New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-20
A PRIVILEGE DAY IN TIE HOUSE.

A PRIVILEGE DAY IN TIE HOUSE.
THE DRNIALs OF CONGRESSMAN OF THEIR COM
PIICITY IN PACIFIC MAIL AFFARS-AN EXPOSE
TON OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES QUESTION AS
TO WHETHER WITNESSES BEFORE CONGRESS
sIoNsL COMMITTEES SHOULD NOT BE EXEMPT
FROM ARREST-PROGREss OF TIE CENTENNIAL
EXHIBuIoN.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO Tue rRIsUSEI
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-The past has been sort of
privilege day in the HOdse. At the opening of the
session Mr. Storm of Pennsylvania, who had been
mentioned in a dispatch TO THE TRIBUNE as one Of
these whose names the now famous Dillon
list, the first to explain. He admitted the sub
stantial accuracy of that dspatch that is he said
that at the time he was informed that on that list
were the initials -. b. So that these
his initials that he had gone before the Committee
and positively denied that he ever had 81 900 bill
changed in the Office of the Sergeant-atAIms; that
lie had $1,000 bill in his life. and that there
fore, there must have been a mistake in putting
down his initials. stated in the dispatch re-
fcrred to- lie said he had spoken and voted against
the subsidy, and had never voted for job in his
life.
J. Hale Sypher said he never got dollar on ac-
count of the subsidy. No doubt ho had had 81, GOO
note changed at the Office of the t-at-Arms,
at that time, because he often had large sums
deposit there He had voted and worked for the
subsidy because he desired to have the Mexican
subsidy pass, and wished to have the aid of the
friends Of the Pacific Mail. 1t is long time since
the science Of log rolling in legislation has been 80
boldly defended in the House. Charles Hays of
Alabama said be got none of the money.
The arrest Of the editor of TIE TRIBUNE last eve
ming raised in the House to-day a very important
question which was embodied in the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Hoar and passed by large major
ity That question is, whether witness summoned
by the House to testify before one of its Committees
shall not havo the same immunity from ar
rest that is enjoyed by members of Con
gress, One of the most outrageous breaches
Of this privilege that has recently &C.
Cured was the arrest of Hayes, who appeared
before the Special Committee to investigate the af-
fairs of the District of Columbia, and testified in
gard TO the safe burglary conspiracy. lie was ar
rested at the instance of Harrington in the Capitol
itself and was kept in jail for months. II witnesses
are not to be protected to the same extent that
members of Congress are. they will not come
here to testify. In many cases they Will
prefer rather to be punished for con-
tempt of the House whose order they are
summoned than to risk their rights in courts OF this
District. which are suspected, sometimes, of being
influenced unconsciously it may bel by the presence
of the Administration. This was the view which a
large majority of the members of the House seemed
TO take of the subject and the report of the Special
Committee WILL therefore be looked for with great
interest
Mr.. Goshon, Director General of the Centennial,
has arrived in Washington, and has submitted his
report to the President. He represents that the
buildings making rapid progress, all being I'M
der contract and the money to pay for them having
been secured. Twenty -four nations have signiGed
their intention of taking part in the exhibition and
l6 commissions have already been accredited to the
Directors.