The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March l.
SENATE.

had been mentioned more than once
in connection with the special commit
tee provided for yesterday to investigate
the sales OF arms by the War Depart
ment, also as possible chairman OF the
committee, he would now state that his
health was in such condition as not
to admit OF his serving on the commit
tee. He made this statement with
reluctance. 1t had never been his
habit to shirk any duty, but the effects
of injuries which he sustained sixteen
wears ago still cluug to him, as he had
been painfully admonished within the
last few days, and his physician had
i'm peratively prescribed repose.
The credentials of A. A. Sargent,
Senator elect from California, were pre-
sented.
Mr.. Sherman, from the committee on
Finance, said, inasmuch as a PROPOSE.
ton to repeal the duty on tea and coffee
seemed to have excited a good deal OF
alarm in some quarters, he deemed it
due to the business men OF the country
to state that if a bill for that purpose
should pass there was no expectation
that it would take effect before the lst
of July. The Finance committee had
unanimously authorized him to make
this statement.
Mr.. Scott remarked that the market
was much affected by the pendency OF
this bill, and that it would be more
satisfactory If the sense of the Senate
could be had on the subject at an early
day.
Mr.. Cole reported the naval appro-
priation bill. with amendments.
Mr.. Sumner presented a petition
uumerously signed, against putting the
name Of God into the Constitution.
Mr.. Hamlin offered a resolution,
which was adopted, directing the COM
mittee on Foreign Affairs to ascertain
the amount equitably due to John Z.
Hale, late Minister to Spain.
Mr.. Sherman reported bill to re-
establish branch mint at New Orleans.
Mr.. Bayard offered resolution ask
ing the President to send to the Senate
copy OF the instructions given to the
District Attorney relative to the prose
cution of New York merchants for
giving gratuities TO Custom House
officials
Mr.. Conklng asked him whether he
had not read the correspondence on the
subject in the public papers.
Mr.. Bayard said he had seen the
letters, but he wanted to know from the
President whether they were authentic.
When the merchants Of New York
were to be selected for prosecution, the
main channel by which the lnvesti-
eating committe could discover the
abuses in the Custom House, the Ad-
ministration, would be effectually closed.
Mr.. Buckingham said there was no
reason why men who violated the law
should be exempt because they were
merchants. He did not, however,
object to the resolution.
Mr. Bayard said it was not question
Of exempting anybody from punish
ment. The question was whether the
the main channel by which the abuses
could be discovered should be closed.
Why should the President not wait
until the committee should have re.
ported?
rhe legislative appropriation bill was
then taken up.
Mr.. Anthony, from the committee on
Printing, reported bill to provide tor
reporting and printing the debates OF
Congress and obtained consent for lts
consideration. He said the publishers
of the Globe had printed the debates for
nearly a year without a contract, rely
ing on the good faith of Congress for
compensation, and it was necessary that
something should be done to relieve
them. The committee on Printing had
been for some time trying to devise
plan to reduce the cost and bulk oil
the Globe, but had not yet agreed on
one and in the meantime they had
thought it best TO report this bill renew
ing the old contract till the end of the
present Congress, with an amendment
providing for less costly index.
After discussion, the bill WAS passed
Mr.. Cameron moved that the Vice
President should be authorized to ap-
point the committee to investigate the
alleged sale Of arms to French agents.
The Vice President declined to ap.
point the committee.
Mr.. Cameron offered a resolution
naming the following Senators as mem
bers OF the committee Messrs. HAM
lin, Carpenter, Sherman, Sawyer, Logan,
Stevenson and Harlan. He said that
in the resolution, as be had drawn 1t at
first, MIR. Sumner was named as chair
man, but, in view of his declaration, he
hal substituted Mr.. Hamlin.
Mr.. Sherman said his time was
already very fully occupied, and asked
the Senate to excuse him from serving
on the committee.
Mr.. Trumbull-lt seems to me, MIR.
President, that one Of the Senators who
took part in bringing this matter to the
attention Of the Senate ought to be on
this committee. Several gentlemen who
took part in the investigation, or at least
who expressed very strongly their
opinion that there was no occasion for
it, are named as members Of the COM
mittee; for instance, the Senator from
Iowa (Harlan) and the Senator from
Wisconsin (Carpenter). 1tseems to me
that either the Senator from Massachu-
setts (Sumner) or the Senator from Mis-
souri, (Schurz) ought to be upon it also.
Mr.. Cameron declined to substitute
Mr.. Schurz for Mr.. Sherman, who had
asked to be excused, and Mr.. Trumbull
then moved as an amendment to insert
the name OF Mr.. Schurz.
Mr.. Sumner stated that Mr.. Hamlin
was named as chairman OF the commit
tee when Mr.. Hamlin had yesterday
declared the allegations which he was
IN inyestioate as impotept. insolent and