The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

The House spent the e. eater portion OF the day
in the hearing or the titles OF bills introduced, OF
which the list was long. number OF petitions
were read. among them one from the Gentiles of
Utah. asking special legislation to Tree them from
Mormon rule.
THE CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE.
Mr.. HYNEs, trep.) OF Ark, offered a resolution
instructlng the Committee on the Contingent Ex-
penses in the Department Of Justice to inquire
into the judicial expenditures in the western dis
trict Ol Arkansas since 1871. He stated charges
had frequently appeared in the metropolitan
papers in regard to that district. and he deemed
1t his duty to offer the resolution. which also re-
ceived the concurrence oil the Attorney General.
The resolution was adopted
AN EFFORT BUSINESS DEFEATED.
After the presentation OF a petition asking in
qulry into the liquor traffic, oil asking the repeal
OF the tobacco tax, and bill to secure inspec-
ton OF the schools Tor Indians, Mr.. MAYNARD (rep)
of Tenn, moved to suspend the rules and make
the bill reported from the Banking Committee in
relation to the currency special order lor Thurs
day next and until disposed OF,
The motion to suspend the rules was defeated.
Yeas l43; nays 90-leSS than twO-tnlrdS IN the az
1rmatlve.
Mr.. MAYNARD then gave notice that II the House
he would move to set aside the other bills on the
calendar that precede the Currency bill.
CENTENNIAL ASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS-.
Mr.. KELLEY, (rep.) OF Pa, offered a resolution
that the members OF the House aud Senate re-
assemble in Carpen ers Hall, philadelphia, In in
formal joint session, on Monday, September 9,
1874, in centennial cOmnemOration OF the as
sembling OF the delegates from tue several colo
mes aud provinces Of North America on Monday,
SEPTEMBER s, l774 and that the Speaker the
House be invited TO preside over the meeting, and
tina; Vice President Wilson be requested to deliver
an address appropriate to the occasion.
After remarks IN support OF the resolution by
Mr.. Kelley and Mr.. Waddel!, OF North Carolina, Mr..
nas an
which he had 10 1t was that this was but one OF
many measures preparatory to having Congress
great Centennial Exposition OF 1875 70 the amount
OF from So, 0O0,O 600 to So, 100000.
Mr. KELLEY admitted that the thing was unpre-
cedented; but that was because this was the nrst
centennial anniversary OF the event. He believed
that with every recurring centenary the precedent
now to be established would be followed.
Mr.. G. +. HOAR, OF Massachusetts, suggested Its
reference To the Committee on the Centennial Ex-
position. He thought 1t something disrespectiul
to the Senate to propose that its presiding oficer
should deliver the address and that the Speaker of
the House should preside over the Joint conven-
ton.
Mr.. KELLEY said he had consulted some OF the
best pariamen tarians In the House, and their
opinion was that the arrangement proposed was
the proper one.
Mr.. HoAR asked Mr.. Kelley to name any skilrul
parllamentarlan who would say that suca prOpo-
sition was respectful to the Senate.
MIR. KELLEY declined to do so, but moved TO sus-
pend the rules and adopt the resolution.
The motion to suspend was seconded, 90 to SO,
The House refused to suspend the rules by 125
yeas to % nays, not twO-tnlrds in the affirmative
so the resolution was rejected.
SALES AND PURCHASES BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
PROPOSED.
Mr.. O'BRIsN, OF Maryland, offered resolution
directing the secretary OF the Navy to inform the
House as to the prOprtety Of the sale of the Naval
Asylum &C Philadelphia and the erection OF suit
able buildings at Annapolis for the purpose. Re
ferred to tue committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. LANAI, of Mlsssslppi, offered q resolution
instrnctlng the Committee on Military Affairs to
ssnd ~ the tie CUP 81 mexe S the sale b Ha
used as q military reservation. Adopted.
Mr.. MAYNARD, Of Tennessee, introduced a bill
r we and other sSe on
Point. Port Royal, s. q. Reefred. ''' y"
REFUNDING OF CUSTOMS.
Mr.. KAssoN rep} OF Iowa, from the Committee
on Ways and Means, reported bill providing that
moneys paid into the hands Of any collector, or
into the treasury, Tor customs duties, in accord
ance with any decision or ruling previously made
by the Secretary OF the Treasury. shall not be re-
funded or repaid, except in pursuance of special
with the judgment OF United states court giving
the Attorney General shall certify that
no appeal or writ oil error will be taken by the
United states; also providing that no ruling or
decision once made by the secretary OF the Treas
ury In regard to customs duties shall be changed
by the same or succeeding Secretary, except it
be In concurrence with an opinion in favor OF such
change given BY the Attorney General, or by rea.
son OF judicial decision OF q United States court
affecting the same, from which the Attorney Gen.
eral shall certify that no appeal or writ OF error
Will be taken by the United States
The discussion Of the subject was participated
In by Messrs. Butler and Dawes. OF Massachusetts,
Wood OF New York; Beck, OF Kentucky; Burchard,
Of Illinois; Kasson, OF Iowa, and Kelley, repl OF
Pa, the latter stating that q conspiracy OF New
YORK lawyers had been formed to procure re-
funding OF duties, they to have one-half Of all the
sums recovered, and that an enrolled OH IA tne
State Department had been tempered with Dy tne
change OF comma, in order to enable t1 ,n con
spracy OF lawyers to secure renewal OF tue de-
ctsion, and this had cost the governments $oooOoo.
Mr.. BURcHARD Qep) explained now v., .ne error TOT
occurred and held that the state department. was
not responsible for It.
Mr.. KELLEY disclafmed tue ldea OF nolulnR tnat
department. responsible.
Nj. DAWES rep went into further explana-
ton of the matter. and argued that the Secretary
OF the Treasury was right In his decision. What
he (Nr. Dawes) objected to was that any Secretary
OF she Treasury should have power to make hts
own construction OF the law, and then draw his
warrant on the Treasury for the amount which he
decided should be refunded. That should require
the action OF Congress.
M. KAss0N. Of Iowa. moved to suspend the rules