The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-02
F0RTY-F0URTH CONGRESS-
WASHINGTON, February l.
SENATE.

SENATE
Mr.. Sherman, From the Committee or
Finance, reported adversely on the bill
introduced by Mr.. Bogy, authorizing tn,
payment of duties on imports in lsga
tenders and national bank notes. Piscec
on calendar with adverse report, at re
quest of Mr.. Bogy.
Mr.. Hamilton, from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported adversely on
various petitions and joint resolutions OF
the Michigan Legislature, asking the
passage Of law to give soldiers in the
late war $500 in msney in lieu Of boun.
ties. The committee was discharged
from further consideration of the sub
ject.
Mr., Hamilton suggested that the Com
mittee on Finance was the proper CON-
mittee to consider the subject, and on
motion Of Mr.. Christiancy, the papers
were referred to that committee.
Mr. Sherman, from the Committee on
Finance, reported back the concurrent
resolution proposing Q common unit OF
money and accounts between the United
States of America and Great Britain and
Ireland, with reasons why it should be
passed, and asked that the whole matter
should be printed and recommitted TO the
| Committee on Finance. Ii was SO or
dered. He also reported, from the same
| Committee, favorably on House bill TO
extend the time for stamping unstahped
! instruments. Passed.
After the expiration Of the morning
hour, the Senate resumed the considera-
tion of the bill to pay tho interest on
3-65 District OF Columbia Bonds.
the pending question being on the amend.
ment of Mr.. Sargent, providing that the
certificates heretofore issued by the
Board of Audit, including those con-
verted into 65 bonds and those which
have not been so converted, and the GER.
tifcates hereafter to be issued by the
Board of Audit or their successors in
office, shall not exceed in the aggregate
the sum OF fifteen million dollars.
Mr.. Bayard said all expenditures here
had been for the benefit of mGrs way
farers; therefore to suppose that the city
should bear the whole of the expense OF
those improvements was unreasonable
The people Of the country would bear
and ought to bear the chief part of the
cost of maintaining the two IN appropri
ate and proper condition. The Distric,
would have been absolutely bankrupt il
such debt as Shepherd and his confed-
crates piled up had been
allowed to rest upon the people alone
III the property in the District could not
have been sold for enough TO pay the
debt. Congress recognized this fact, and
very properly.
lie then referred TO the former Dis.
trict government, and said: The gov
ernor OF the District had his various
satellites, whom he placed around his per-
SON Shepherd was the ruling spirit. 1t
was, in fact, the government OF Shep.
herd"
Mr.. Bayard then read from
the testimony taken by joint committee
two years ago and said the contracts
under the former District government
were jobbed out and the granting of a
contract was the granting Of large sum
of money as a guaranty as bonus 10
those who got them. The tax payers de-
manded that the eItrsvagant expendi-
lures made by that government should
be stopped, but Congress gave no stten-
tion to them; but at last,
Thanks 70 the Press
exterior to the Drtrict thu deman1
became too strong and public opinion
said that their complaints must be heard
and there was resistance 10 investiga-
tion. Counsel was employed by Shep
herd TO browbeat the witnesses and in
dietments were threatened, and not only
that, but crime was resorted to aud by
that he meant the attack on the character
of Columbus Alexander by charging upon
him a dreadful crime.
Hethen referred TO the present District
government and said the Commissioners
were men brought here from abroad who
were not familiar with the affairs
of the District He believed men could
be found here who were the peers Of
those from any other part Of the country,
but they were not like Shepherd, who had
and still retained the confidence Of the
President OF the United States, and
therefore were not acceptable TO the Pres
ident. Every man IN the District whom
he ( Bayard had conversed with said the
removal of Shepherd was only nominal
thing. His men were still in Office and
his influence was svowed by the commits
sioners, He had been informed that the
counsel employed by Shepherd
and his associates, when the taxpayers
of the District were fighting them
were paid with these 3-65 bonds. He
had also been informed that $4,000 OF
this money had been paid 70 their
party papers for publishing the testimony
taken before that committee. There had
been cases where vigilance committees
swept city governments from their eIis-
tence for one-half Of the wrong commit
ted in the District. He believed the
Commissioners could pay the interest on
these bondsjf they would take the money
in their hands and do il, and not keep it
% appropriate hereafter for other pur-
poses. In conclusion he said he favor ID
the adoption Of the provision in the
House bill, that nothing in the resolution
should involve the Government Of the
United States in a,y obligation 70 pay
the principal or interest Of bonds which
have been issued contrary 70 or not in
pursuance OF law. and at the proper time
be would move 10 restore that provision
10 the bill.
Morton Desires to Say Som ething.
Mr.. Morton ssid he desired 70
call attention In the fret place
10 the simple provisions Of
this bill, which was only TO pay the in
terest now due. The old District govern
ment had been criticized and the present