The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-01

stitution so as to elect a'President and
Vice President by a direct vote OF the
people. Referred. Also joint resolu.
tion proposing an amendment 10 the Con-
stitution so as to elect U. S. Senators by
direct vote Of the people Of the United
States. Referred. Also q bill TO amend
the act Of June 20, 1874, for the relief Of
settlers on railroad lands. Referred. Al.
so bill to extend the jurisdiction OF the
District and Circuit Courts Of the United
States. Referred. ..
Mr.. Booth submitted resolution re-
questing the Secretary Of the Interior to
transmit to the Senate copies Of 1.-THE cor
respondence with the committee OF the
forty.third Congress respecting the taxa
ton on lands granted toStates and corpo-
rations. Agreed to.
Mr.. Logan, from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported fayorably on
the Senate bill to reduce the number and
increase the efficiency Of the medical corps
Of the United States army. Placed on
the calendar.
Mr.. Dawes said all agreed that these
3.65 bonds were 10 all intents and pur-
poses government bonds. They had be.
came part OF the public debt Of the nation.
The monthly debt statement would here
after, If 1t correctly stated the liabilities
Of the government, show that these bonds
had been added as debt OF $4,000, 900.
There are people in this country who will
ask why it is in the time Of peace that
SIS 100000 had been added to the public
debt. They would look in the proceed
ings OF the two Houses Of Congress for an
explanation Of this, and there they would
find that the law organizing these COM
missioners was passed without attention
being called to the fact that the new debt
would be created. They would find that
in one House OF Congress the chairmano OF
the committee who reported the bill crea-
ting Board Of Commissioners said no
obligation would be incurred. II took
eight lawyers and two Attorney Generals
to decide the question whether these 3-65
bonds were audited as United States
bonds or not. He believed that the Dis
trict Commissioned had placed an erro-
neous construction on the law which
created them, but he had the highest re-
spect for their integrity. The bonds is
sued by tn Commissioners TO pay for new
work he believed had been issued under
an erroneous construction Of the law, but
they must be taken care ofnow. He felt
il 10 be his duty, however, to show to the
country that when the act Of June 20,
1864, was passed Congress had no idea
| that IL would involve debt.
Mr.. Morton said that his friend from
Ohio (Thurman) the other day alluded
to the opposition which he (Morton) Of
fered to the bill to form a goyernmentfor
the District reported by the Senator from
Maine (Morrill) at the last session. He
(Morton) opposed that bill because 1t pro- |
posed to abolish suffrage, and had he been
in the Senate he would have voted against |
the act OF June 20 for the same reason, 1t
took away from the people Of the District
the right to regulate their own affairs. |
The net was at variance with every prin- |
ciple Of our form ofgovernment. He re-
ferred to the clause authorizing the issue
Of the 3.65 bonds, and said that the Ma
tional Government was bound to provide |
for them because Congress authorized the |
making OF such bonds, and because the |
people of the District could not help
their being made. The National Govern |
ment was pledged for these bonds just as
much as ii was for the $40 bonds. They
we're in substance and effect the bonds Of
the United States. The issue Of these
1865 bonds at low rate Of interest, which
deprecated them, and then forcing con- |
tractors to take them, looked very much
like reputation to him. II that had
been done,by State or corporation there
would have been but one opinion about it.
Mr.. Thurman inquired il this interest
was payable tomorrow.
Mr. Morrill, replied that it was.
MIR. Thurman asked II there was no law |
by which it could be paid il this bill
should not be passed.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Maine, said he did not
think debate was in order. This was the |
last day, and it was well nigh the last
hour OF grace. II the sun should be al
lowed to 20 down without passing the bill,
the credit Of the United States would go
to protest while the Senate Of the United
States had been indulging in its fancy. |
In regard to the conduct Of public SER |
wants who had been vested with discre-
tionary powers, there was not particle |
Of proof that the Commissioners OF the |
District had committed any wrong. All
that the Senate was asked to do was to |
provide Tor the payment OF the interest
due tomorrow. The bill did not pro-
pose to take S220, 900 out Of the Treasury.
It did not propose to take dollar, but
only directed, the Commissioners Of the
District to pay the interest out OF their
revenues. ts4L Way. z
Mr.. Oglesby said one good thing caused
by this debate would be to attract the at
tention,of the people to the District, again.
As he listened to the Senator from Massa-
chusctts Davis it became plain that the
extravaganza in the District would never
stop until God in his wrath put his foot
on 1t. [Laughter.1 Congress should stop
the issue ofanother bond, otherwise the
committees, no matter how honest, in the
atmosphere Of this District would not
stop till the issue reached hundred mil
lion. Renewed laughter.1 Miles and
miles Of handsome highways have been
made for these poverty stricken people
as they had been spoken Of. Why beau
tify this Capital for people who could not
pay taxes on the bread they eat. The
people here must come down to plain
walks OF life, like those OF the West they
must live plain with regard to purses.
Laughter.
Mr.. Bayard said he was not willing TO
let this bill pass without submitting some
remarks, which he had thus far been un-
able to do. TWAS well known that the
House Of Representatives had adjourned
for to-day, and that the amendments pro.
posed by the Senate must be concurred
in by that body. He did not believe the
credit Of the government would 60 to
protest tomorrow. There was cause for
Congress to pause in regard 10 any
farther expenses for the District. He
hoped the amendment OF the Senator
from California (Sargent) would be print
ed, that it might be examined by to-mor-
row, and moved that the Senate adjourn.
Mr.. Windam presented resolutions OF
the:s Legislature Of Minnesota asking an
appropriation for the determination OF
graSshoppers in the West. Referred to
Committee on Agriculture.
Mr.. Morton gave notice that as soon
as the bill TO nav the interest on the S65