Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-12
FORTYTHIRD CONGRESS-
FRIDAY, December II.
THE SENATE was not in session TODAY,

The SENATE was not In session to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, On
motion Of Mr.. Harris (Va.), the House took up
and passed the Senate bill relieving Thomas g.
Bocock, G. j. Harvey and d. GrigRs, of vir-
disabilities.
olution directing the Secretary Of War to report
to the illinois Central railroad for the Tanspor-
whether since the date Aforesaid anything thin has
been paid to any other railroad company for
susn Tram ortaton and the company to which
Mr.. Hale On. W inquired upon what intorma.
ton the gentleman based his resolution.
MIR. g. f. Hoar objected, but subsequently
withdrew the objection, and the resolution
Mr.. Dueli IN. W presented petitions signed
he said by lawyers, merchants and others In q
states; asking for the repeal Of the bankrupt
law. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
Mr. Beck (Ky.), from the Committee OF Ways
and Means, reported . bill to relieve John s.
Miller, Of Illinois, Of taxation, in consequence
Of the destruction by fire Of 80 barrels of alcohol
Passed.
TEE REPORT on oRs. HOWARD.
The Speaker laid before the House Q letter
from the Secretary of War in relation to the
management of the bureau Of freedmen refu-
gees and abandoned lands. An abstract OF
the letter, which charges irregularities on the
part Of Gen o. 0. Howard, is published else
where in t0-days START
Mr.. Wood IN. W demanded the reading of
the Communication, and then offered q resolu-
ton referring the Communication to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, with instructions to
report q resolution providing for the trial By
court martial of Gen. Howard or any other Of
hcer OF tho army who Is implicated by said
letter.
Mr.. Dawes Mass moved to amend 80 as to
refer without Instructions. He thought that
would be the best course to pursue.
Mr.. Wood preferred his own motion. He had
all confidence in the committee, but he pre-
ferIed they should be instructed. He was pro-
irO IN I'm Tim wDhn
Mr.. Hale IN. W objected to debate.
On rird uoce vote the amendment was agreed
to by vote Of SO to ia strict party vote.
Mr.. Wood demanded the yeas and nays; and
the resolution to commit without instructions
was agreed to-yeas ia, nays SS-a strict party
vote with the exception that Messrs Kasson,
Killinger, Smith Of Va, and Todd, republicans,
voted in the negative.
Mr.. Dawes then suggested that the word cal
legged" be inserted before the werd defalcat
in the resolution. He did not think il proper to
charge an absolute defalcation.
Mr.. Wood said the Secretary Of War, a men,
Der of this administration, had charged the de-
not stand by the administration on this ques
ton, he lWood) proposed to DO SO. He wanted
to know if they proposed to shield this man. II
so, they would do Ii on their own responsibility.
Mr.. Dawes said he did not propose to shield
any one, but his side of the House would not
agree to pass judgment until after conviction.
was then referred.
The House then resumed consideration Of the
salary bill
DISCUSSION OF BACK PAY REPEAL.
Mr.. C0mingO (MO) defended the increased
pay, and argued that, with mileage and the
Thanking privilege abolished, the pay of mem
bers was really less now than ever before.
Mr.. Phillips (kan.) advocated repeal, because
it was demanded by the people, and, in his
opinion, they had right to demand it. 1t was
bar of public opinion.
Mr.. Burchard (nl.) said in his opinion the
great question was whether the bill should be
simply repealed or whether Congress should
also return the amount of increase received
since March last. He Thought the people de-
maDded such action, for he believed they were
as much opposed to the great increase of salary
as to the retroactive feature. They were
not here to try the last Congress, but were
themselves on trial before the people.
ment, which made an absolute repeal, but he
would like to insert an amendment exempting
the Judges of the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Tremaine N. " inquired whether there
was any provision for covering back pay into
the Treasury.
Mr.. Orth said there was not. He did not pro-
pose to make the bill retroactive, but to b ave it
take effect from and after its passage; for he
could not, by his vote, admit that he had since
last March taken money to which he was not
justly entitled. He thought his instructions
were the fairest that had been submitted, and
that his proposition would give general salts
faction.
Mr.. Kasson Qowa) at this point indicated
desire to demand the previous question.
Mr.. Eldridge (wis) hoped the debate would
60 on, as others desired to speak.
Mr.. Ortiz here insisted that he had not yielded
the floor, but that he was prepared to call the
previous question.
Mr.. Mrnroe (Ohio) said he was opposed to
back pay and to forward pay, and would vote
cheerfuily for repeal, and he also wanted early
action as the best way Of settling the vexed
question.
Mr.. Orth demanded the previous question on
bis instruction, which was, directing the COM
mittee to repeal the whole salary act, except
with reference to Judges OF the Supreme Court,
so far as it could be constitutionally done, and
to ascertain the average amount of salary,
any estimate for the use Of the Thanking privf
lege) paid to members Of the 4tst Congress, and
to report bill determining the compensation
OF members hereafter at the amount as near as
practicable thus ascertsined, with necessary
travelling expenses, restoring all other salaries
as they were before the passage Of said act.
The House, by a vote of l32 to J26 sacondad