The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-25


the commissioners shall fix an annual
rental OF not less than $4,000. The
other provides that the Central Pacific
railroad shall refund the $5,OOO,OOO
paid by the government as interest on
Pacific railroad bonds.
Mr.. Wheeler said he was willing these
amendments should be voted upon.
Mr.. Holman's amendment providing
that the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany shall refund $5,000,000 hereto
fore paid by the government as interest
on it's bonds was rejected by vote OF
l9 ayes to 80 noes.
The bill as reported by Mr.. Wheeler
was then passed by a vote Of lOl ayes
to S5 noes.
Mr.. Cox asked unanimous consent
to change the title of the bill SO as to
read: "a bill to give a railroad COM
pany over $5,000,000 Of government
property without consideration Oh
lection was made to the proposition.
The resolution to pay Mr.. Gooding
$4,000 for his expenses 10 contesting the
seat held by Mr.. Wilson, from the
Fourth District OF Indiana, was passed.
Mr.. Banks submitted report from
the Committee on Foreign Affairs rela-
tive to the case of Dr. Howard, recently
transported by the Spanish Govern
ment and placed at hard labor in
Spanish penal colony OF Cuba. 1t
recites that DR.. Howard is a native
born citizen of the United States, and
that he never renounced his allegiance;
that his trial was in violation OF his
rights as an American citizen; that in
the judgment of the House he is enti.'
tied to all the protection Of the Govern
ment, and that the President should
demand his release and the restoration
OF his property confscated by the Span
ish Government.
Mr.. Banks said that the Committee
on Foreign Affairs had Alright to report
at any time, and therefore moved TO
proceed to the consideration of the res
olution.
Mr. Dawes moved that the House
take up the tariff bill, and Mr.. Niblack
moved to proceed with the tortificatlon
bill.
Mr.. Randall thought the claims Of
an American citizen languishing in a
foreign prison was question OF higher
importance than either OF the others.
The Speaker submitted the question
and the House, by vote OF ayes "a,
noes 46, decided to proceed with the
Howard case.
The Speaker laid before the House
message from the President, transmit
ting copy Of the British counter case
before the Geneva Board, with accom-.
panying documents. Referred 10 Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Banks then supported his reso-
luton in brief speech, in which he
argued that DR.. Howard was fully
proven to be an American citizen, hav-
ing been born and educated in Phila.
delphia, and never having renounced
his allegiance.
Howard had been arrested, tried by
court martial, and is undergoing
sentence at hard labor. The man on
whose testimony he was convicted, and
who is now in this country, swears that
his testimony was false, and was given
under the fear OF personal violence. de
closed 10y saying that the government
should demand his immediate release.
Mr.. Ambler argued that DR.. Howard
was not an American citizen. he said
that citizenship has its duty as well as
it's rights. DR.. Howard had never set
his foot on American soil since lS43,
and during all that time he had not dis
charged single duty as an American
citizen. DR.. Howard and his whole
family had been domiciled in Cuba over
thirty years, and he never pretended to
be a citizen of the United States or
took any step towards a return to
the United States. He denounced the
bloody tyranny Of Spain, but could not
find legal authority for interfering IN
this case
Mr.. Bingham gave notice that he
would offer an amendment 10 the reso-
luton by imposing certain conditions
a. safeguard in the action proposed
to be taken.
Mr.. Mercer, from the Committee on
the Judiciary, reported bill to amend
the bankruptcy act Ordered printed
and recommitted.
Mr.. Wood having obtained the floor
on the Howard resolution, yielded to q
motion that the House take a recess
till 7:30, which prevailed at AS P. NJ.
The evening session was devoted en-,
tirely to consideration of private bills
reported from the Committee on Invalid
Pensions.