The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-19
XLIID CONGRESS..SECOND SESSION.

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XLIID CONGRESS--SECOND SESSION
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-Several petitions
were referred, including one by Mr.. Sumner O
the negroes of Rhode Island, stating that the,
are outraged and degraded, asking the passag,
OF a supplementary civil rights bin.
MIR. Fentou prese nted a memorial from the
Presidents of the Canandoga and Saginaw Sal
Companies, charging that some Eastern seat i'm
porterS have issued a circular throughout the
country soliciting names to petition for the
repeal of the salt dates and alleging that the
statements in said circular are false. They ask
Congress to delay action on such petitions unit
said presidents forward documents giving q
faithful exhibit of the facts.
A petition was presented from Boston and
New York merchants relative to the duties paid
on Russian hemp.
Mr. Corbett introduced bill that the nation
al banks on the 18th of January, 1872, shall
have three per cent in gold coin on hand OF
their aggregate circulation increasing thereafter
annually until they have 10 per cent. and there
after to keep reserve in gold instead of legal
tenders. Ordered to be printed
Mr.. Conkling offered the following:
Whereas, 1t has been declared in the Senate
that at New York there exists and is maintain
ed by government officers, under the name of
General Order business INDUSTRIOUS abuse,
fraudulent in character; and
Whereas, The following statement has been
made by Senator there sets forth Mr.. Schurz' S
statement about Mr.. Leet and head of the
General Order business and the mysterious
power sustaining him against the protests of
merchants and the wish Of the Secretary of the
Treasury;) therefore,
ReSolUed That the Committee of Investiga-
ton and Retrenchment be instructed to inquire
into the matter fully and particularly whether
any COLLISION or improper connection with such
business exists ON the part of any officer of the
United States, and further to inquire whether
any officer has been or is known by his superior
officers to be guilty of bribery, taking brides or
other crimes or miSdemeanors and the commit
tee is authorized to send for persons and
papers
Mr.. Anthony of Rhode Island, moved that
Messrs. Buckingham, Pratt, Howe, Harland
Stewart, Pool and Bayard be appointed a Re-
trenchment Committee.
Mr. Sumner said he was much surprised at
the composition of the committee as he missed
the names of Trumbull, Schurz and others who
had been active in pressing for an lnvestlga-
ton, he thought such course inexplicable and
simply called attention to the fact that those
named by the resolution of Mr. Anthony had
taken no part either by speech or vote in urging
this enquiry.
ment of the committee was strictly parliament
tary. The committee was voted for unani-
mously. Senator Trumbull had moved for a
joint committee, and that been agreed upon he
(Trumbull) would have been entitled to the
craftsmanship, but the resolution under which
this committee was appointed was moved by
himself ANTHONY and in appointed by the
chair, he (Anthony) would have asked to be eX-
cused serving as chairman. He didn't know
what the Senator means when he speaks to
know that any Senator opposed the most search
ing enquiry into any charges of corruption by
whomsoever made. 1t was the first time in his
experience that he ever heard committee OBJ
jected to on account of its character, and he
was glad that the first experiment had been
tried upon Senators against whom so little can
be said Mr.. Thurman disclaimed any dispar-
agement of the character of the committee,
claiming that he was only enquiring whether
the proposed committee was in accordance with
parliamentary usages. There was rule, that
aSenator moving an enquiry be put at the head
of such committee; but Mr.. Trumbull was not
put at its head in response to the statement of
Mr.. Buckingham that Mr. Trumbull privately
declined to be either chairman or ON the COM
mttee.
Mr. Trumbull said that after the Senate voted
down the proposition for committee and to
refer to it the subjects specified and then pro-
posed simply to raise q committee without pow
ers, except as the Senate should subsequently
confer upon it, he did decline to serve on a COM
mittee raised in that way.
Mr.. Thurman claimed that the minority had
not been consulted as to the selection of their
representation on the committee.
Mr.. Bayard thought Mr.. Summers criticisms
just He believed that the design in making
up the committee with only one Democrat, was
that when a Senator offers q resolution of in
quiry in some particular case, he implies that
40 other case should be Investigated.
Mr.. Howe desired Mr.. Bayard to understand
that he would go as far as he, (Bayard) in in
vestigating any branch of the public service
and would vote for the most radical, sweeping,
Investigation he knows how to contrive
Mr.. Bayard -ccepted Mr.. Howe's pledge and
woold offer as substitute Mr. TrumbulPs
proposition believing that although MIR. Conk-
ing voted against it before, he would support
It now.
Mr.. Conklng said he voted against embody-
ing Mr.. Trumbulps proposition on the rules of
The Senate, but was always ready to vote for
The most sweeping Investigations. The country
should understand that there was no monopoly
side, and Mr. Bayard knew him (Conkling)
we'll enough to know that he earnestly desired
90 discover and punish frauds.
Mr.. Bayard claimed that there was incon-
sistency in Mr.. Conkling's position, as he voted
against the investigation Thursday.
Mr.. Bayard asserted that every man who had
Attempted any endeavors to point out abuses IN
the administration had been attacked and, il
possible, crushed. David A. Wells had been so
created. -Whenever one on the other side OF the
House asked for an investigation Of fraud or
corruption he was accused of aiming at the
President Why should the friends of the adj
ninistration identify their chief with its abuses?
Nevertheless the country would insist on an in
vestigation. The country would like to know
whether it was true, as stated by the New York
Tribune, that the affairs of the Republican
party in New York State had been controlled
oy federal patronage under the management Of
inc late collector of New York. 1t would like
to know whether it was true whether Cabinet
Ulcers had gone into other States and inter-
tered in State matters; whether, for instance,
che Attorney General of the United States
went into North Carolina pending the State
canvass involving an amendment to the State
Constitution and there attempted to intimidate
voters by telling them that after they had re-
formed that Constitution and made it more ac-
ceptable to the people, their actions would be
nullified by the recognition by the Federal Gov
eminent of the State Government, which had
been rejected by the voice of the people. The
country would like to know whether it was true
that the Executive power ever cast its shadow
into this Chamber and attempted to influence
the actions of Senators either by promises of
reward or by threatening tones of vengeance to
be taken upon those who had the misfortune to
be the offenders friends. All these were fit
subjects for Investigations but an investigation
to effect anything must be made by men will
character but of opinion. The Senator from
Indiana (Morton( for instance, would be an
unfit member of this committee, because he de-
clared the other day that ours was the best
civil service i'll the world.
Mr. Morton reiterated his belief that our civil
service is better than that of any European
country.
Mr. Conkling avowed his willingness to give
the Democrats another member of the commit
tee, and said he had understood the Senator
from Delaware to ask him for information in
regard to certain alleged transactions connected
Mr. Bayard said his inquiry, so far as he
made one, was directed to a senior Senator from
New York.
Mr.. Conkling said he was senior Senator.
Mr.. Bayard-I meant some other Senator. l
have been so accustomed to associate the idea of
youth and beauty with the Senator who has
lust spoken that it never occurred to me that
he was senior Senator. (Laughter)~.
Mr.. Fenton said, the inquiry OF the Senator
from Delaware seems to demand a word of re-
ply from me. quite agree with my colleague
that it is better not to bring this matter on the
floor of the Senate, but if it shoald seem prop
er any time, shall attempt to show, and L
think can make such case as will satisfy al
most every Senator present. that the inquiry of
the Senator from Delaware was justified by the
facts of the case.
Mr.. Frelnghuysen argued that the committee
as proposed was in accordance with the require
ments of parliamentary laws.
Mr.. Sumner argued that Mr. Buckingham
having asked Mr.. Trumbull whether he would
accept the craftsmanship showed that he be-
lieved him entitled to it according to parliament
tary law, and this disclosure having been made
with regard to the Senator from Illinois (Mr.
TrumbulD, he would like to know whether the
Senator (Mr. Buckingham) had inquired wheth-
er other Senators, Schurz, for instance, would
accept the position.