Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-25

| tiosal and other grounds.
Mr.. Howe discoursed on the evils of the
alcoholic traffic. and thought il very prooe,
| 10 make the investigation.
Mr.. Bayard moved to include opium in the
scope OF the inquiry OF the committee. Re.
| jected.
| Mr.. Morrill,, OF Maine. read some of the 81 a.
| tistics OF the liquor production OF the caun.
Try. He said that the result OF the action OF
| the general government in taking charge OF
| The retail liquor trade OF the country had
| betn 10 increase the production and con-
sumption OF alcoholic liquors. He had no
| doubt OF the power OF the government 20
Institute commission.
| Without action the Senate went into exc.
cutive session and ad iourned.
The District 3-6o Bonds, etc.
HOUSE.-After our report closed
STRAW RIDs.
Mr.. stone (Mo) moved to suspend the
rules and pass a series of resolutions recit-
ile Inc fact that The Post o ice department
had been subjected 10 gres annoyance by
reason OF the IS stem OF stray bids aud that
several legal eEactments have been violated
Also, reciting that John j. Safely, who had
charge of weighing the United States mails,
hau asserted fraud in the Weighing of said
mails, ard directing the Committee on Post
Offices ard Post Roads to make an iuvesii-
satlon OF the whole subject, and To inquire
10 what extent the government has been de-
Adopted.
THE BUREAU OF CAPTURED AND ABAN-
DoNED PROPERTY.
Mr. WhitthOrne (Tenn.) moved 10 suspend
The rules and pass resolutions directing the
Secretary of the Treasury TO inform the
House: !. BY what authority osfeRg the bu-
reau 10 take charge of captured and ADAM
doned property was established i'm the Treas
ury department .. BY what authority of
law j. 5. Frazer is employed 10 aiiudicate
cotton claims; how long be has been so q N.
ployed and under what authority he has
been paid. 3. To whom money had been
paid out of the fund for prosecuting claims
against the government aud the amount so
paid. !. Whether l.. NJ. Noerr, the chief
f1.s nf flnsa ht.ra
employed in the detective service: and
whether his principal assistant is not man
named Fessenden, who, while a paymaSter
IN the army, was accused of defrauding the
government 5. III any former officer of the
Treasury has been employed in these cases
and out OF what proceeds he has received mis-
pay. Rejected; yeas 16l, nays 9i-two thirds
not voting In the Affirmative.
PACIFIC MAIL SUBSIDY.
ON motion of Mr.. Morrison (Iu.), a resolu-
before the House in relation 10 the testimony
taken by the Ways and Means Committee
upon the subject OF the Pacific Mail subsidy
be referred TO the Committee on the Juiicia-
~, with directions 10 inquire what action
should be taken in reference To the persons
low members OF this House, who, I'm said teS-
timony, are alleged to have made corrupt
use or money, or are charged with giving
false testimony IN connection with tie sub.
Sidy, and thai said committee report TO the
House.
DISTRICT 6j BONDS.
Mr. Buckner (Mo) offered a Joint reSolu-
lion directing the commissioners of the Dis
trict Of Columbia to pay the Interest on the
bonds issued in pursuance OF an act of Con-
gless approved June 20, lS.i. out of any
funds in the United States Treasury subject
10 the requiSition OF said COMMIT SsiOuers,
The bill as introduced directed the Commits
sloncrs OF the District 10 transfer 10 The
Treasurer OF the United States, for the pay
ment OF the interest due February l. ls16, on
the bonds of said District ISSUED in pursu-
ance of an act OF Congress, approved June
20, 1874, the sum OF 81, 49, so. from any unex-
pended Appropriation heretofore made by
Congress, or from revenues derived by taxa
ton on the property OF said District ald sub
jet To the requisitiOn OF said Com toners;
provided THAI all certificates heretofore issuel
by the board of audit, including those con-
yeIted into 5.G5 bonds and those not so con-
verted and all other certificates ISSUED by
sald board OF audit, shall not exceed the su IN
Mr.. Kasson inquired whether that did not
take The school funds also.
Mr.. Buckner said il did not.
Mr.. kasson said that as the resolution
read 1T took any fund raised by taxation.
Mr.. Buckner said the whole OBI ect OF the
that might exist in the minds of the Com.
mlssioners as 10 their power TO use this
money. They have an abundance of money
to pay the interest, and the only question
with the House is whether they shall pay il,
or " hether Congress shall appropriate for II
directly. The school funds are not Affected
at all. The Limitation is fixed at SIS 900, 900.
because the Commissioners have nearly
reached that amount now.
Mr.. Randall said he understood that the
board OF audit had already ISSUED bonds TO
the amount OF sli 80 600, and he wanted TO
stop the issue at that amount. He had no
idea OF letting the District issue $4,000
more.
Mr. Buckner said Congress must now make
good the credit of the United States by pro-
viding for this interest. The question whether
the board of audit have exceeded their au-
tnollty In gong over ten million is one for
Mr.. Kasson asked consent TO offer an
amendment positively exempting school
funds.
Mr.. Buckner accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Wood IN. \. inquired whether the
Committee on the District, in Offering this
the board of audit had no authority TO issue
bonds in excess Of ten million, and il we au-
thorize the payment OF interes: above that
amount, whether Congress does not then
absolutely commit itself to the appropria-
ton OF money TO pay this debt?
Mr.. Buckner said he had not gone care
fully into the question or how much the gov
eminent was really responsible, as that was
subject for after consideration. The inter-
est must lie provided for in some form, and
as the joint resolution requires the District
10 pay II out OF It's own funds he did hot
think Congress committed itself by this act.
Mr.. Holman moved TO amend by striking
out the figures mentioned as the amount ne
cessary, and to insert the words, samount
necessary 10 pay the same"
The amendment was agreed to.
Nj. Randall said he wantel to reduce the
In eighteen months the Commissioners OF
this District hal involved the people in a
debt OF over =, 600, &C., and the Committee
on Appropriations had come TO the conclu-
sion that the District must ray this interest
cut of money that the United States had
given them. He never saw such reckless ex-
lravagance as there had been in this District.
The debt OF the District day is not a cent
less than 50, COO, 900, and now they are ask
ing large amount 10 complete work on
the canal, which, they say, IS for a sanitary
purpose. he did not believe that the sani-
Jary condition OF the city required IL. But
If IL is done the money to do Ii must come
out OF the taxes TO be collected here. The
Commissioners came TO the Committee on
Appropriations and wanted an appropria-
ton, saying that they had but Si0, 900 with
which To pay their interest, but upon an in
vestigation IL was shown that they had
$40 900 on hand, which they were holding
back in order that they might go Ga with
certain work in the spring. In view OF these
facts he wanted 10 offer an amendment linn
itipg the amount Of bonds TO be issued 10
S14, 800, 900. He did not propose TO give them
an additional S100,000 TO sQuander, as was
proposed In Mr.. Buckner's proposition.
Mr.. Lawrence (Ohiol said that when the
law was passed the Commissioners were
authorized to finish certain improvements
then begun, but he thought the time had
come when a stop should oe put 70 this, and