New-York tribune., 1873-12-13
XLIIID CONGRESS--1sT SESSION

| MATTER FINALLY RRCOMMTrTKD TO THE SELECT
| COMMITTEE. WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REPORT
ANOTHER BnIc-A DEBATE on THE yIRGINIUs
| AFFAm-IHE S4,0O0,000 APPROPRIATIONS BILL
| HOUsE...... wAsHIsGToS. Dec. a. 1873
The Senate bill removing political disabill-
ties from Thomas Bocock Il. j. Harvey. and Danie'
Trieg of virginia. and Johns H. Reagan of Texas was
| taken from the table and passed
Mr.. HOLMAN (Dom., Indl offered resolution direct
ing the Secretary OF War TO report whether any pay
mens have been made by his Department to the Illinois
Central Railroad Company for the transportation oi
troops or supplies the United States since Jan l. 1866
and recurring like Information 10 other roads In AID
| OF which land grants had been made. Adopted. ,
Mr.. DUELL (Rep.. n. ~ presented petitions rom "a
large number Of business men, all over the country Tor
| the repeal of the Bankrupt law. Referred. 49,
Grand Division OF the Sons OF Temperance Of Eastern
NewYork. representing 1900 members f0r ocm'1s-
sion Of Inquiry concerning the alcohoho qnor trac
Mr.. BECK Dem, Kyl, from the Committee on Ways
and Means reported bill authorizing the cancellation
OF export bond for so barrels of dsted spirits ne
while in bonded cars Of tho United States After ex-
| panaton. the bill was passed
| THE ALLEGED DEFALcAnoS OF GEN. HOWARD
The SPEAKER laid before the House u communication
from the Secretary Of War calling attention to deaca
tons in the Of Gen. o. o. Howard Of the Freed
| mons Bureau.
Al the request OF Mr.. WOOD Dem, N. ". the letter
was read In extenso 1t fixes the total amount Of the
defacatons at s573 G6. and states that the secretary
of War would have Gen. Howard, tried by military
court of inquiry, 1t not that most OF the matters
| are barred by the statute OF mitatlon.l
| AT the conclusion OF the reading. Mr. WOOD offered
resolution that the letter OF the Secretary OF War; with
The accompanying reports relating to the defacaon Of
Gen. y. o. Howard be referred to tho COMMITTEE on
Military Affairs. with instructions TO report resolution
proyiding for the trial by military courtmarta Of any
officers Of he army implicated & SeSFeoy 70 the ro,ou
by striking out the Clause relative to INSTRUCTORS GU ms
Committee Military Affairs, leaving that Committee
| 10 take such action III the matter as IL should Judge
The SPEAKER remarked that he had been about to
refer the communication TO the Committee on Military
Mr WOOD said that he preferred In view of the ante
cedent history Of the Freedmens Bureau aud OF Gen
Howards connection with It, that tnero should DO some
| instructions given to the Committee.
Tne vote was takdh on Mr. DAwEs's amendment and
| it was agreed to. by Yeas, ia 10 Nays, 80.
| Mr. DAWES said he did not desire To shield Gen. How
ard but objected to the resolution making statements
as facts. before hearing II stated IA fact the deal-
cation OF Gen. Howard and he did not understand there
| was any such thing in the papers. q.
| Mr. TOOD-Tho resolution states as a fact, what has
bee entcated IN Two Official documents sent here
by the Secretary OF War. think we can well afford to
stand facts which the Administration declares to be
facts. II that gentleman mr. Dawes goes back on the
| MIR DAWEs-No matter how strong the proof may
appear sufficient for I'D 10 use the words alleged
uI' Mr. %OOD-The Secretary of War submitted these
documents the Attorney General. and the Attorney
| General gave his official opinion that Gen Howard was
liable tried by courtmartal and should be so tried,
|
Mr. DAwEsA that may be, but the proper thing is
for tho Committee on Military Affairs 10 report these
facts move TO insert the word alleged" before the
| word defacatons."
detain the House with clubbing about let IT 90 but
desire ,ay that that side OF the House takes the
| re- espOn,ibiy OF shielding this mau, IL may do So
| Mr. DAWES-Ths side OF the House VIII take tue
, responsibility of shielding
| Mr.. WOOD-It has been done 50 to-day.
Mr.. DAwE5-But 1t Will take the responsibility Of
| passing judgment after conviction; not before.
es0d" aud striking out the Instructions. was adopted
THE SALARY QUESTION
The House then. 1870 O'clock resumed the consider
| alton Of the measure in regard to salaries.
Mr. NESNIITH (Dem., Oregon) said that he had come
TO Congress instructed vote for the repeal OF the
Salary bl but when he witnessed the attack that had
been made gentleman from New York CMr. Cox)
for drawn from tho date OF his predecessors
death the date Of h5 own election he hardly knew
how act he himself w9s IN the same position as
| the gentleman from NewYork.
salary bill, and argued that the public clamor against 1t
had been produced partly by misrepresentation SCI and
his intention. however to vote for the bill reported by
Mr. PHILLIPS Qsep., Kanj regarded the question be
fore the House as very peculiar one This was one OF
decide what his compensation should be,
gsrdless Of the Will OF the master The argument OF Mr.
Stephens yesterday that was one OF the prer0gatves
of Congress compensation and that there
was limit TO It's power reminded him 0f the anecd0te
told of warren Hastings who said that he had only
taken ,5OOOoo of the Indian Treasury while there
milionsin IT, and that he was only surprised at
his own moderation. There had to be limit to their
compensation and that limit had been fixed by public
opinion. The American Congress stood to-day at the
bar OF public opinion.
Mr BURCHARD Q2op. Ill., remarked that there was
such unanmity the part Of members in regard the
OF that he did not like to delay the House
by any remarks Of his but he thought that the pending
motions refer with Instructions, omitted one npOr
tant point; that was. as to where the notifications
eould not defend themselves If they did make tho
law take effect from the commencement OF the
the measure OF the last session He had made his effort
with the minority IN opposition 10 that measure, and he
had nothing now to- 70 say N regard & Ito TO IT, Inc people nat
because IL retroactive. but also because IL 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 the OF the decrease OF salary
to the commencement OF the present term
Mr. ORTIZ tRep, Ind) said he mad offered his proposi
ton evening in the nature of compromise
anything else, because 1t was apparent that unless
at any conclusion He thought that four propositions
had been definitely settled by public opinion: First:
ond: That the mileage shall again be restored
Third That the ranking privilege, SO far as relates 70
the personal privileges OF members OF Congress, shall
restored whatever else be done in regard
to distributing public documents; ana forrth: That
what under the old aws All this he provided for
IN the proposition which he had offered.
Mr.. TREMAIN (Rep., N. " asked Mr.. Orth whether
his proposition made any provision Ior covering back
ptMa Mr oRTH replied that 1t did not He said that per.
sopay be would have objection to let the law date
back but matter OF con promise he thought 1t bet
ter let the reduction commence from and after the
passage of the law He believed that that would meet
with the wishes Of the people, and would be in
ormty with the previous history Of Congress that
subject He argued that the people were much In
favor reduction OF the Presidents salary Of that
OF members but could not be touched till after the
present term lie modified his proposition not TO
touch the salary OF the Supreme Court Judges. 1t
would apply, however, to the members Of the Cabinet
1t applied. therefore, only to what known p0at
ical Offices;
Mr. HALE rep, N. " asked Mr.. Orth whether it
WAS his Judgment that salary o 5000 10 member Of
the Cabinet was fair and respectable salary especially
ip proportion " the pay OF member OF Congress- II
fiIssd q $1,000.