New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-02
XLlID CONGRESS-llD SESSION.
SENATE. .wAsHINGToN, March !, 1872.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

Mr.. SUMNER (Rep, Mass rose to personal ex-
ulanation He said that hir had been mentioned
more than once In connection with the membership OF
the Special Committee provided for yesterday to inyes
tgae the sales by the War Department and also
aS The possible Chairman OF the Committee, he would
now state that his health In such condition as not
TO admit OF his serving on, the Committee lie naue ms
~ birk anv duty bur the effects OF injuries which he had
sustained l6 years ago still chung TO him. as he mad peen
painfully admODshed within the last few days ana his
physician had imperatvey prescribed repose. .
fhe VICEPREsIDENT presented the credentials OF
the Hon. A. A Sargent senator, . from Canornia
THE TEA AND COFFEE QUESTION.
Mr. SHERMAN (Rap., Ohio, Chairman or the Commit
tee on finance said that nasmueh as the proposition to
repeal the duty on tea and coffee seemed to have e1
due 10 the business OF the country to state that the
for that nSSa ss shf5e wss no ux Te
Finance Committee had unanimously authorized him to
Mr. SCOTT rep PENN remarked that the market
much affected by the pendency OF TINS 6 ana 1nat
could be had the subject at an early day.
Mr.. COLE (Rep, CALI reported the Naval Appropria-
ton bill with amendments.
Mr.. BAYARD Dem, Deli offered resolution asking
lions given 10 the relative to the pros
ecuton of New York merchants for giving grauites to
Mr' CONKIiNG tRep., N. " asked him whether he
had read the correspondence on the subject In the
Mr. BHYARD said he had seen the letters, but he
wanted TO know from the President whether they were
selected then the main channel by which
the Investigating Committee could discover the abuses
in the Custom house administration would be effectively
closed
Mr. BUCKINGHAM Rep., Comm said there no
reason why the men who violated the law should be
empt because they merchants He did not how
ever, object TO the resolution.
Mr.. BAYARD said 1t was not question Of exemptng
ANYBODY from punishment The question was whether
the main channel by which abuses could be discovered
shOud be closed. The President should have waited
until the Committee reported.
Mr. COLE (Rep., CALI called for the regular order,
which brought up the Legislative Appropriation bill.
aud the resolution went over
THE GLOBE CONTRACT RENEWED.
Mr.. ANTHONY Rep, X. H., from the Committee on
Printing reported a bin 20 provide for reporting and
printing the debates OF Congress and obtained
unanimous consent for its immediate consideration He
said that the publishers Of The Globe had printed the
debates for nearly year without contract, relying
the good faith OF Congress for compensation and IL was
necessary that something should be relieve them
frem that position Tie Committee Printing had
cost and k Of The Globe but had had yet agreed
upon one and, in the mean tme they had thought II
best 10 report this bin renewing the old contract until
the end Of the present Congress- with an amendment
providing for less costly index. After some discussion
the bill was passed
THE FRENCH ARMS INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
Mr.. CAMERON URep, PENN moved that the vice
to investigate the alleged sale OF arms Ia French agents
but the Vice President declined To appoint the Com
mttee. -,
Mr. CAMERON then offered resolution naming the
SENATOR ms eInbers of the Committee Messrs
HamIn CARPENTER ehernan, sawyer, Logan, stevenson
and Ha ian He said that n the resolution. az ne haa
drawn il at nrs;, MIR. Summer wac named as Chairman