Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-02-05
Congress-.

JAN. 2S.-In the Senate Immediately after
the reading of the journal Vice President
ColIax made The following personal state
ment Senators | ask your indulgence for
few remarks personal to myself in my rela-
tlons to this body as It's presiding officer
Grave charges affecting my character as
man are before the American people, and
do not underrate the clrcumstantial evidence
by which they are supported; but, Conscious
OF my innocence and rectitude, | respectfully
ask tor the appointment of committee OF
senators to m Ike the most thorough and ex-
haustIve investigation into these charges,
with authority to send tor persons and pa
pers, and a majority of which committee
5 all be politically opposed to me.
The lce-president then called Mr. An
thouy Of r. |. to the chair and retired from
the chamber.
Mr.. Pratt of Indiana, 10 complianc. with
the vice presidents request, moved for a
committee of five, at the same time remark
ing that it would take great deal more evl.
dence than he had yet seen to convince him,
or the people OF Indiana, that the vice presI-
dent was a dishonest or dlshorOrable man.
Mr.. Thurman of Ohio, said the vice presi-
dent had made a mistake in asking the Sen
ate to a. point this committee, because, as he
was not memb Der of the Senate, that BODY
could not expel, remove, or otherwise punlsn
him. lie could be reached only by lmpeich-
ment, aud if there was good reason shown
it would be the duty of the House of Repre-
sentatlves to lmpeach him, and, as senators
would have to act in that case as jud ses or
jurors, 1t was the duty of the Senate to alb
sttir, IN the meantime from forestalliny in
any way the action OF the House.
Mr.. Anthony as president pro tem then
put the question, and the Senate rejected
Mr.. Pratt's motion, none voting for 1t but
tue mover.
The House amendments to the Vienna ex-
position bill were concurred in.
The consideration of the legislative appro-
priatOn bill was then resumed and the
amendment by Mr.. Morrill, Of Vermont, re
curing that no judgment of the Court Oh
claims shall be paid except % persons whose
loyalty was proved, was agreed ID.
Mr.. Sherman OF Ohio, renewed his amend
ment raising the salaries Of assistant secte-
tarles, solicitors, register and experimenting
architect of the treasury, also of commits
slonecs of patents, Indian affIirs, agriculture,
customs, land Office, pensions, the auditor OF
the treasury, assistant postmaster general,
and the superintendent of foreign mails to
$4,000, and it was adopted.
Mr.. W ndom of Minnesota, moved to strike
out the appropriation OF $22 $40 for add
tional clerks and compensation in the treasu-
ry d partment, which was agreed to.
Mr., Hill OF Georgia, SAID he was instruct
ed by the Senate committee on elections to
offer an amendment raising the salary al
members of Congress to $1,000 year.
Mr.. Wright OF Indiana, moved to table the
amendment, which was agreed t., % to IL
JAN. 29th.-In the Senate the reduction
of the clerical force in the Post Office De.
partment was considered, and an amendment
TO that effect carried.
MIR. Thurman, Of Ohio, said the result Of
the abolition Of the ranking privilege
would be temporary reduction Of the mum
Der of public documents sent out from Con.
gress, to be followed probably by renewed
demand Tor them, and the adoption of SOME
other plan by which they would 20 through
the mails Tree.
Mr.. Nye, OF New, predicted that no saw.
ing whatever would be effected by abolishiny
the Franking Privilege, and lamented the
cutting off the supply of instructive and nu
triti0us public documents from the hungry
miners among the distant mountains which
he had the honor, in part, to represent.
| The House proceeded to the discussion o.
the bill Tor the admission of Colorado as a
State. In the discuss ion of the bill an an.
mated colloquy took place between the dele
gates of Titan and Montana, involving the
questions of Mormonism, concubnage
church associations and monopolies, AM
other peculiarities Incidental to Utah. Fl.
nalIy MIR, Hale. Rep, Me. moved to lay the
bill on the table. Agreed to: Yeas III; Nays
| 81.
Niblack, the Democratic contestant o.
Wallis Seat. from Fla, was sworn in as q
member.
| MIR. Wilson, Rep, Ind, Chairman of the
| Select Committee ON the Onion Pacific Rail.
road and Credit Mobilier Investigations. re.
| ported that witness who had been called
before the Committee, Joseph B. Stewart OIL
Washington, had refused to answer certain
questions as to the disposition made by him
vi large amount Of bonds which had been
given to him in 1876 f,r the arrangement
OF pending difficulties with other com "a.
MES.
The witness grounded his refusal on the
principle OF communications between counsel
and client being privileged. The Committee
moved for an order that the Speaker Issue bis