The Republican journal., 1876-05-04
Congress.

y -
agents have taken orders from anybody
besides the Secretary of the Treasury, and
if SO, why. Silver, education and the Jap
anese indemnity fund were discussed with
out action. The House listened to per-
sonal explanation from the chairman of
the committee on the Freedmen's bank.
and voted to investigate a charge of lob
bying brought against the clerk. The
conference committee on the deficiency
bill reported, and some progress was
made on the legislative appropriations.
In the Senate, Thursday, the cores,
pondence between the civil service COM
mittee, and the heads of the several de-
partments was submitted, and bill to
encourage and promote telegraphic COM
munication between Asia and the Pacific
coast was referred to the committee on
commerce. In the House the legislative
appropriation bill was taken up in COM
mite of the whole Mr.. Whitehouse of
New York offered an amendment prohib-
iting any employe of the government Civ
ing to or receiving from any other persons
directly or indirectly, any money or thing
OF value for political purposes, and Mr
Frye OF Maine offered an amendment pro-
viding that no member of Congress shall
recommend an appointment to, or contin-
uance in office or removal theretrom, any
clerk IN any Of the departments. unless the
head thereof shall first apply for his ad-
vice in writing. The committee adopted
Mr.. Whitehouse's amendment, but reject
ed Mr.. Erye's 81 to 81.
In the Senate Friday the impeachment
trial was continued, and Belknaps coun-
sci made further attemps to evade or post
pone the trial In the House notice was
received of the discharge of Kilbourne.
the recusant witness, and upon point Of
order raised by Mr. Seelye, the section of
the Legislative Appropriation bill. by
which the Indian Bureau was transferred
to the War Department, was stricken out,
after which the bill passed Mr. Iarhox
Of Massachusetts offered resolution in
the house of Representatives proposing
an investigation by the Judiciary Com
mittee OF the purchase of Little Rock and
Arkansas Railroad bonds by the Union
Pacific Railroad Company. The resolu-
ton makes no reference to Nir Blaine.
but of course the investigation would
bring out all the facts concerning the
transaction The resolution Went to the
Clerks desk, but the Clerk had only read
the words "bonds of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company when one of Mr.
Blaine's friends, Hurlburt of Illinois, OBJ
Jected to its consideration. AS the resolu-
tion could only be passed by unanimous
consent it was not read.
The House Judiciary, in its investigation
into the present and past record OF United
States Attorney Wells, of the District of
Columbia, is understood to have struck
upon some Interesting Information. Mr..
Prime, an internal revenue official of Bal
timore, has testified that during Mr.. Wells
administration Of the office of United States
Attorney at Richmond, he ONells) dis
missed q suit against a large distillery
which had been seized for violation of
the law, and for which he had been coun-
sci prior to his appointment. MIR. Prime
was instrumental in the seizure, and tes-
titles that the case was perfectly clear
one, and that the government lost $50, 900
by the action of Wells He submitted to
the committee copies Of the records which
he had obtained from Richmond.
Saturday April 29th the Senate was not
in session. In the House resolution was
adopted discharging the military commit
tee from the further consideration of the
charges against ex-clerk Boughton.
The contested election report of Lemoine
vs.. Farwell OF Illinois, was taken up and
Mr.. Harris argued in favor of Lemoine.
Mr.. Brown spoke in support of the mi
nority report in favor of the sitting mem
ber, Charles 3. Farwell
Mr.. Thompson Of Mass, spoke in sup
port of the views Of the majority.
Mr.. Baker spoke in support of the mi
Jtyr 'I,n
action.
Mr.. Pierce of Mass, presented memo
rial of 1900 merchants and citizens of
Boston III favor OF reciprocal trade with
Canada. Referred. Adjourned.
May 1st in the Senate, the motion to rescind
the order allowing the opening and close of ar
Eument to Belknap's counsel was overruied.
The four managers will be allowed to address
the Senate on the question of jurisdiction
Thursday. Mr.. Boutwell, introduced bill au-
thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to re-
new the issue OF fractional currency providing
the total amount outstanding at any one time
did not exceed S50,000,000. In the House a
bill was introduced for organizing the territory
OF Oklahana. resolution directing the sew
cral committees TO condHct their investigation
with open doors was rejected 126 to 105, not
the requisite two-thirdS. All the republicans
and some OF the democrats voted in favor of il.
Another resolution requiring the Investigations
TO be open unless the public interest required
secrecy. and also to allow the accused TO an
pear and defend himself, was adopted. An
amendment to the post office bill to repeal The
legislation of last session in regard to third
class matter, was adopted. A motion to re-
peal so much of the resumption act as author-
ICES the redemption and cancellation of L. S.
notes and the sale Of bonds for that purpose,
was rejected by Il vote of lis to 111--not two
thirds III the affirmative. A resolution ill.,
structlng committees making investigation to
complete their work and report so far as pos
sble before the lGth of June was lost by a vote
Of 81 yeas TO 126 nays. The committee to in
NestSate the New Orleans frauds was an
nounceG
In the Senate Tuesday Mr. Allison, from the
Committee on Indian Affairs. reported favor
ably on The House bill appropriating $4,000
for subsistence supplies for the Apache In
dlans i'll Arizona and for the removal of the In-
dlans of the Cuerichua agency to the San Car
los agency. Passed.
Mr.. Sargent Of Cal, moved to strike out the
first section of the bill which provides for ii re-
turn of the fund TO Japan after deducting the
Sl21,0O0 to pay the officers and crews of the
Wyoming and Jamestown. Pending discus
SION Mr.. Merllmon moved to proceed with the
Executive business, and the chair laid before
the Senate message from the President, en-
closing the report of the Centennial Commits
soners and inviting the two Houses of Con-
Gress TO be present ut the opening ceremonies
on the 10th inst. 1t was ordered to be printed
and lies on the table.
In the House the Appropriation Committee
decided to press the Post-otlice appropriation
bill in the House to the exclusion of all other
measures. Considerable discussion ensued as
10 whether the Geneva Award bill and the
Hawaiian treaty should be taken up, but the
committee finally decided as above.
Mr.. TarboX offered a resolution of inquiry
into the Union Pacific Railroad Company's
possession of the Little Rock and Fort Smith
Railroad bonds. Adopted
Mr.. Payne of Ohio, from the Committee on
Banking and Currency, reported Il bill author
iZng the Secretary of the Treasury under
such limits and regulations as will best secure
a just and fair distribution of silver coin
throughout the country, to issue silver coin.
now in the Treasury, to an amount not eX-
ceeding $l0,000,000 in exchange for an equal
amount Of legal tender notes, and providing
that the notes so received and exchanged shall
be reissued only to the retirement and destruc-
tlon of like sum of fractional currency re-
ceiyed in the Treasury in payment of dues to
the United States, and that such fractional cur
rency when so substituted shall be DESTROYED
and held as part of the sinking fund, as pro-
Vlded IN the act of the 18th of April, 1876
At . O'Clock the House adjourned without
n.ntI fta,. 11.,f,x