New-York tribune., 1871-04-12
XLIID CONGRESS-1st Session.
A FEEBLE ATTACK ON THE TRIBUNE's WASH
NGTON DIsPATCHES-THEIR CORRECTNESS
REAFFIRMED-THE KU-KLUX BILL DEBAlED
IN THE sENATE-OFPOsITION 10 THE SEN
ATE AMENDMENTS TO THE DEFICIENCY BILL


ATE AMENDMENTS TO THE DEFICIENCY BILL
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSg1
WASHINGTON Tuesday, April II, 1871.
Mr. Conklng, relying the fact that the Injunction OF
secrecy imposed Senators in regard to the proceed
ings In Executive session would prevent denial OF any
thing he might say about THE TRIBUSEs report OF the
debates, last week, on the NewYork nominations made
a very guarded statement to-day, concerning the
matter, in the form OF personal explanation" He
said that THE TRIBUNE on Saturday, and on
two preceding days, had published Washington
dispatches the debatesl in Executive session
on the New.York appointments, all OF which
were widely incorrect, and gave speeches
to have been made in Executive session. also that the
acts utterances and proceedings thus related did not
take place and that the vote and classification OF sena
tors are alike 1t win be noticed that Mr.
Conkng very adroty caused TO be read In the Senate
only the dispatch printed Saturday last, containnga
list OF Republican Senators who absent or refused
TO vote. This list may possibly contain some slight
errors. The names of at least two Republican Senator's
who not present when the vote taken were In
advertenty omitted but It is worthy Of notice that no
no Senator whose name printed as hav-
ing lodged tho vote has yet deemed proper
10 correct the record through THE TRBUsE's
Washington correspondent AS TO the dispatches printed
on Wednesday aud Friday, and which, for obvious
reasons Mr. Conklng did not deem proper to have read
to the Senate but which he said gave speeches errone
ousy supposed TO have been made In Executive session.
1t is only to repeat that they correct
and exact in every important particular and that Mr.
Conklng did not therefore, deem expedien to read
them In the hearing OF the Senate and then deny their
truth. This may explain why Mr. Conklng preferred TO
dispose OF the matter by making mild personal eI-
panation," instead Of urging compliance with the re-
quest which he is reported 10 have made OF prominent
Senator to a committee Of investigation, and give
IL power TO send for persons and papers.
Mr.. sherman offered in the Senate to-day an import
ant resolution, directing the Finance Committee during
tho recess to investigate the best method Of reducing
the Tax and Tariff imports so as to produce revenue
sufficient only to meet the current expenses Of the Gov
ernment and execute the laws In relation to the public
debt 1t will up for action tomorrow. Mr. Robert
son. the Chairman Of the Committee Disabilities gave
notice that he would ask the Senate to take action on the
Amnesty bill this session. To consider the BILL under
the present rule OF business will require unanimous con-
sent and this cannot be obtained for Mr. Edmunds and
several other Senators win object II Mr Robertson gets
II before the Senate, II only be done by moving TO
amend the order OF business so as TO include in the
matters be considered, the subject OF Amnesty II Ia
thought that majority Of the Senate will agree to this,
but whether twothrds vote can be obtained to pass
the b is doubtful. Mr.. Edmunds again moved to lay
the case OF Foster Bodgett the table, which was
carried by close vote. The Ku-Klux bill was
then taken up and debated for about five hours. On
tho Democratic side, Messrs. johnson and Stock
ton spoke against the bill. Mr.. Ames read
speech, which was mostly devoted to Frank Blair
and which he administered some scathing rebukes to
the latter When he said that Mr. Blars tongue was his
profession the force Of the remark much appre-
ciated Mr. Edmunds briefly explained the BILL and the va
rious amendments reported by the Judiciary Committee
designed he said merely to perfect the BILL Mr. Trumbun
attacked the amendments, which, he conended enlarged
scope Of the bill very materially and declared that
he would pos support them, although he was willing TO
vote for the House Dill without amendment He rather
surprised his listeners by maintaining that the XVIII
Amendment conferred additional power on Congress 70
protect the rights Of the citizen He also opposed the
suspension Of the writ OF habeas corpus When he con-
cluded, the Senate adjourned.
The Senate Finance Committee are unanimously In
favor Of Senator shermans Tax and Tariff resolution and
though 1t is not probable that they will hold any sessions
until late in the Summer, they will then take up the
subject and examine 1t carefully that when Congress
meets In December, bill will be presented which will
accomplish the objects sought The Income Tax will
probably be the first abolished and Senator sher-
man. who has always opposed Its abrogatiOn believes
that by next Winter 1t may be abolished with entire
safety He says that he has no doubt that the taxes
next year can be reduced hfty millions of dollars
Mr. Dawes in opening the debate on the Deficiency
Appropriation b this morning. was very severe on the
Senate for making order to into no general legsa-
tlon and then cramrning into an appropriation bill all
the jobs stranged by the last Congress which any Sen
ator could get majority Of the Senate to agree to. be-
side many new ones never heard OF before. The old
syndles Mr. Dawes said the Special Committee would
not ask the House consider again, and many Of the
new items would be treated in the same summary
manner while few OF the provisions the Committee
would recommend In either with OF with
out modification. The District OF Columbia was any.
thing but modest in Its wants Having secured wooden
uayement on Pennsyvaniaaye from the Capitol to the
Treasury Department at immense cost to the Govern
ment q few people OF Washington who have splendid
turnouts desire have that fashionable drive extended
TO Georgetown, the cost OF the pavement
being estimated at about 100000, 100000 OF
which the Government is asked to pay The Committee
however merely recommended that $4,000 be appropr-
ated for repairing the present pavement Another mag
nicent scheme for beautfyng Washington, at the eI-
pense Of the public Treasury, was for converting the
Government reservations lying between the Capitoland
the Presidents house, into park, without expense 10
the Government that is, by selling OF the other real
estate now owned here by tho United States, ana
not occupied by buildings. Mr.. Dawes killed this propo
son by showing that to I'LL up portion OF the Potomac
River according to the plan submitted would cost $780,
600. Mr. Cox Of New-York made speech on
Revenue Reform" 1t abounded in "glitering gener-
atles without foundation and without meaning as was
strigingly demonstrated when Judge Kelley repeatedly
demanded OF the speaker whether he was In raVOr OF
raising any whatever and 30, whether ne was
I'm favor OF raising IL by two extensive systems OF only
one Mr. Cox would not OF course answer ths ques'on
Mr. Beck called attention to one OF two points OF the
bione to feed certain Indians who though they nave
no treaty claim Congress- have been placed on reseya
tons and must be fed II kept there He called attention
70 the fact that in 1861 Congress refused to make similar
appropriation the result was that the year an ap
propriaon of necessary topay for chasing
these Indians all over the Plains, and killing about 20
OF them The other Senate amendment, which Mr. Beck
was willing to agree that approprating money
TO save life on the OF NewJersey Mr. Brooks OF
New York took the occasion make his long ookedfor
.oh On favor Of "Reyenue Reform" and TO urge the
House to Act this session. bill repeating the duty on
coal reducing or abolishing the duty ON salt,
and placing fish, potatoes, lumber. and all
asraIs used I'm the construction Of ships on the free