Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-23
A BILL TO PREVENT A CORRUPT
USE OF MONEYS.

reported adversely on the bill providing
for the printing Of speeches and remarks
OF members Of Congress and Senators in
the language in which they are delivered.
Laid on the table.
Caulfeld. from the same committee.
reported bill! making i. misdemeanor
for any person in the employment OF the
United States to solicit or contribute
funds for election purposes. or to canvass
in airy election in any State, county or
district in the United States.
Hoar offered an amendment providing
that tins bill should not be construed to
prevent voluntary contributions for the
purpose Of circulating documents or OF
PROCURING public addresses on questions
If public interest.
Caulfeld said it was tho the object Of
the Judiciary in reporting the bill to cut
of apologies and excuses and subter-
tu.es of every character.
Blaine-Doss the language Of the bill
include within its provisions Senators
and members Of Congress?
Caulfeld-I do not consider that 1t
does, because they are not officers of the
Government.
Blaine-Why not include them?
Caulfsld-f the gentleman wishes to
include them he may offer an amend
msnt fo1 that purpose.
Blaine-I will certainly do 20 if ! am
permitted, because my observation has
been, and I think that the testimony OF
the country will be, that there has been
more corruption funds contributed ID
campaigns for Congress. both by sue
cessful snd defeated candidates. than By
g generation Of Government clerks whom
this bill aims at. If you attempt to cus
off five or ten dollar contributions
which the Lord knows ought to be saved
to these poor clerks-and allow candl-
date for Congress, to pay five, ten, fifteen
or thirty thousand dollars, as l have
heard Of being done, then it seems to
mo the bill is . mere pretense and does
not strike at the evil at all. 1move to
insert Senators and Representatives in
Congress
Caulaeld-I refuse to yield any fur
Their.
The Speaker Does the gentleman
from Illinois yield for the amendment?
Caulfeld-No; ! cannot yield.
Blaine-The gentleman said he would
yield.
Caulfeld-well. 1 withdraw what l
said.
Blaine-Then the gentleman declines
to have Senators and Representatives
brought under the same rule as he wishes
applied to Department clerks?
Caulfeld-Other members OF the Judi
ciary Committee have reports to make
and wish to give them an opportunity,
but must say that whatever the expert
ence of the gentleman from Maine may
be on the subject Of contribution by
members of Congress and frauds COM
n,itted by them, l know nothing about
them. He may speak from experience
l have none on the subjsct.
Blains-I have ruu for Congress seven
times and have never contributed post
age stamp for any improper purpose what
ever, but l can indicate gentleman who
have run for Congress who have spent
$50, 900 in the election. l wish to have
test made in this case. and now move
to reconsider tine vote by which the
main question was ordered. and it will
be for the House to say on the ayes and
noes wheather it will include Senators
and members Of Congress in this bill.
A Member-And candidate for Con-
gress.
Blaine-No that is too indefinite.
The ayes and noes were ordered on
the motion to reconsider.
Caulfeld offered to admit the amend
ment, but the offer was received with
triumphant shouts of Regular order %
Regular order p from the Republican
side of the House.
The vote was reconsidered-ayes. 206;
noes, 4.
New rose TO question Of privilege and
stated that Glover, Smith of Pennysl-
1ania and himself-three members Of
the select committee on the real estate
pool-had been subpenaed to appear
today before the grand jury of the
District and desired TO submit. the matter
for instruction of the House. They
were instructed to testify.
Blaine then offered his proposed
amendment to the bill prohibiting cleo
ton contributions from Government
clerks. The amendment is to include
Senators, Representatives and Delegates
in Congress, and to add the words land
Of money or other valuable
things. as herein prohibited, by any Sem
ator, Representative or Delegate in Con-
gress, while he is q candidate for Con-
gress, shall in addition to the penalties
herein prescribed operate as q disquali-
fcstion to his holding his seat"
Amendments were also offered by Rea-
gan. Hewett Of Alabama and Brown Of
which are to be considered
when the bill next comes up.
No State in the Union is more deeply
in the passage of this bill as