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

no attention TO them. But at last, thanks
to press exterior to the district, the de-
mand became, too strong and public
opinion said that their complaints must
be- heard. There was a resistance to in
vestigation, counsel was employed by
Shepherd to browbeat the witnesses, In
dictments were threatened, and not only
that, crime was resorted to, and by that he
meant assault upon the character Of Co
lumbus Alexander by charging him with
dreadful crime. He then referred to
the present district government and said
that the Commissioners were brought
here from abroad who were not familiar
with the affairs Of the district. He be-
lieyed that men could be found here who
were peers OF those from any other part
Of the country, but they were not like
Shepherd, who had and still retains the
confidence Of the President Of the United
States, and therefore were not acceptable
to the President. Every man in the dis
trict with whom lie (BayarO had con:
versed said that the removal Of Shepherd
was only nominal thing. His men were
still in office and his influence was
around the Commissioners. He had been
informed that the counsel employed by
Shepherd and his associates when the tax
payers of the district were fighting them
were paid with these 3.G5 bonds. He had
also been informed that $4,000 OF this
money had been paid one OF their party
papers for publishing testimony taken
before the committee. There had been
cases where vigilance committees swept
city governments from existence for one
half OF the wrongs committed in the
District. He believed the commissioners
could pay the interest on these bonds il
they would take the money in their
hands and do it and not keep it to appro-
pirate hereafter for other purposes. In
conclusion he favored the adoption Of the
provision in the House bill that nothing
In the resolution should involve the Gov.
ernment Of the United States in any obi
cation to pay the principal or interest Of
the bonds which have been issued con-
trary to or not in pursuance Of the law,
and at the proper time he would move to
restore that provision 10 the bill.
Mr.. Morton said he desired to call at
tcntion in the first place to the simple
provisions OF this bill, which was only to
pay the interest now due. The old Dis
trict government had been critized and
the present District Commissioners had
been substantially charged with having
increased the debt since they took pos
session to the extent Of five million dol.
lars. The Senator form Delaware Mr..
Bayard) had not shown how or where
these commissioners had violated the law.
II these bonds were issued enormously il
was the fault OF the law and not the fault
of the Commissioners. The Senator from
Delaware spoke Of such extravaganza not
being permitted to exist in any commu.
nifty having self.government. Who voted
to destroy the right Of self-government
in this district, and who was in favor OF
the new government for the District by
Commissioners? The popular govern
ment had been stricken down here, and
it was with the appreciation Of every
Democratic Senator.
Mr.. Stevenson (of Kentucky asked il
all the abuses complained OF in this Dis
trict did not spring up under popular
government in the hands OF the party 10
which the Senator from Indiana [ (Morton)
belonged?
Mr.. Morton said that he had UNDER
stood heretofore that the Board OF Public
Works had been charged with these enor-
mites. That Board was IN appointed
government, and not one elected by the
people. He complained Of that in the
beginning. This debt was not saddled
upon the people of-the District by gov
ernment elected by themselves, but was
put upon them by an appointed govern
ment. In reply to the question Of Mr..
Stevenson, he said that the joint commit
tee which made the investigation into
the affairs Of the District reported unani-
mously in favor OF Board Of Commits
sioners, but it was intended that the
government by them should be only
temporary,and committee was appointed
to prepare system Of permanent govern
ment. The bill was prepared and reject
ed at the last session, and the Board OF
Commissioners therefore continued. He
(Morton) never favored the issue OF the
3.G5 bonds, but.Senators OF both sides did
favor their issue, and il it was mistake
it could not be said that it was mistake
OF the Republican party.
Mr.. Stevenson inquired II the Legisla-
ture which had been elected In the Dis
trict by popular suffrage had not ap-
proved OF the contracts made by the
Board OF Public Works.
Mr.. Morton replied that those contracts
did not receive the sanction ot the Legis'
lature, and that was fact which the SEN
ator from Ohio (Thurman) had COM
planned Of. In conclusion MIR. Morton
argued that those who voted for the act Of
June 20, 1874, voted to complete any le-
gal contracts made by the Board Of Pub
lie Works, be they few or be they many.
Mr.. Thurman said it seemed to him
impossible to assail the government in
this District in any form; that the Sena-
tor from Indiana did not consider it an
attack on the Republican party and inn
mediately considered it to be his duty to
fasten on his armour and defend that or
ganization. He (Thurman) did not
think there was any party question in
this matter till the Senator from Indiana
(Morton) spoke. The act Of June Goth,
1874, passed the Senate with but one vote
against and passed the House with only
% votes against. Why did not the Sena-
tor from Indiana vote against it when 1t
was before the Senator. Why did he not
speak against II?
Mr.. Morton said he was not in his seat
that afternoon.
aatI ~ anay a0nunI