Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-20
EVENING STAR.
ikDNESDAY....Jannary 80. 1879.
CONGRESSIONAL
Conclusion Of Yesterdays PROCEEDINGS

co"o'"sio" Of Yesterdays Proceedings.
SENATE.-After our report cloSei-
The pending amendments TO the
LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL
APPROPRIATION BILL.
Win reference TO the Bureau of Commerce
were ali agreed TO. Various other amend
ments To the bill was then agreed TO, a. fol
lows; Authorizing the Secretary of the
treasury, in his discretion. to rent other
buildings in lieu or those now rented for his
department. Adding $4,000 to the appropri-
alton for the wages OF the workmcn at the
Philadelphia mint, and providing for two
annealing furnaces at the same mint. Al.
ing $500 To the Appropriation for the wages
OF tLe workfnen at the san Francisco mint
Adding $4,000 TO the appropriation for the
mint at Carson City, Nevada. Appropri-
ating 81 800 for assay Office at Boise City.
Iuaho Appropriating S2S.+o0 FOR mileage
and compensation of the legislative ass arnbly
of [ tab. Providing that the mana gers for
the national home for disabled volunteer sol
diers shall make quarterly estimates and
requiSitlonS, instead OF monthly. Adding In
the force in the Adjutant Generals Office ont,
temporary clerk OF class four, three tempo
rary clerks OF class three, ten temporary
clerks OF class two, ana twenty-one tanpo-
rary clerks OF class one. Adding TO the force
I'm the office of the Surgeon General eight
clerks of class two and eight clerks OF class
one Authorizing the Secretary of War TO
employ not exceeding thirteen enlisted men
for ore year in the office OF the Chief OF Odd
nance Placing the salary of the Commits
sioner of the General Land Office at ~ 600 per
annum. Providing that after July I, 1875.
the grade of third assistant examiner in the
Patent Office shall cease. Striking ont the
pIoviso that the provisions OF the army APP
preparation act OF iS1i, prohibiting the allow
ance of mileage To persons holding employ
ment or appointment under the Unitei
states, shall not he so construed aS 10 apply
To the usual travelling fees OF United States
marshals or deputy marshals.
Pending further action on the bill, the Sen
ate went into executive session and then adj
iourned.
HOUSE.-After our report closet
Further debate on Mr.. Hoar's resolution of
inquiry as 10 whether the privilege of the
House had been infringed by the arrest of
Nhiteiaw Reid, was INDUCED in after which
il was adopted.
THE RECUSAST WITNESS wErNoRE.
Inc Sergeant-at-ArmSa appeared before the
bar of the House with Mr.. &. A. wetmore.
who had refused to answer certain questions
propounded by the Ways and Means Com
mittee.
The Speaker, addressing Mr.. wetmore.
sala ne was at the bar OF the House for an
alleged contempt, in that he would not an
swer a question propounded To him by the
Committee OF Ways and Means lie then
asked him II he proposed TO answer.
Mr.. Wetmore rep,ied mo, sir and re-
quested time till tomorrow 10 determine
whether he could answer the question with
out n breach of confidence
The Speaker.-Iou are at liberty 10 make
any statement you may desire.
Mr.. Wetmore read the following statement
Mr.. Speaker: L am before the bar Of the
House 10 answer why should not be commit
ted for contempt The cause Of my appear
ance here is simply stated, On the Atm inst,
late at night, sent special dispatch 10 the
A0d Californian, among the statements being
one that "a strange rumor is afloat concern
ing Mr.. Beck and his connection with the
Pacific mail subsidy" Mr.. Beck demanded
an explanation of this sentence which he did
not in any way cause circulation of any par
ticular rumOr. Being pressed for an answer
mentioned, among Others, a rumor which
was confldentially related to me by friend
To the effect that a check from Mr.. FAINT hal
been traced TO Mr.. Beck, but this rumor
had never published, not deeming il worthy
publication unless corroborated in some way;
neither do now assert or charge the same nor
affect TO believe it. He then demanded the
name OF the party who had related the rumpr
TO me. L asked time until tomorrow, 50 that
might obtain permission TO furnish the COM
mittee with evidence as To the origin of the
rumor, which was related 10 me only hear
say evidence, and not with intention to make
1t public. This time the committee refused
To grant, Notwithstanding i'm all other cases
II had been usual TO grant it, am compelled
10 ask the Indulgence of this House for time
until tomorrow TO make answer TO the
charge of contempt am so far the only wit
ness so summarily brought here under like
circumstances, and require a little time TO
prepare an answer, so that L may not be
forced before the public notice without an
opportunity To make such a statement rs 1
have never before been called upon TO make.
IliStened TO portion of the report OF the com
mlttee relating To my evidence to-day, and
heard several very important answers which
might misrepresent what Ibid say if suffered
TO go out TO the public without correction. /
would respectfully request an opportunity To
read this evidence in full, and TO have IL cor
rected before / am required TO answer this
charge OF contempt haVeno illwill to any
OF the committee, ard would like To have a
falr chance to make my own statement. AMI
L think i can, probably tomorrow, fully
satisfy the committee, and especially Mr..
Beck, that have not desired TO keep any inn
pOrtant information from them. l. therefore.
respectfully ask this HOuse3to give me until
tomorrow TO make answer.
Mr.. Dawes then offered q reSOlu ion that
Chas. \. Wetmore, having been heard by the
House, has failed TO show sufficient cause
why he should not answer. and that said
failure TO make answer.
Mr.. Dawes said that the communication
made to Mr.. Wetmore was not one that any
person had right to consider confidential.
but the House had right 10 know who his
informant was. There is only one question
to be answered, and that is, will you give up
the name of the person who gave you the in
formation. If the answer required was any
thing but yea or nay, he would consent To
further time. But this question was in its
scope different from that which any other
witness had refused to answer.
Mr.. Houghton inquired whether other wit
nesses had not been accorded time when they
asked for il.
Mr.. Dawes replied that the case was not
analogous to any other II the House sees
any necessity for the extension of time they
could give il.
Mr.. Houghton moved to postpone the fur
ther consideration OF the resolution until to-
morrow.
This was agreed to by a rising vote Of s. n
50, and pending the demand for the yea ald
nays the House, at i:35, adjourned.
SurT Ac .r~ST TIM Sorrupp>- Nrr,ro