Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-03
HOUSE.

HOUSE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-Under the call
of States many bills were introduced and
referred.
BY Mr.. Barrere: For branch mint at
Chicago.
BY Mr.. Myers, of Pennsylvania: To
amend the bankrupt.law by enforcing the
settlement of claims against debtor when
ever an agreement for such settlement is
signed by the debtor and three-fourths in
number and amount of the creditors.
BY Mr. Burchard: Prohibiting terrific
rial legislatures from authorizing towns to
issue bonds in aid of railroads.
BY Dir. Stanard: For a customhouse
building at Kansas City.
BY Mr.. Havens: For a board Of army
officers as Indian Peace Commissioners.
BY Mr.. Hubbell: To regulate debate on
Saturday and to prevent the publication in
the Congressional record of already pub
liShed treaties on finances and newspaper
articles or editorials.
The District Ring-wiIson Exeusing
Blaine.
Mr.. Wilson, of Indiana, presented four
memorials touching the affairs of the Dis
trict of Columbia and made a statement in
reference to a matter in regard 10 which he
said some erroneous publications had been
made respecting the Speaker of the House.
Two Of the papers had been in his hands
for the past month and he had sought for
considerable time to get the floor in COM
mon with other gentlemen and in common
with them had been unsuccessful.
Finally, befor the West Virginia election
case, he had gone to the Speaker and had
told him be desired the floor for the pur-
pose of submitting this matter Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. and hld been informed
by the Speaker that there was very great
pressure for the floor; that a number of
gentlemen were then insisting on it, and
after the matter then pending was disposed
of, he would try and recognize me OWL
sony. Immediately after he learned that
the gentleman who had charge Of the West
Virginia election case was insisting on go
ing on with that question, and he then
came to the conclusion that the Speaker
would not be warranted in Withholding re-
cOgnition from the gentleman (Smith) from
New for that pullose- He had afterwards
gone back to the Speaker and had another
conversation, and the Speaker then told him
that. if after the House passed from the
som was willing to take the risk of submit
ting the matter to a thin House, he would
give him the floor that afternoon, and other
wise he (Wilson) should have the first re-
cOgniIiOn to-day for a motion to suspend
the rules. All this had occurred between
the Speaker and himself before there had
been any sort of public comment on the
subject. He hal preferred to wait until to-
day. The matter was in his hands not of
his own seeking; lie desired to have moth
ing to do with it.
The Joint Resolution.
Mr.. Wilson then presented the memo
rials of w. W. Corcoran, G.. W. Rigg.. Co
lumbus Alexander, and others of the Gov
ernment Ofthe District, with areSOlUtion for
a committee of investigation. The concur
rent resolution was then read. | { provides
for joint select committee to be appointed
by the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House to inquire into the
matters specified in the petitions: Whether
unlawful contracts have been made for pub
lie improvements in the District; whether
unlawful assessments of taxes have been
levied; the actual cost of such improve
ments; the amount agreed to be paid there
for; whether correct measurements have
been made; the existing Indebtedness on
account thereof. and what, if any, portion
of such indebtedness was created on ac-
count OF Government property andmay pro-
perly be paid for out of the Treasury of the
United States.
Mr.. KassOn suggested an addition to the
enquiry: Also whether any amendment of
the act is necessary to protect further tie
rights of citizens and the disbursement and
collection of money. He stated that the
public school teachers had
Not Been Paid since September last.
Mr.. Cox said the police had not been
paid since September last.
Mr.. Poland believed the proposed inyes-
tigatiOn should be conducted by the stand
ing Committee for the District of Column
bia.
Mr.. Hale, of New York, Chairman Of
that Committee, preferred that the matter
should go to a select committee as pro-
posed.
Mr.. Chapman, delegate from the District,
avowed the readiness of the officers IF the
District to submit all the facts to the most
rigorous examination.
The Committee.
Mr.. Kasson's suggestion was accepted by
Mr.. Wilson and the resolution as thus
amended was adopted and the Speaker ap-
pointed the following committee: Mr..
Wilson, of Indiana, Hale, of New York,
Hubbell, of Michigan, Clymer, of Penn
sylvania, Jewett, of Chic.
The Charges Against Judge Busteed.
MIR. White, of Alabama, presented arti-
cles Of impeachment against Richard Bus
teed, United States Judge of Alabama,
which were ordered printed and referred to
the Judiciary Committee. The charges are
presented by Alexander White, citizen of
Alabama. The articles are as follows:
l. That he (Judge Bustead) has never
been a citizen of the State of Alabama, but
is citizen of the State of New York.
2. That he has never resided in any of
the districts of Alabama of which he is the
presiding Judge.
,. That he has failed to hold the courts
as required by law and at the times appoint
ed by law.
4. That on the days fixed by the law for
holding the terms of the several district
courts he has often failed to attend, there
by Kept all waiting at heavy expense to
the people and Government of the United
States, merely 10 subServe his own conve-
nIence.
Art. 9TH is in relation to a libel suit by
X. NJ. Reynolds against Judge bustead in
which Ii is alleged that money was taken
from the registry of the court and paid to
in consideration of the dismissal
of the suit.
Centennial Medals for Everybody.
Mr.. Hooper, from the Committee on
Coinage, reported a bill providing that
medals, with appropriate devices, emblems
and inscriptions, shall be prepared at the
Philadelphia mint, TO commemorate the
lOOth anniversary of the meeting of the
Continental Congress, and of the Declare
ton OF Independence; and that such medals,
In any suitable metal or alloy, be furnished