The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-26
Spicy Debate on the Legislative
Appropriation Bill
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS LAsDAULET.
The Items for Carriages and
Horses Stricken Out.
Incidental Discussion of the Cur
renoy Question.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

on Railways and Canals. reported bill for the
construction OF the Portland, Dalles and Salt Lake
Railroad. and for the performance Of all govern
nent service free OF charge. Referred to the
Committee OF the Whole on the State or the
Union.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole lMr. Woodford OF New York. In the chair
THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION BILL.
The amendment pending yesterday approprl-
ating $1,000, 900 TO pay judgments OF the Court OF
Claims was agreed to without discussion.
Mr.. NEsMIrH, tiem) OF Oregon, moved to strike
ont from the paragraph relating TO the Department.
OF Justice the item OF $l4O0 for the care ana SUBJ
sistence OF the horses ana 5000 Tor repairs car
rfages and harness. He spoke OF the Attorney
Generals ST. 100 landaulet, and remarked that law
yers OF his 1.-THE Attorney Generals calibre in his
State rode on the outside OF $50 mule. tLaughter)
There was spanish proverb to the effect that If
you put beggar on horseback he will ride to the
devil. u.aughter)
Mr.. NEGLEY, (rep.) OF Pa, objected to the com.
parlson Of an officer OF the government to beggar
on horseback.
Mr.. NEsMI1H-I simply referred to the mule.
(Laughter)
The CHAIRMAN-The gentleman from oregon
will continue being careful to keep in order.
Mr.. kEsMrTH-l was only quoting the Spanish
pack, and he will ride to the devil" l have no
objection to the termination OF the journey in that
particular direction, but don't want the people
to pay Tor transportation (Laughter.)
Mr.. DURHAM, dem.) OF Kentucky, said that as
subcommittee Of the Committee on Contingent
Expenses in the Department OF Justice he had
investigated the subject, and would be prepared
In Q day or two TO make report OF the extrava-
gances OF that department; but he now desired
the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations
70 state now many horses were provided for IN
tnls 81. 400 Item.
Mr.. GARFIELD, trep) of onio replied that the bill
SAID nothing about the number OF horses. He sup
posed II would be AZ many as could be provided
Mr.. DURHAM repeated the question in q some-
frank and candid answer.
Mr. GARFIELD replied that the Committee on
General full detailed statement Of his CONTINGENT
expenses for the past year, and that instead OF
appropriatlng sum In lump, as mad been pre-
appropriations In close detail.
Mr. DURHAM still put the question TO the gen.
tleman, e. he has ltemlzed the mattef-how many
horses this item Is forf
Nj. GARFIELD---If the gentleman, as q sub-com-
ansser aas o %adi Ts he can
Mr.. DURHAM-Tnerc were three horses kept In
the past year. want to know how many there
Mr.. GARFIELD-Tne number OF horses In the fu-
tnre, suppose, depends on tue amount appro-
MT DURHAM-How much have you provided for9
Mr. GARFrELD--I am utterly incapable OF 1ur-
have limited the amount to be used Tor the keep
Ing Of horses and the repair OF carriages II the
gentleman thinks that the amount Is too large let
nm move 10 reduce IT,
Mr. DURHAM-IfI have not the brains to under.
stand have the candor and honesty to answer;
but the gentleman who is at tine head OF the APP
preparation Committee, and VINO asks Tor an APP
preparation OF S., 400 for Keeping horses, VIII not
nave the fairness or candor TO answer on the moor
nj 1 " 10 hp.
tween himself and me.
Mr.. GAEFlELD-There is no need OF any heat
shout this matter. The Attorney General stated
~ she Committee on Appropriations that he Is not
only compelled to run the Court OF Claims on the
70 attend to all cases In the Supreme Court
to which the Uulted States IS q party,
snd TINT there Is j., not d. a DAY that ne
carriage, and 1t makes no difference whether 1t
phal pc BY what the government owns or whether
habits OF years sweep out all arrangements Tor
horses and carriages for the departments very
that il has NOT BEEN the custom OF the eoyernmeps
for the last seventy-Ave years. know that there
have been abuses In regard to horses and carriages
IN tue various departments. These abuses are
older than any member Of the House, There has
been no Attorney General since the foundaJion Of
horses and q carriage by the government as part
Of his official outfit. There Is not an hour
81 ss d w o liable Ss heads s OF ca Ss
upon to meet the President IN Cabinet
know that some OF them. IN view of all which has
been said on this suOJect, have expressed their
wish to have the whole thing abolished. believe
that, in relation to the Attorney General, there
has been purchased Tor him an expensive carriage,
which ought not 10 nave been purchased be-
heve that was an improper and indeiensiDe use of
the contingent iund, IN way which l none OF us
was done, as the committee was assured, not by
the sns Attorney . General IN person. but BY
ing always been managed by the chief
clerk or one OF his assistants. The Attorney Gen.
er2 had no knowledge OF the matter OF expense
and had regretted what had happened. NY own
impression Is that while the occasion has fur
nisned us with the opportunity to correct this
thing in the future 1t Is somewhat nngenerOus.
somewhat unklnd, TO take special case OF what
has been an old hablt-perhaps should say an Old
abuse-and throw all the burden OF IL on the Shout
dcrS oil one man. am here to eXtenuate nothing,
to conceal nothing, but to state just what was un
ment OF the House as to what ought to be done.
Let us do it as question Of general management,
not in the spirit OF tue persecution OF an olf1cer
Mr.. MAYNARD (rep.l, OF Tenn, asked Mr.. Gar
neld whether the salary and emoluments. car
riages horses aud everything else allowed to the
sustain the position SO that poor man could pro-
perry Ill II.
carriage for the use OF the ONCE should be
sldered an emoument. He would not vote thus
indirectly to increase salary II the office OF the
Of Its business the employment OF carriage and
horses IL ought TO be voted, not to
the adequacy 0u Of the salary H he ala not
believe that there was any man 1T for the office
Of Attorney General whose professional services
would not render him far greater compensation.
He had used An expression IN reference to the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Durham) which
he wished to withdraw. He mad said testify what
ne regretted, and hoped the gentleman would
pardon MIN.
Mr.. DuRHAM-I accept the gentemans apology.
Mr. DAWES trep.) oil Mass, asked MIR. Maynard
whether ne meant by mis- interrogat0ry to MIR.
Sarncd that the salaries OF public officers should
De eked out by any such indirectton as carriage
pefquiSites and the OF public property. lie lMr.
Dawes considered 1t reflection on the admins.
Iation oil pubic affairs which his friend from
tennessee should defend the administration
against rather than cast upon 1t.
r mr. =! MAYHARD remarked that the Attorney Gen.
etAi, IN going from his ONCE to attend Cabinet
MEETINGS or to the Supreme Court, had either to
ride tn o street car. - q
Mr.. WOOD loem.) OF N. ", charac terized
sle Practlce OF neads OF departments using public
noisss anu carriages Tor their private convenience
as shameful abuse But he denied that the prac-
MCe was one OF long atandlnU or OF any af ndinr.