Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-13

lOn Thursday the Senate ADJOURNED over
till Monday.]
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-Tle Senate bill
removing political DISABILITIES from Thomas
J. Babcock, E. j. Harvey and Daniel Trigg,
of Virginia, and John Reagan, Of Texas,
was passed.
Privileged Railroads.
Mr.. Holman offered a resolution direct
ing the Secretary of War to report whether
payments had been made to the Illinois
Central Railroad Co. for the transportation
of troops or supplies of the United States
since the first Of January, 1866, and requir-
ing like information as to other roads in aid
of which grants have been made. Adopted.
Mr.. Duel presented a petition from a
large number of business men all over the
country for the repeal of the bankrupt law.
Referred
burned in Bonded Cars.
Mr.. Beck from the Committee on Ways
and Means reported a bill authorizing the
cancellation of the export bond for fifty
barrels of distilled spirits, belonging to
John T. Miller, of Illinois, burned while in
the bonded cars of the United States. AZ
ter explanation the bill passed.
OH! On hOHaru!
The Speaker laid before the House a
communication from the Secretary of War,
calling attention to the defalcations in the
accounts of Gen. o. o. Howard, of the
Freedmen'S Bureau, and at the request OF
Mr.. Wood the letter was read.
At the conclusion of the reading, Mr..
Wood offered a resolution that the letter
and accompanying reports relating to the
defalcation etc, of Gen. Howard be refer
red to the Committee on Military Affairs,
with instructions to report resolution pro-
viding for the trial by Military
Court Martial
of any offices OF the army implicated there
in.
Mr.. Dawes moved to amend by striking
out the clause relative to instructions. He
wished to have it simply referred, leaving
the committee to take such action as it
should judge best.
The Speaker remarked that he had been
about to refer the communication TO the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Wood said he preferred in view of
the antecedent history of the Freedmen's
Bureau and of Gen. HOward's connection
Herewith that there should be some instruc-
tions given.
Mr.. Dawes said that he did not desire to
shield Gen. Howard but he objected to the
resolution making statements as facts be-
fore hearing. 1t stated as fact the de-
falcatiOn OF Gen. Howard, and he did not
understand that there was any such thing
in the paper,
Mr. Wood--The resolution states as a
fact what has been authenticated in two
official documents sent here by the Secreta-
ry of War. | think we can well afford to
stand on the facts whichthe administration
declares to be facts. If that gentleman
Dawes) goes. back on the administration,
will not.
Mr.. Dawes-No matter how strong proof
may appear it is sufficient for us to use the
words ''alleged defalcation.'
Mr.. Wood-The Secretary Of War sub
| mitted these documents to the Attorney
| General and the Attolney-General gave his
official opinion that Gen. Howard was liza
! bic to be tried by court-martial, and should
be so tried, but that there was some tech
nical difficulty owing to lapse of time.
Mr.. Dawes-All that may be, but the
| proper thing is for the Committee of Mill
tary Affairs to report these facts. l move
to insert the word "alleged" before the
word ''defalcatiOn."
| Mr.. Wood-It is very small matter, and
/ will not detain the House with quibbling
about it. Let 1t go. But / desire to say
that if that side of the House takes the re-
sponsibility of shielding this man it may
do so.
Mr.. Dawes-This side of the House will
take the responsibility of shielding no man.
Mr.. Wood-It has done so to-day.
Mr.. Dawes-But it will take the respon-
sibility of passing judgment after convic-
ton, not before.
The resolution was amended by insert
ing the word ''alleged" and striking out
Constructions" and was adopted.
The House then resumed the cOnsidera-
tion of measures in regard to salaries.
Mr. COmingo defended the increased sal
ary bill, but announced his intention of
voting for the bill reported by the commit
| tee.
Mr.. Phillips said there had to be limit
to compensation of members, and that linn
it had been fixed by public opinion. The
American Congress stood to-day at the bar
of public opinion.
Mr.. Burchard thought that the pending
motion to refer with instructions, omitted
One Important Point.
That was when the notifications should
begin to apply. Their predecessors were
not on trial before them, but they them
selves were on trial before the country.
They should justify the expectations form
ed of them and date back the commence
ment of the decreased salary to the COM
mencement of the present term.
Mr.. Orth said he had offered his PROPOSE
ton last evening more in the nature Ola
COnprOmise
than anything else, because it was apparent.
unless there was a compromise, the House
would never arrive at a conclusion. He
thought that the propositions hadbeen def
nitely settled by public opinion. First, that
the law.of the last Congress should be re-
pealed. Second, that mileage shall never
| again be restored. Third, that the frank
ing privilege, so far as relates tOthe person
al privilege of members of Congress, shall
never be restored whatever else may be
done in regard to distributing public docu-
ments. s. Fourth, that the salary of the
members of Congress shall be substantially
what it was under the old law. All this
viii be provided for in the proposition
which he had offered.
Mr.. Tremaine asked Mr.. Oth whether
his proposition made any provision for COW
ering the
Back Pay
into the Treasury.
Mr.. Orth replied that it did not. He said
| that personally he would have no objection
to let the law date back, but as q matter OF
compromise he thought it better to let the
reduction commence from and after the
passage of the law. He believed that
would meet with the wishes of the people
and would be in conformity with the pre-
vious history of Congress on that subject.
He argued that the people are as much in
favor Of the reduction Of the Presidents S
salary as that of members, bat it could not
be touched till after the present term. lie
modified the proposition SO as [notl to
touch the salary If the Supreme Court
Judges. Il would apply, however, to mem
bers of the Cabinet. Ii applied therefore
only to what were known rs political Off
ces. After answering other questions in
reference to the salaries Of Cabinet offices,
! Mr.. Orth moved
The PreylOus QueslioE,
OH his proposition,
Mr.. Shanks hoped the previous question
would not be seconded. The discussion
should be continued until the people are
satisfied. The House understood it as well
as they,
-.