The Portland daily press., 1873-03-21
EXTRA SESSION OF THE SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March 81
On motion of Mr. Anthony it was resolved
that the Committee on Public Printing be in
structed to inquire into the number of bills and
reports and public documents printed for the
use of the Senate, and report what changes. if
any, are necessary.
The hour of meeting of the Senate was fixed
at half pas t ten.
Mr.. Wright of Iowa. offered an addition to
the rules, which he asked to have printed and
referred to the Committee on Rules, proposing
that no debate shall be in order unless it relate
to or be pertinent to the subject before the Sem
ate; that debate may be closed by a vote of
two thirds after "a hours notice.
Mr.. Thurman objected, and therefore the re-
solution lies over.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
Caldwell question.
Mr.. Conkling, who was entitled to the floor,
being absent, Mr.. Hamilton of Maryland, ar
gued that the Senate could not go behind the
election OF Senators and inquire into the con-
duct and motives of members composing the
Legislature. to do so would tend TO DESTROY the
principle on which our government is formed.
he could not vote for the pending resolutions
declaring the seat of the Senator from Kansas
as vacant.
Mr.. Schurz abiding to a portion of Mr.
Conkling's remarks, asked the Senator from
New York whether he had read in the Wash
ington Chronicle an article severely criticisino
his (Scnurz) late speech, and saying it was q
well known fact that this immaculate reformer
ht1u lSSCiNCu tWO Zee tor each
speech he made during the late political
campaign and said he was little surprised after
the friendly discussion here that the Senator
should have made sue h an alluson to him.
lie characterized the story as an absolute and
unmittigated fabrication.
Mr.. COnkling inquired whether the Senator
meant the last or previous canvass.
Mr. Schurz replied that year ago there were
similar charges against him in the New York
Times, and he then pronounced them base and
unmitigated f:lsehoods. He would ask the
Senator from New York what he would think
of him if he had repeated the rumors that the
Senator from New York had received $4,000
from the Central Pacific Railroad Co. to repre-
sent its interests, ard it he had made allusion
in such way as to point to the Senator from
New York. Would he not in such case rails
ed question of propriety and decency?
Mr. Conklng replied that he would deny it,
and call the statement lie, and authorize the
Senator from New York to say to the man who
made that statement that he was liar.
Mr. Schurz said that applying the same rule
he would call the story to which the Senator
alluded lie and authorize the Senator from
New York to call the originator of it liar.
Mr. Conkling-Does the Senator then au-
thorize me to say it is a lie; that in past CAM
paigns the Senator received specific sums?
Mr.. Schurz-I authorize him to say the man
lied who charged me with having received $500
or ANYTHING for any speech delivered in the
late campaign. / authorize the Senator from
New York also to call him liar who, with re-
gard to the stories, alleges anything not in ac-
cordauce with the statement made by me on
this floor in January 1872.
Mr. Conklng said he made no allusion to the
Senator from Missouri in his speech. If his
attention had not been called to the subject he
should never have suspected that he had al
iuded to the Senator from Missouri
Mr. Schurz said he was glad to take the ex-
pianatloD, such as given, il the Senator said he
maze no aluslon in his speech to him. (Scburz.)
Very well, let 1t go. He did not want personal