The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-25

SENATE.


SENATE.
WASHINGTON, JAM "a.
Senator Jones of Nevada was in his seat to-.
day, for the first time this session.
The committee of the Alabama Legislature
and the testimony taken by that committee in
regard to the election Of George E. Spencer as
Senator from that state was referred to the
Committee on Elections.
Mr.. Wright, from the Judiciary Committee,
reported without amendment a bill declaring
the true intent and meaning of the Union
Pacific Railroad acts. 1t provides that none of
these acts shall be construed to authorize any
subsidy or land grant to the Hannibal & ST
Joseph Il. r. Co., or the Centennial branch of
the Union Pacific Co, for any extension of the
road in excess of 100 miles out to the Missouri
River Placed on the calendar.
Several bills were introduced and referred.
including one for the relief of the widow OF
l.. ID. Rasseau, late Brigadier General. Re-
ferred to Committee on Pensions.
Mr. Morton said that certain papers, purport-
ing to be the credentials of Mr.. Eustis as Sen
ator from Louisiana, were presented in the
Senate the other day and laid on the table. He
moved they now be referred to the Committee
on Elections. Agreed to-
A resolution instructing the Judiciary to in
quire into the expedency of paying the reporter
of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the
United States fixed salary, and having the
reports printed by the government and sold at
cost, was agreed to.
A resolution instructing the Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire into the expediency of repeal
ing section g. chapter 20, Revised Statutes of
the United States in regard to the introduction
of joint resolution, was agreed to.
Mr. Eaton OF Connecticut gave notice that on
Wednesday OF next week he would submit the
Senate resolutions in respect to the memory of
his late colleague, Mr.. Ferry.
The pending question being on nation of
MIR. Edmunds to amend the resolution SO as to
have the investigation made by the Committee
on Finance instead of special committee, Mr..
Davis said he expected to show that statements
made by him in his former remarks were
fully sustained by all the facts and figures, and
the explanations of several Senators, and espec-
tally OF the Senator from Massachusetts Bout
well) were not well founded and could not be
sustained by financial reports. He Davis had
been told that his state ment might affect the
public credit. 1t was far from him to iniure
the public credit and what he said was intend
ed to be in the interest of the public credit
The true friend of the public credit was not the
one to attempt to cover up errors or irregular
tiles, but one who attempted to have them cor
rected. He quoted from the remarks of Mr..
Boutwell, in regard to the compostor having
transposed the Indian and pension eXpendi-
lures one year and said that be could not dis
cover that any transposition had been made as
the figures were the same 10 each report. He
Davis again quoted from financial reports and
argued that they had been changed and that
the Senator from Massachusetts (BoutWelD
had not noticed several items which he Davis)
referred to in his former remarks. He (Davis)
had been told that from the very nature of
things the reports from different officers of the
treasury could not agree. How was it that
they agreed from the organization of the gov
eminent up to 1869 and also agreed for the past
two or three years? What has been generally
R nc thn ooif roiIp Ill L 4
ported by Mr.. McCulloch as a part of the pub
lie debt amounting to about $4,000 900. In
1870 it was stricken from the public debt state
ment, placed in another table and treated not
as part of the public debt, but as debt of
the Pacific railroad. In that year there was
an apparent reduction of the public debt, but
1t was only apparent. The country gave credit
to the administration for the large decrease in
the public debt, when in fact large part of
such decrease was dDe to change in the man.
ner of bookkeeping He then Iead from re-
marks of Sherman to the effect that it would
be bold and wise man who would attempt to
improve the work of Alexander Hamilton,
Gallatin and other financiers and said it SEEM
ed to him Davis that this bold and wise man
was found in 1870, because the accounts were
changed then. In conclusion he said the mat.
tiers he had presented demanded prompt
investigation and correction. At first all the
Senators nearly were in favor of special COM
nittee making the investigations; now it was
proposed to have it made by the Finance Com
mittee, majority of the members of which
were favorable to the administration. Surely
that would be sending the child to an unfriend-
ly nurse.
The question being on the amendment of
Mr. Edmunds to STRIFE out the special commit
Tee and insert the Committee on Finance so
that the investigation be made by the latter
committee, it was agreed to-yeas %, nays 90
Booth voting with the Democrats in the mega
tive.
The resolution as amended was agreed to,
On motion of Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont the
preamble alleging that. there were discrepancies
in the accounts of thu Treasury, &c., was laid
on the table.
The resolution as agreed to is as follows:
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance
be instructed to investigate the books and
accounts of the Treasury Department., particu.
larry with reference to discrepancies and altera
lions 10 amounts and figures that have been
made 10 them, especially in the annual state
ment OF expenditures of the government. the
revenue collected and public debt Contained in
said reports, and if any such discrepancies and
alterations be found to exist to report the same
the extent and nature thereof, the wears where
in they occur, by what authority made, and. if
any, the reasons that induced them, and renort
generally such other and further information
bearing upon the subject as to them may seem
best; and that said committee have the power
to send for persons and papers.
Mr. dawes presented memorial of tie
Boston Society of Civil Engineers, asking for
the establishment of q uniform system of
weights and measures after date to be fixed
by law. Referred to Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Conkling called up the House bill to COR
rect a mistake i'll and amend section 4, chan. 20
of the Revised Statutes of the United States.
in regard to consuls general and vice consuls.
Passed.
Mr.. Stevens called up the House bill to re-
move the political disabilities of Geo. r. Haw
kins of Florida. Passed.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill to provide for commission on the subject
Of alcoholic liquors traffic.
MIR. Sherman said this bill had been fully
debated at the last session of the Senate. The
expense involved in the proposed investigation
was not over $4,000, and the result would be a
vast amount of useful information. He be-
eved an inquiry of this kind, made by sensible
men, would be of great use. No state could
make the investigation, because none had the
command of the statistics to prosecute the in
luiry.
Mr.. Bayard said that in his opinion this was
not the way, nor was this the proper place. to |
treat the subject If the investigation was to
Do made to procure Information in regard |
% taxation of liquors, it was unne ,essarv. as
ne Secretary of the Treasury had the fullest |
Information in regard to the matter. No uues-
loa was of more importance than that of |
regulating the use and abuse of intoxicati1c |
irloks, but it could not be dealt with safely by |
legislation BASED upon sentImentalitv There |
vas domain OF morals and domain of law. |
de argued that this matter was within the |
province OF the state governments, and could |
lot be treated by the United States. He sub /