaker submitted, as question
of privilege, q letter from Jas. II. Porter,
REPRESENTATIVE from Virginia, relating
to the circumstances OF the assault re-
Gently made upon him with murderous
intent. in Richmond, 10y a person named
Patrick Woods, alias Pat Dooley. The
letter having been read, Nj. Ward
Offered a resolution directing the Speaker
TO issue warrant TO the Scrgeant-at-
Arms for the arrest OF Woods and his
detention. Adopted.
At l:30 the door-keeper and an assist
ant of the Sergeant-at-Armsa appeared at
the bar of the House having in custody
Mr.. W. Scott Smith reporter OF the New
York Evening Post Smith having
been placed in the area fronting the
Speakers chair, the Clerk read the res
olution under which the arrest was
made and the communication and dis
patch complained OF
The Speaker said Mr.. Smith, the
House has adopted resolution requir-
ing YOU to appear at the bar and show
cause WHY you should not be expelled
from the privilege you now occupy as
one of the reporters in the gallery for
these alleged libels on members of the
House. You are at liberty to speak.
Mr.. Smith, in response, presented the
following communication:
70 tie Speaker Of tie Ho"'r Of Repre-
SentdtjceS
In regard to my first dispatch in the
New York Evening Post on Monday,
June 6, 1870, the statements contained
therein were based on official docu-
ments, and the names set forth in this
disratch were the same as contained in
said documents.
Second. Upon these statements being
denied 10y Mr.. Fitch in the House of
Representatives called upon General
B. +. Butler and conversed with
him upon the subject. asked
him whether he intended to state
in the House that there were evidences
before his committee to implicatc Mr..
Fitch General Butler said this was
not the exact meaning, but that Mr..
Fitch's name appeared in the affidavit
of Mr.. w. 3. TAYLOR As having been
approached, and a copy OF the affidavit
was among the papers before his inves
tigating committee, but he did not con
slider this as directly duplicating Mr.
Fitch. In reply to question, General
Butler further said that the names o.
all the members mentioned in my dis
patch appeared in the affidavit OF Mr.
/ Taylor a. having been approached BY
him to secure their aid in the above cause
Signed w. ScnTr SMITH.
Mr.. Fitch, through the Speaker
asked what was the character of thu
official documents and who exhibited
them? To this answer mas made tina
| the papers were the afiidavits of \. B
TAYLOR and others before the granc
iurv. Several resolutions were offeret
to compel the witnesses to disclos
whence their information came, to expe
him from the reporters gallery, to Ia
; the whole subject on the table Nue.
excitement prevailed. Finally resc
luton TO appoint special committe c
FIVE to investigate the matter, wit