Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-22

Congress was TO adjourn without fully distrib-
uting the money. Not To do so was 70 leave q
| stain upon the honor Of the Congress and the
country. He cid not believe any prominent
lawyer or publicist wss IN favor Of the spolis-
tom and contseatiOn of this property OF fnsur-
Mr.. f. r. Hoar had hoped that bill would
| be passed making dual disposition, and dIstri-
button OF the Geneva ard. He was glad
| however, of the opportunity 20 vote for bl'
l which paid the undisputed claims and RENTED
| the insurance question 70 be decided BY future
Congresses. be did not believe many people In
| the House or the country would agree with Mr..
Eldredge that the money should be covered
into the Treasury.
MIR. Poland contended that the bin said the
| insurance companies should not be paid.
/ Mr.. Butler said they could not be paid under
| this bill. but there was no prejudice against
| them. They could present their claims for ad-
/ Juolcatlon at some future time.
Mr.. +. II. Hoar said that was the way be
| understood &c.
| Mr.. Poland argued that great injustice was
| House committee had gone TO the Senate and
come back shorn, for they had practically
adopted the Senate bill.
Mir. Beck (Ky.) contended that the Geneva
/ money was held by the United States in trust
/ for the people, aud il had no more right TO re-
tain that money than an executor or guardian
/ would have 10 retain money committed 20 his
Il charge in trust. He wanted the money paid 20
Il the people, and would rather see it sunk In the
Atlantic ocean than that il should rem ain in
the Treasury. He believed, no xever, that the
whole question should be adjudicated in the
courts of the United States, aud not by any spe-
Il cial commission.
Mr.. Dawes Mass argued that the import
ance OF distribution was so great that Congress
should yield all minor matters of detail. He
believed the courts were the proper places 20
aotudicate their claims, but he would have
confidence in any tribunal that mi ht be erected
by Congress. The reprOach OF the French
spoiiation claim should not be permitted TO at
tach TO the Geneva award.
The conference report was then agreed to-
Il Mr.. Smith \. W. offered joint resolution
for an amendment to the Constitution, pro-
yidlDg Tor the election of President anc Vice
PRESIDENT by direct vote OF the people. Ordered
printed, and recommitted to the Committee on
Mr.. Kelley (Pa) asked, but failed to obtain.
leave TO have an order made setting aside the
Sth day of December next for the consideration
OF the ball relating to the issue Of bonds al low
rate OF interest.
The House then resumed consideration or the
sUSDRY CIVIL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
The amendment appropriating $4,000 for fur
nltuTe, Nc., OF the [ nited States court room al
Wilmington, Delaware, was concurred in.
Also, the amendment to continue the geological
and geographical survey Of the territories by
Hayden and Powell.
blr. Fort Ill) offered an amendment, which
was agreed 10, sppropriating $4,000 for folding
he report OF the Department OF Agriculture.
The appropriations of $4,000 for the erection
of an equestrian statue of Nathaniel Greene and
OF $1,000 10 purchase works OF art for the Capt.
tol were on-concurred in. Also, the amend
ment TO collect Information respecting the con
dition Of the fur trade in Alaska. The follow
ing were ooncurred in: To enable the librari an
OF Congress TO eTsploy two assistants in connec.
ton with the copyright department and in pre-
pairing q complete index to the documents and
debates OF Congress; appropriating $1,000 %
enable the Secretary Of the Treasury TO take
testimony as TO claims against the L. s.; for
payment of expenses for editing the revised
statutes; TO enable the Secretary Of the Navy 10
complete the observations OF the transit OF We
nus.
The committee recommended concurrence in
NE Senate amendment appropriating II 800 coo
to he expended by the commissioners Of the
District OF Columbia for the payment OF inter-
est on the funded debt, and %, for the payment
OF officers. employees ana lahorers OF the Dis
trict people or the Board or Public Works, and
me remainder to the current expenses OF the
District, all the above sums except so much as
set apart Tor interest TO be considered aud ad-
Justed hereafter as part OF the proper proper
tional sum TO be paid by the United States to
wards the expt nses OF the government of the
District of Columbia, with an amend ment pro
viding that the money shall only be drawn from
the Treasury only as needed. and then on a de-
tailed statement as to the person and purpose
for which required, anf the commissioners shat
be required TO transmit to the President. aud
he send 10 Congress at the beginning of the next
session, detailed statement Of receipts and ex-
penditures.
Mr.. Speer (Pa-) asked what amount was due
10 employees and laborers.
Mr.. Garfield said that the committee had a
conference with the chairman of the House
committee, and under the first head they thought
four or five hundred thousand dollars would be
could not say how much would be required 1t
was to pay that class to whom payment was due
from the District proper and the Board OF Pub
lie Works, but not the employees OF contractors.
The committee did not see how they could 90
back OF contracts and settle with the workman
OF contractors.
Mr.. Maynard (Tenn) contended it woald not
be right and Just TO pay the contractors' work
men when the former had not been paid.
Mr.. Garfield said the committee had consid-
cred that subject, and thought it would lead to
complications.
Mr. Speer CPs) said the contractors had PAID
the men in deprecated certificates worth 60 o.
reach that class?
MIR. Garfield said the law passed the other
day would govern that.
Mr.. Kasson (Iowa) desired 20 offer an amend
ment requiring payment OF sums over $50 70 be
made by checks upon the Treasury 10 tue order
OF the party TO whom due, but MIR. Garfield de-
L--aed TO admit it,
bIr. Cannon (IIl.) opposed the Senate amend
nent. and argued that no money shOald be sp-
pTopristed until the relations between the
United States and the District were definitely
settled. 1t had been shown that large amounts
OF money had been expended in the teeth OF the
organic act, and that SCI 900 had gone as 4
bonus for contracts, and now IL was proposed %
appropriate 81 800 600 70 go in the same way 10
men who had fattened on the District. For
this reason lie had voted against the bill the
other day, and should vote against the amend
ment.
Mr.. wilson (Ind.) (who had just entered the
hall) said the committee had recommended the
trict, and yet there would be upwards OF q
million dollars deficiency. Although in
direct violation of law, work had been
done around government property The
people of the District were not responsible
for the work being done. and il was not just
that they should be required TO pay for IL. He
said no words could be used to denounce the
manner In which the affairs OF the District
had been conducted that he would not en-
dorse.
Mr.. Cobb (Kan.) asked why when the Dis
trict bin was reported this appropriation was
not put in9
Mr.. Wilson said il was indicated In the re-
port, but not put in because the committee
thought IL should come from the Appropriation
Committee. The interest, he SAID, fell due In
July, and the District had not dollar in the
treasury. Ii was q question whether the Dis
trict and capital OF the nation should be dis
credited. In reply TO question by Mr.. Spear,
MT. Wilson said the money appropriated
for interest would be returned to the govern
ment. The other which was to be considered
and adjusted hereafter WAS to pay laberers and
clerks who had not been received their paw 70.
from eight to twelve months. and who were ac-
tualiy suffering. He did not believe there was
a city In the union north OF Mason & Dixon's
line where there was as much suffering as in
Washington. He had had men come 10 him,
white and black. with tears In their eyes snd