The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March 5.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March D.
SENATE.
Mr.. Caldwell made personal ex-
PLANTATION. He said i, was known to
the Senate that committee OF the
Kansas Legislature had been engaged
in an investigation Of the alleged cor
rupt practices connected with the cleo
ton Of the United States Senator in
1867 and 1871, and if the newspapers
could be believed, had made report
on the subject. He had not yet seen
the so-callsd testimony on which this
report was said to be based, but be had
positive assurances that no attempt
had been made to prove that any
member of the Legislature had
been deprived to vote for him.
The whole proceeding had been insti-
gated by malice and was designed for a
political purpose. The State Senate had
refused to send the report and testimony
to Washington, and the House had de-
clined to ask the United States Senate
to order an investigation, but as his
character had been assailed be would
not stand upon forms. He shrank from
no scrutiny. He hurled back the
charges against him with scorn, and at
some future time he would expose the
outrage as it deserved. In the mean
time he asked suspension Of judgment.
Mr.. Pomeroy said that the report Of
the committee was published in the news
papers referred to by him and asked
the Vice President whether he had re-
ceived any official communication on
the subject from the Legislature OF
Kansas
The Vice President replied that he
had not
Mr.. Pomeroy then offered a resolution
referring to the papers and conmunlca'
tions in relation 10 the election OF U nlted
States Senators in Kansas in 1867 and
1870, and directing the committee to
report to the Senate what action, If any,
should be taken by the Senators
concerned and what by the Senate.
Mr.. Thurman said that there was no
precedent for directing a committee to
advise individual Senators what they
should do in such cases and suggested
that part OF the resolution should be
omitted.
Mr.. Pomeroy accepted the suggestion.
lie proposed, also, to refer the newspa-
per reports OF the proceedings Of the
Kansas Legislature to the committee.
Mr.. Edmunds protested against setting
a committee OF the Senate to work to
investigate upon mere newspaper re-
ports, and said that Mr.. Pomeroy, in
making such a proposal, was going
even beyond anything done by re-
formers.
Messrs. Carpenter and Hamlin took
the same grounds, and after some dis
cussion the resolution was laid on the
table.
Mr.. Pomeroy, from the committe on
Revision of Rules, reported an amend
ment to the sixth rule providing that
all appeals taken when an unbeatable
proposition is pending shall also be de-
cided without debate, and an amend,
ment adding the following TO the classes
of persons entitled to admission to the
floor: Lieut.. General OF the Army, Ad-
miral of the Navy, members Of the
National Legislatures OF foreign coun-
tries, private secretaries Of Senators,
duly appointed in meeting, and the III
brarian OF Congress.
The Senate then resumed the con-
sideration OF the legislative approprla.
ton bill.
The appropriation bill was laid aside
and Mr.. Cameron moved to execute the
order OF the Senate for the appointment
Of "a committee to investigate the alleged
sale OF arms to French agents.
Before voting, the Vice President an
nounced that under the rule the COM
mittee would have a right to elect its
own chairman, unless he should be
specially elected by the Senate.
The Senate then proceeded to ballot,
and the following Senators were declared
elected as the committee: Messrs.
Hamlin, Carpenter, Sawyer, Logan,
Ames, Harlan and Stevenson. Schurz
received 90 votes, Trumbull 10, Upton
II and Blair II.
Mr.. Upton moved that the ballot be
declared informal because packed
ticket had been sprung on the Senate.
Laughter -,
The Vice President was about to call
him to order, when he said pTevio usly
prepared ticket was what he meant.
The Vice President-That ia better.
Laughter.
Mr.. Stevenson asked 10 be excused,
as he was already on very laborious
committee and said he would move to
substitute Mr.. Schurz, who knew all
about the subject. Laughter.
The Senate refused to excuse Mr..
Stevenson; yeas %, noes &c.
The Vice President then stated that
it would be the duty OF the committee,
at its first meeting 10 elect its Own
chairman.
On motion OF Mr.. Harlan, the COM
mittee was authorized TO employ a
stenographic reporter.
The legislative and executive appro.
priation bill, which had been laid aside,
was then again taken up. Various minor
amendments were agreed TO. Some
discussion ensued on an amendment
to repeal the law authorizing the pub
LEGATION OF the laws and treaties OF the
United States in newspapers, and
it was finally sgread that a vote
not be taken till the bill was reported
10 the committee.
Mr.. Ramsey, OF Minnesota, moved
to increase the salary OF the Supervising
Architect OF the Treasury to $500.
Mr.. Edmunds, OF Vermont, hoped
that this would not be done The com-
mittee had already reported against the
expediency OF increasing salaries al this