The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-12-22
CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WAsuENGToN, December 81

SENATE.
WARRINGTON, December 81.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on
Finance, reported q bill to provide ior
the resumption OF Especie payments. The
bill was read twice and placed upon the
calendar. He gave notice that he would
call up the bill tomorrow after tho ex-
ptration OF the morning hour, II possible.
Mr.. Flanagan read an extract from q
newspaper charging him with pocketing
the nomination OF certain postmaster
In Texas, and said the nominations were
brought TO him by tho chairman Of the
Committee on Postofflces and Post.roadS.
There was no objection 10 the San An
tonic postmaster, and he so informed the
chairman, but the other two desired an
investigation. He thought 1t was an un.
fortunate action for the Republican party
to remove those two postmssters.
Mr.. Morton gave notice that on the
tirst day OF tho session after the recess, at
the expiration ol the morning hour, he
would ask the Senate 10 proceed with
the consideration Of the proposed amend.
ments 10 the Constitution Of the United
States, In regard to the election oil Pres
ident and Vice. President, reported by the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
last session.
MIR. Thurman submitted resolution in.
structing the Committee on the District
OF Columbia 10 inquire whether any leg
islation is necessary for the protection
Of the street railway conductors in the
District OF Columbia against the regula-
tions OF such companies requiring con-
ductors to work an unreasonable number
OF hours out oI twenty'iOur. He said he
had received numerous complaints 10 the
effect that conductors were required 10
work seventeen and eighteen hours out
Of twenty.four. Agreed TO.
MIR. Boreman moved that the vote by
which the Senate bill to establish the Ter.
ritory of Pembina, and TO provide TEN.
porary Government therefor, was rejected
on its third reading, on the 10th OF May
last, be re considered, and that the bill be
re committed 10 the Committee on Terri.
tories. Agreed to.
hr. Chandler, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported with amendments
the House bill for the further security OF
navigation on the Mississippi river, which
was placed on the calendar.
The morning hour having expired the
Senate resumed consideration OF the bill
TO provide a better government for the
District OF Columbia.
The pending question being on the mo.
tlon OF Mr.. Morton 10 provide for the cleo.
ton Of Board Of Commissioners by the
qualified voters instead OF having them
appointed by The President, MIR. Sargent
said the bill, was too much burdened
with details, which would be hindrance
10 those called upon 10 construe it. he
did not know why it was that the people
Of the District Of Columbia were to be de.
prived Of the right OF suffrage. Was it to
be understood that the bill was an admis.
sion that the Republican party In the
District, the Capital Of the nation,
had abandoned negro sufrageI he
was not now prepared to say to
the colored men in the South or 10 the
Republicans Of that section that Congress
was now in their hour Of trial, and after
the dark days Of persecution to which
they had been subjected since the adjourn.
ment OF Congress last summer, going 10
surrender such principle as that Of
suffrage. He believed a ballot was nee.
essary for the protection OF the colored
man, and he could not lead the struggling
people OF Arkansas, Louisiana and Miss.
issippi TO believe they were deserted by
the voting to deprive the eolored man
In this district Of suffrage.
Mr.. Salisbury opposed the amendment
OF Dir. Morton and deprecated the attempt
to mako party measure of the bill. It
was not question Of negro suffrage, but
question Of providing better govern
ment for the district, and he believed the
people OF the district would be better of
with their commissioners appointed by
the President to preside over them than
to have all the voting and corruption
which existed heretofore.
MIR. Logan favored the amendment,
and agreed with the Senator from Gala
tornia (Sargent) He said he believed
the District would be much better gov.
erned II allowed to elect Mayor and
Council, as was the case in former years,
than it would be under this bill.
Mr.. Salisbury said committee of
Congress had investigated the subject,
and reported that by government es-
ta6lished on this unlimited principle the
people OF the District had been borne
down with load Of debt which arc used
the whole country. Did the Senator
from California or his friend from Illinois
desire to have such q state OF atfaira
again :
Mr.. Logan said that the men who had
involved the District In debt were not
elected by the people, but were appointed
by the President.
MIR. SaulSbury spoke Of the acts OF the
District Legislature authorizing this debt,
and said that the millions Of debt which
had been authorized by the popular vote
had been authorized by people who did
not pay cent OF the taxes they imposed
on others.
Mr.. Flanagan favored the amendment
oi the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Morton),
and said that, as a representative OF the
South, he would cordially support It. The
Constitution Of the United States said
nothing about tax payers where suffrage
was concerned, 1t knew only the people
without regard to color. There had
been some talk Of removing the
Capital, and in his opinion tho pas
sage OF this bill would be q fatal blow to
the perpetuIty oil the Capital here, for mil.
lions Of the colored voters Of the country
would vote solid to remove Il to any other
place. he regretted that Senator Morton
had not included woman suffrage in his
amendment, as he (FlSnagan) would be
glad to have woman suffrage start here.
Mr.. Howe introduced resolution in
Structing the Committee on Judiciary 10
inquire whether any legislation Is neces-
ssry to prohibit the disbursing officers Of
the United States from paying moneys
TO persons or corporations, or 10 the or.
der Of such persons or corporations who
i