The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-02
coN 9 r E s s.
THE FRENCH ARMS SALES COMMITTEE.
Sumner Too Sick to SerVe---They
Cannot Spare Schurz.
A SPAT ABOUT ADJOURNMENT.
~->>~~N~~~>~>~~~~-o>>~~~~~~-
FlibuStering on the Wisconsin Land
Grabs In the House.
Invitation to the Japanese
Embassy.
4 SPAT ABOUT ADJOURNMENT.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March /, 1872.


Mr. SUMNER, trep.) OF Mass, rose to personal
explanation. He SAID that his name had been
mentioned more than once In connection with
membership Of the special committee provided for
yesterday to investigate the sales OF arms by the
War Department, ana also as the possible chair
man OF the committee, he would now state
that his health was In sucn a condition as MOI to
ADMIT of his serving the committee. He made
this statement with reluctance, as 1t had never
been his habit to shirk any duty but the effects Of
injuries which he had sustained sixteen years ago
still chung TO HIM. as ne had been painfully ad-
nenished within the last few days, and his physl-
slan mad lmperatively prescribed repose
The VICE PRESIDENT presented the credentials
q the Hon. A. A. Sargent, Senator elect from Call
t0rnla, which were read and laid on the table.
TEA AND COFFEE.
Mr.. SHERMAN, (rep.) OF Ohio, chairman Of the
Committee on Finance, said that inasmuch as the
proposition TO repeal the duty on tea and coffee
seemed to have excited a good deal of alarm in
some quarters, he deemed 1t due to the business
men OF the country to state that If the bill tor that
purpose should pass there was no expectation that
u would take effect before the lst OF July. The
Finance Committee had UNANIMOUSLY authorized
MIN TO make this statement
Mr.. SCOTT (rep) OF Pa, remarked that the market
was much affected by the tendency OF this Olll and
that 1t would be more satisfactory II the sense OF
the Senate could be had on the subject at an early
Gay.
Mr.: SHERMAN presented petition against the re-
auction OF duties.
Mr.. COLE rep.) OF CAL, reported the Naval APP
preparation bill with amendments.
Mr.. SUMNER presented petition, numerOusly
agned, against putting the names OF God into the
constitution.
Mr.. RAMLIN. rep) OF Me-, offered resolution
which was adopted. directing the Committee on
Foreign Affairs to ascertain the amount equtably
s1e 70 john r. Hale, late Minister to SPAN
Branch Mint at New Orleans.
REVENUE FRAUD PROSECUTIONS.
Mr.. BAYARD. tdem) OF DEL, offered resolution
ASKING the President to send the senate copy OF
ehe Instructions gwen to the District Attorney rela
tive to the prosecution OF New York merchants for
giving gratuities 10 Custom House officials.
Mr.. CONKLING rep. )oI N. Y, asked him whether
he had not read the correspondence on the subject
MIR. BAYARD SAID he had seen the letters. but ne
wanted TO know from the President whether they
we're to be selected for prosecution then the main
channel by which the Investigating Committee
could discover the abuses IN the Custom House ad-
Minslraton would be efectually closed.
Mr. BUCKINGHAM, trep.) OF Conn.,. said there was
70 reason why the men who violated the law should
Do exempt because they were merchants. He aid
not, however, object TO the resolution.
Mr. BAYARD said 1t was not q question about eX.
empnng ANYBODY from punishment. The question
was whether the main channel by which abuses
could be discovered should be closed. Why should
not the President wait until the committee should
Mr.. COLE called for the regular ORDER which
brought up the Legislative Appropriation bill, and
THE GLOBE REPORTS.
Mr.. ANTHONY, Gep.l of r. H. from the Committee
and printing the debates Of Congress, ana obtained
unanimous consent Tor Its immediate consideration.
he Saiu tndJ the puDDSnerS Oh tHe OOe nau printed
the debates for nearly a year without contract,
ing on the good faith OF Congress for compensa
zion, ana 1t was necessary that something snould
be done 70 relieve them from That position.
The Committee on Printing had been for some
time trying TO devise a plan 10 reduce
agreed upon one, and In the meantime they had
thought 1t best 10 report this bill, renewing the Old
contract until the end OF the present Congress with
an amendment providing for a less costly index.
Alter some discussion the bill was passed.
THE ARMS SALES INQUIRY COMMITTEE.
"A m mi ma a Nira
President should be authorized TO appoint the COM
mitee to investigate the alleged sale OF arms to
BrenCh agents.
The VICE PRESIDENT declined to appoint the com.
mittee.
MIR. CAMERON offered q resolution naming the fol-
lowing Senator'S as members OF the committee:
Iessrs. Hamlln, Carpenter, sherman, sawyer, Lo-
gan, stevenson ana Harlan. He SAID that IN the
resolution as ne had drawn 1t at first Mr.. Sumner
was named as chairman, but In view OF his decina-
lion he mad substituted Nh. Hamin.
Mr.. SHERMAN said his time was already very fully
occup ed, and asked the Senate TO excuse hum from
serving on the committee.
Mr.. TRUMBuLL, rep.) OF HIT SCENE TO me, Mr..
bringing this matter TO the attention OF Senate
eught 10 be on tins committee. Several gentlemen
VINO took part In the investigation, or at least VINO
expressed very strongly their opinion that there
was no occasion for H. are named members OF
the commlttee-fOr instance, the Senator from Iowa
(Mr. Harlan) and the Senator from Wisconsin INT.
Carpenerl and 1t seems to me That either the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts Mr. Sumner) or the Senator
from Missouri (Mr. Schurz ought to be upon also.
Mr.. CAMERON SAID he would prefer that the COM
mittee should be organized as he mad proposed, and
reminded Mr.. TrumDull that he Mr.. Trumbull had
been the first TO suggest that II would be improper
for either Mr.. Sumner or Mr.. SchuTz to serve on
Mr.. TRUMBULL said he had made that suggestion
IN opposition 10 Mr.. Conkllng's amendment direct
Ing the committee to inquire INTO the conduct OF
those Senator's; but as Mr.. Cameron mad expressed
his willingness that Mr.. sumner should be chair.
man OF the committee, and as that senator had
declined to serve, there seemed to be no reason
why the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Schurz) should
not be member OF the committee, especially when
Two or three Senators who had opposed the investi
CATION were to be upon 1t. Besides, either OF these
Two senators as a member OF the committee could
take part IN the main investigation relating 10 the
sales OF arms, and could withdraw from active SER
VICE when the committee came 10 The inquiry az
!ecung himself; therefore Mr.. Sherman bad declined
IN his place.
Mr.. suMNER-Mr. President, it seems to me that,
IN ordinary fairness, one OF the two Senator's who
AAve taken leading part In lnstuting TINS inquiry
SHOULD be upon tins committee. l cannot be. am
OUT OF the question, 1t seems TO me- therefore,
that the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Schurgl should
ne on the committee; and, further, there Is special
reason, when we consider the declared opinions of
several OF the Senator'S designated For instance
the senator VINO Is named as chairman lMr. Hamlln)
mas used ns strongest possible language On TINS
subject 1 Will not quote his language: It was
hardly parliamentary, and yet this inquiry Is to be
under his guidance, with no Senator on the COM
mittee who has taken part IN promoting the in
quiiy. Under the circumstances think the least
the Senate can do IS TO give place on the commit
zee TO the Senator from Missouri tMr. schurz, who
FAMILIARITY WITH TEE CASE
anu whose character anu tdleu.3 certainly en0tle
MIN TO the respect OF this Chamber.
Mr.. FOREMAN, rep) OF w. Va moved TO lay the
resolution and amendment on the table. Carried,
by rs yeas; nays not counted.
THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the
Appropriation bill.
An amendment was adopted authorizing the Sec.
Rotary OF the Treasury TO employ net more than
three persons 10 assist the proper officers OF the gov
eminent In discovering and collecting any money
belonging to the United States whenever the same
shall be withheld by any person or corporation upon
sucn terms and conditions as he shall deem best ioI
the interests or the United states, but providing
that they shall be paid compensation except out
OF the money and property so secured.
The amendment proposing to abolish the branch
Mint at Charlotte, n. g., was rejected.
Mr.. SPENCER, (rep.) Of Ala, moved that whep the
senate adJourns to-day II adjourn 10 Monday. OD-
JecLon was made 10 this and
MI. ANTHONY moved TO adjourn. Lost.
Mr. CAMERON then moved 10 20 into executive