The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-28
HOUSE.
sANDoRN CONTRACTS.


Immediately after the reading OF the
journal the House proceeded to the con-
sideration Of the report ot the Committee
OF Ways and Means in the matter of the
Sannorn contracts, and Mr.: Niblack,
member OF the committee, addressed
the House. He regarded all the develop.
ments as showing most remarkable case
ol maladministralion.
Ar. Climer denounced the whole pro-
ceedings under the Sanborn contracts,
and said the Secretary oI the Treasury
had at the Treasury Department an in
competent and lmbecile line ot Secretaries
commencing with Hamilton and end.
ing with Richardson. II was like q race
Of giants, being ended by pigmies he re-.
GREETED the committees report did not re-.
commend the Impeachment Of the three
chief persons named in the matter, one
TOR incompetency and inefflciency,
and the TWO Others for completely.
It was an astounding thing that the
President had not yielded to public opin-
ion and removed these officials instead OF
acting in defiance and disregard Of It. II
was only within day or 60 that the Presi.
dent hadTemoved q district official fol
attempting TO tell the truth. Mr.. Garfield
related briefly and tersely tho circum,
stances under which the clause on which
the Sanborn contracts were based, and ex.
pressed the belief that lift had been ad-
ministered with the restrictions provided
none Of the great evils complained ol
would have resulted, ,..
Mr.. Kellogg believed that :secretary
Richardson was as pure and honest man
as ever filled the office. II the Committee
on Ways and Means thought he should
be punished, let that committee repor,
articles Of impeachment, and not under
take, by denunciation, TO draw black lines
around his character, or come into the
HouEe with baby resolutions Of censure
II the Secretary Of the Treasury had the
brains Of Alexander Hamilton and Daniel
Webster combined, he would still have to
depend upon his subordinates. iu r.
MIR. E.tH. Roberts closed the debate.
The first vote was on the amend,
ment offered by Mr. Beck, prohibiting
any Senator, Representative or delegate
in Congress from acting as agent, atIor-
ney, proctor, advocate, solicitor or coun-
sci for any person iu connection with the
violation ol tho customs or the revenue
laws, which was adopted without d.
vision. - H.
The bill which repeaIs the law on
which the Sanborn contracts were based
was then passed without division OF
objection. Ia
The remainder Of the days session
having been assigned to the Judiciary
Committee, MIR. Butler (Chairman), q
Massachusetts, stated under this call thai
the Civil Rights bill and Geneva Award
bill would not be reported to-day. +!
Mr. Butler then reported the bill intro
duced by himself yesterday providing
that tho pay Of a deceased member shall
be given TO his widow or heirs at law uI
to the date Of the election of his successor
whose pay shall commence from his cleo
tion. The bill passed, after a statement
that later in the day aispecial bill would
be introduced covering the case OF Mr.
Mellish. a. . ~ y
Mr.. Butler also reported a bill remov-
ing the political disabilities OF Raphael
6emmes, Of Alabama. Passed. Also {
bill investing general court martials Will
Jurisdiction, concurrent with that OF STATE
or Territorial Courts, oi the crimes o
murder, manslaughtcr, rape, arson, rob.
berry, burglary, assault and battery, ant
Of all attempts 10 commit the Same by
persons In the land or naval service
Passed. He also reported bill appoint
ing the time for holding Circuit Courts o
the United States in the Fourth Judlcia
District. Passed. The time fixed fol
holding Court at Parkersburg, West Va.
Is the trst Monday in February. Also {
bill providing that all colored persons re
siding within tho limits Of the ChoctaW
and Chickasaw nations, at the time wher
the 10Th amendment to the Constitution
took effect, and their children, are dc
clsred part ot these nations or tribes
with ali THE rights 10 hold office, to senC
their children TO public schools, and witt
all other rights and privileges now en-.
joyed by those Indians, and providing
that q denial Of such rights 10 coloret
persons shall be q misdemeanor.
Mr.. Butler accepted the amendment ot
fered by MIR. Shanks, that no provision
Of the Choctaw and Ohickasaw treaty Q
1885 shall be affected by this act.
After Q debate as 10 the right OF th
Government TO force these negroes on th
Indians, Mr.. Shanks' amendment wa
adopted, and then the bill passed by
strict party vote. Yeas 140: nAYH az,