The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-06-04
SPEECH OF
HON. GHAs. FOSTER
on THE sANBORS CONTRACTS, IN THE
HOUSE, MAY 21, 1874.
Nj. FOster-I now call the regular

HOUSE, MAY 21, 1874.
Mr.. Foster-I now call the regular
order.
The Speaker pro te,npore-The reg
ular order is the unfinished business
coming over from yesterday, the title
of which the Clerk win read.
The Clerk read the title, as follows:
A bill "a. r. No. a2J6l TO repeal 50 much OF
the act approved May 8, lS72, entitled "An
tive, executive, and Judicial expenses OF the
government for the year ending June 80,
1873, and for other purposes" as provides for
proper ofdcers offhe Government in dIscoy-
ering and collecting moneys Withheld for
other purposes.
Mr.. Foster-I desire to enter a mo-
ton to recommit this BILL
Mr.. Beck-I ask the gentleman to
withdraw that motion until can
submit an amendment and have it
pending.
Mr.. Foster-I will do SO.
Mr.. Ward, OF Illinois-I ask that
the bill be read. 1t has not been read
yet. p.
Mr.. Starkweather-Have we right
TO object to the withdrawal of the mo-
ton to recommit?
The Speaker pro tenn. gentle
man has the floor, and is entitled to
withdraw the motion to recommit,
which he does for the purpose of al
lowing the gentleman from Kentucky
Mr.. Beck to move an Amendment
Mr.. Standardization another
amendment be offered?
Tho Snaabor aa,sn That do
pends upon whether the motion to re-
commit is renewed.
Mr.. Poland-I desire to ask this
gentleman from Ohio whether he in
tends to bring this matter to conclu-
sion to-day?
Mr.. Foster-That is my intention.
Mr.. Poland-On yesterday the con-
sideration of this matter was post
poned because of the illness of the
gentleman from Massachusetts and
from the Essex district, Mr.. Butler, j
who, we all know from what has ia
ken place in this House, has some
feeling and interest in this matter. I
understand that he is still confined to
his house by sickness and unable to be
here. am not authorized from him
to ask for any postponement of this
matter, but it occurs to me that If his
presence yesterday was necessary or
proper or any fairness to him required
that the bill should then be postponed
that consideration is equally opera
tive to-day.
The Speaker pro tenn. Mr.. Dawes Fl
The present occupant of the chair de-
sires to state to the House that this
matter was postponed yesterday upon
bis request. He is informed that his
colleague, because of whose illness it
was postponed, is no better to-day.
Mr.. Foster-I am advised by the
friends of General Butler that he will
not be able to be out for some time,
and that it is their desire that this
matter shall be considered now.
Mr.. Poland-As I stated before,
have no authority from General But
Ter, or anybody else speaking
on his behalf, to ask for any
postponement of this bill. aIf the
gentleman from from Ohio Mr..
Fosterl feels authorized to say that it
is to be proceeded with with bis assent
and concurrence, 1 have no remarks
to make.
Mr.. Foster-I have the best althori-
~ in the world for saying what do.
The speaker pro tempOre-The
amendment of the gentleman from
Kentucky Mr.. Beck will be read.
The Clerk read as follows
SECTIoN--That no Senate Representative,
or Delegate to Congress snail, after his elect
as agent, attorney, proctor, advocate, solicit
tor, or counsel, for any person against whom
suits or proceedings other than criminal
may have been or are about 70 be COM
m ufn1affor7 n raxrr rra1 q ayrG
or who has any claim for drawbacks or rec
lamations for duties, taxes, or excises paid
or demanded, or for the United States, or
any agent, employee, informer, officer or
officers of the revenue or customs service of
the United States, In any suit or proceeding
relating to the customs dues, excises, or tax
es ;nor shall he receive any compensation,
gift or reward from such persons or officers
for any service, advice, counsel, or aid af-
fOrded such person or persons, officer or Of
ficcrs, agent, informer, or employe. And
any person offending against this provision
shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished
by fine not exceeding 5000, and imprison-
ment for term not exceeding ten years, at
the discretion of the court trying the same,
and shall be forever, thereafter Incapable of
holding any office of honor, trust or profit
under the Government of the United States.
And any person who shall pay, or cause TO
be paid, to any Senator, Representative, or
Delegate, or 10 any person tor his use or bene-
ut, directly or indirectly, any sum OF money
or other thing of value because of such SER
vice or advice, relating to any of the matters
aforesaid, shall have the right at any time
value, In any court Of the United States,
against such Senator, Representative, or
Delegate, or the person or persons who re-
ceived the same, or may unite all such per-
sons in the same suit.
Mr.. Foster-I now renew the mo-
ton to recommit.
Mr.. Ward, of Illinois-I call for the
reading of the bill.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows
Be IL enacted, &C., That SO much of the act
entitled "An act making appropriations for
the legislative, executive, and judicial ex-
penses ofthe Government for the year end
ing June 30, 1873, and for other purposes"
employment by the Secretary of the
Treasury of not more than three persons TO
assist the proper officers of the Government
in discovering and collecting any money be-
longing to the United States, when the same
shall be withheld by any person or corpora
ton, be, and the same Is hereby, repealed I;
and the Secretary ofthe Treasury is hereby
for the collection of such taxes made under
and by authority Of said act.
SEC. 2 That the Conrt Of Claims shall
have no authority to consider or decide up
on any claims for damages by reason of the
discontinuance Of the contracts aforesaid, or
for any profits or percentages under them.
The speakeLpro tenpore-The Chair
will state that at haIf-past one O'Clock
bill, which has been made the
special order to the exclusion of all
other orders, viii take the gentleman
from Ohio Mr.. Fosterl from the floor.
MIR. Garheld-Allow me to suggest
that 1t might now be arranged that
the special order fixed for half-past
one should be postponed long enough
to allow this bill to be concluded.
MIR. Foster-I prefer, Mr.. Speaker,
that this bill should be disposed of to-
day and / give 1t as my opinion that
the whole question can be disposed of
in two hours. II the special order just
referred to could be postponed for an
hour, we could finish the bill.
Mr.. McKee-That would not leave
time enough for the disposition of the
special order to-day, which is the bill
for the admission of New Mexico.
The speaker pro teBlpore-The
special order when it is reached will
be under the control of the majority
of the House.
Mr.. Foster-Mr. Speaker, I regret
the absence of the gentleman from
Massachusetts,, Mr.. Butler 7 and did
know that he could be present with
i IL = AO1-OAooAO nOlAA0 y W
the postponement / trust that he
may soon be restored to his usual
health and yigor, and should he desire
to reply to the remarks l make,
hope the opportunity may be given
him.
Mr.. Speaker, while 1 know that the
bill under consideration is practically
without opposition, yet in view OF the
fact that the Sanborn contracts have
been the subject Of inquiry by resolu-
ton Of this House and also of a wide
spread and deep feeling throughout
the country against them, / beg your
indulgence for the purpose Of showing
the House and the country something
of the legislation of the Forty-second
Congress on this subject, the manner
in which the law has been administer
ed and the effect of the law as admin
istered upon the officers of the Gov.
ernment all OF which, in my judg-
ment, show unmistakably that the
law was unwise, and that its admins.
tration justly subjects the Treasury
Department to seYere criticism.
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