The New York herald., 1873-12-13
Q NJ G r e S S.
GENERAL EOWARD'S DEPALCATIONS.
Further Discussion and Recommltial Of
tho Salary Repeal Bill.
NEW YORK RARB0R IMPROBABLE.
Dew Drop Cox and General Joe Haw-
ley on National Spirit.
rao~aca 0F 4he Eytraor6iuaru
NEW YORK RaaSoR IMPROBABLE.
Passage of the Extraordinary
Naval Appropriation.
EousE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

the senate bill, removing political disabilities
non Thomas s. Bocock, L. j. Harvey and Daniel
Pricr OF virginia. and John II. Reagan, OF Texas,
was taken from the table and passed
PAYMENTS TO RAILROADS.
Mr. HOLMAN (iem.) OF Ind, offered q resolution
erecting the Secretary OF War to report whether
any payments have been made by his Department
to the Illinois Central Railroad Company for the
transportation OF troops or supplies of the United
States since the lst OF January 1866 and requiring
Ike information as TO other roads in aid of which
land grants had been made. Adopted.
REPEAL OF THE BANKRUPT LAW.
Mr. DuEIL, rep.) OF n. Y, presented petitions
from large number OF business men all over she
country Tor the repeal OF the Bankrupt law. Re-
teTTed
LIQUOR TRAFFIC..
Mr. Cox, tdem.) OF N. Y, presented petition OF
fne Grand Division OF the Sons OF Temperance Of
Eastern New York, representing 1900 members,
ior a commission of inquiry concerning the alco.
hoIc hquor traffic. Referred.
LIQUOR BURNED.
Nj. BECK tdem.) OF KY, from the Committee Of
Ways and Means. reported bin authorizing the
cancellation of an export bond for SO barrels OF
distilled spirits belonging to John s. Mill er, OF
limos, destroyed by fire while in bonded cars OF
iRe United States. After explanation the bill was
passed.
GENERAL HowARDs DRFALCATIoNs.
The SPEAKER laid before the House communlca-
lion from the Secretary OF War, calling attention
10 defalcations in the accounts OF General o. O.
Howard, OF the Freedmen's Bureau.
At the request of Mr. WooD, (dem.) OF n. Y, the
letter read IN ertenso. 1t fixes the total amount
Of dealcations at s27s,573 &C. and states that The
Secretary OF War would have General Howard tried
by military court OF inquiry were it not that most
fQ
ton.
At the conclusion OF the reading
Mr.. WOOD, OF New York. offered resolution that
the letter OF the Secretary OF War, with the accom-
panying reports relating to the defacation. &c, OF
Tee Military Affairs, with instructions report
a resolution providing for the trial by military
court martial Of any officers OF the army implicated
thereby
Mr. DAWES, trep.) OF Mass, moved to amend the
resolution by striking out the clause relative in
sLructions. He wished to have the subject simply
referred TO the Committee on Military Affairs, eav-
ing that committee to take such action in the mat
ter as il should Judge best.
The SPEAKER remarked that he had been about
10 refer the communication to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
antecedent history OF the Freedmen's Bureau and
vi General Howards connection with it. that there
thould be some instructions given to the commit
tees.
Mr.. HALE, rep.) ofN. Y, objected TO debate.
IDe vote was taken on Mr.. Dawes amendment
and II was agreed TO by yeas ia to nays SO.
Mr.. DAWES said that he did not desire to shield
General Howard, but he objected to the resolution
making statements as facts before hearing. 1t
stated as fact the defalcation OF General Howard,
and he did not understand that there was any
euch thing in the papers.
Mr.. WooD-The resolution states as fact what
has been authenticated IN two official documents
sent here by the Secretary OF War. think we can
well afford to stand on facts which the adminlstra-
tion declares to be facts II that gentleman (Mr.
Dawes goes back on the administration Will not.
Mr. DAwEs-No matter how strong the proof
may appear it is sufficient for to the words
alleged deiacations.n
Mr.. WooD-The Secretary OF War submitted these
documents to the Attorney General and the At
torney General gave his official opinion that Gen.
eral Howard was liable to be tried by court mar
tia and should so be tried, but that there was
some technical difficulty owing to the lapse OF
time.
thing is for the Committee on Military Anairs to
report these facts. Imove to insert the WORD '.al
legedn before the word "dealcations."
not oetan the House with quibbling about 1t; let
1t 60; but desire TO say that II that side OF the
House takes the responsibility OF shielding this
Mr.. DAwEs-This side of the House Will take the
responsibility OF shielding no man.
Mr.. WooD--lt has been done so to-day.
Mr.. DAwEs-But IL Will take the responsibility OF
passing Judgment after conviction not before.
The resolution, amended by inserting the word
'alegedn and striking out the instructions, was
adopted.
me House then, at haitpast one O'Clock, re-
Hnmed the consideration OF the measure in
REGARD TO SALARIES.
Mr.. NEshITH, tdem.) OF oregon, said that he had
come TO congress Instructed TO vote Tor the repeal
OF the Salary bill, but when he witnessed the
attack that had been made on the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Cox for having drawn pay rom
the date OF his predecessors death up TO the date
O his own election he hardly knew now to act, as
he himself was in the same position as the gentle
man from New York.
Mr. CoMINGo tdem.) of NO.. defended the in
creased Salary bill, and argued that the public
clamor against it had been produced partly by
misrepresentation and partly by misapprehen-
sion OF the facts. He announced mis- intention,
however, 10 vote for the bill reported by the COM
mttee.
Mr. PHILLIPS (rep) of Kansas, regarded the
question before the House as very peculiar one.
TINS was one oil the few cases wherein the servant
undertook to decide what his own compensation
should be- regardless of the will OF the master. The
argument OF Mr.. stephens yesterday that 1t was
une OF the prerogatfves OF Congress TO fix its own
compensation, and that there was no limit 10 its
power, reminded him OF the anecdote told OF War
ren Hastings, who said that he had only taken
f500,000 out of the Indian Treasury, while there
were millions in 1t. and that he was only surprised
ht his own moderation. There had 10 be q limit
liked by public opinion. The American Congress
stood to-day at the bar OF public opinion.
was such unanimity on the part OF members in re-
gard TO the proprety OF modification or repeal
OF the present rate Of compensation that he did
but he thought that the pending motions to refer
with instructions, omitted one important point
That was az to where the notifications should be-
gin 10 apply IL seemed TO him that members
could not defend themselves If they ala not make
tne law take effect from the commencement aT the
congress He would not attempt to Judge or To IN
defend the measure OF the last session. He
had made his effort with the minority in opposl.
tion TO that measure and he had nothing now
to say in regard to It. The people had passed
upon II. The people did not simply condemn IL
because IL was retroactive but also because gave
TOO much pay; too much back and too much future
pay. Their predecessors were not on trial before
them, but they themselves were on trial before the
country. They should justify the expectations
formed OF them and date back the commencement
OF the decrease OF salary to the commencement OF
The present term.
Mr. ORTIZ, rep) OF Ind, said he had offered his
proposition last evening more in the nature oil a
compromise than anything else, because 1t was
apparent that unless there was compromise tne
House would never arrive at any con-
clusion. He thought that four PROPOSE
fions had been definitely settled by. pub
lie opinion--Frst, that the law OF last
Congress should be repealed; second, that the
mileage shall never again be restored; third, that
the ranking privilege, far relates to the per.
sonal privilege OF members OF Congress- snall
never be restored whatever else may be done In
regard to distributing public documents and,
fourth, that the salary OF members OF Congress
shall be substantially what IL was under the old
law. All this he provided for in the proposition