Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-18
RORTY-FOURTR CONGRESS,
TUESDAY, July IS.

in their seats.
Mt. Edmunds asked that the FIRST rule. re.
curing quorum to oe present, be read, aud
The Chair said no objection being made,
The journal, as read, would stand as ap-
Mr.. Edmunds asked IL there was q quo
rum present?
The Chsir-Now that the attention OF the
chair is called 10 1t, there is not a quorum
The clerk was directed TO call the roll
which he did and then continued TO call an
sentees as they came In until ll:l5 a. m !.
when quorum had answered TO their
names, when the Journal was approved.
Mr.. Spencer, from the Committee on the
District OF Columbia, reported the House bin
Tor The adjustment ana settlement OF claims
against The District of Columbia, and moved
us reference 10 the judiciary Committee.
SO ordered.
Printing, reported a resolution TO print four
thousand copies OF the Mississippi investiga-
ton, and asked that II be acted on at the
Mr.. SALISBURY opposed the printing OF the
report until the views OF the minority were
presented.
Mr.. Boutwell, said that this resolution was
presented with view 10 permit the printing
OF the testimony, which was very volumt-
nous, and that neither majority nor mi
noriiy report had yet been prepared.
. The resolution was amended so as 10 in
clude The minority report, and passed.
Mr.. Cameron, IA y from the COMMITTEES
on Foreign Relations, reported a oil au-
thoTizing The President to invite the litter
national statistical congress to hold its next
annual session In the United States, aud TO
appoint delegates 10 tie same. Placed on
the Calendar.
Mr.. Ingalls,, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, reported House bill to provide for
the sale OF Usage Indian lands In Kansas
and urged the necessity OF its Immediate
passage. Placed on the Calendar.
Mr.. Booth, from the Committee on Public
Lands, submitted report and bill relative
TO the rights OF settlers on railroad lands
Ordered printed and recommitted.
Mr.. Dawes withdrew his motion TO recon
slider the vote by which the bill TO encourage
and promote telegraphic communication oe-
tween the United states and Asia, and the
bill stands passed.
Mr.. Sargent offered a joint resolution re-
citing that the Senate on the 9th OF July had
authorized committee 10 investigate the
Chinese immigration question and the House
bad passed on the 1ftn inst. resolution of
Ike effect: Therefore, resolved by the two
Houses that the two committees act as a
joint committee, and that one half OF the
expenses be paid out OF the contingent fund
OF the two Houses. Agreed 70.
Mr.. Boutwell, said ne rose 10 an explara-
ton in the character OF personal explana-
tion-an explanation due To the party 10
which he belonged and TO the country. An
allegation mad been made In the st. Louis
platform that late Secretary OF the Treas
ury had forced the balances on the books of
the Treasury. That clause, coupled with
the remarks of the Senator from West Vtr-
ginia early in the session, led him 10 sup
pose that Ii referred 10 himself So far As
he was Individually concerned he should not
have noticed the allusioD; but the country
had right to know whether the balance in
ne Treasury bad ever been foreei. The
giDia Mr.. Davis) had, he said, been referred
TO The Finance Committee. That commit
tee had, by q SUD committee, investigat
the subject thoroughly and had SUBJ
mitted 10 the Senate a report which
report was made twenty six days before the
st. Louis convention. SO far as he knew the
report was unanimous. No member OF the
committee dissenIed from ii. The report
says the committee are fully satisfied that
there had not been the slightest change in the
books, and they were not prepared 10 recon
mend any change In the mode OF keeping the
books of The Treasury. He stool here nov
and asked that any mem Der OF the com siit-
tee or any Senator who doubted that repor,
TO say 80 row.
MIR. Davis said that early In the session be
had stated that he believed, and he still be
lieved, that there was a discrepancy Ia the
amount OF the public debt, as stated ia Con
gress. He had not been permitted nor han
he sought TO examine the books. He al
said then, and was ready to make good now
the statement, that il the books had not been
chang there was q discrepancy between
them, and the statement sent TO Congress.
He argued that the finance committee did
not and could not have had time TO make a
careful examination OF the books, but had
depended on replies sent TO them by Treasury
officials. AS TO the st. Louis plank he knew
as little OF it as the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts. IL was put there by no act or word
Of his, and he knew nothing of IL until he
read IL In the papers; but he thought IL was
very properly put there. The difference In
the debt statement between 1859 and 1870 was,
be said, over two hundred million dollars.
Mr.. Herman said that he had coucurred In
the resolution, but IL was due to himself and
his party associates TO say that neither OF
them went TO the Treasury TO make an ex-
animation of the books. The resolution was
sent to the Treasury and came back with a
large mass OF reports. He had considered il
idle for him with the limited time at his
disposal TO attempt TO examine them. He
could not say whether his associates had or
not. he himself had neither the time or in
cltHatton to 60 through the mass OF figures.
The gentleman who drew the resolution had,
he believed, made close examination.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Caldwell (Tenn.) from Committee on Terri
tories, reported q bill to organize and pro-
vide a government for the territory OF Okla
bona. Referred TO Committee of the Whole,
and made the special order for the first We'd
nesday OF December next.
Mr.. WiggintoD, (Cal.l from same commit
tee, reported bill TO confine the limits of fhe
state OF oregon 10 the boundaries specified in
the aet of admission. Referred TO Commit
Mr.. Patterson, (Col) from same commit
tee, reported a bill TO provi de for the election
by the people OF each territory OF governor,
secretary, treasurer, auditor, and superln-
Mr.. Patterson asked for immediate action
on the bill.
Mr.. Kasson made the point that the bill
virtually created a new Office. that OF super
interdent Of schools, and should 60 TO the
committee OF the whole. Besides, It changed
precedents which had prevailed for nearly a
hundred years, and 1t should have a more
careful consideration than could be given IL
In morning hour.
The Speaker ruled that the bill must 60 10
the committee OF the whole.
Mr.. Kimball (Mo), from Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds, reported
back Senate bill al th orizing the remoY al OF
the jail building and material from Judi
ciary Square, in the city OF Washington. TO
the grounds now occupied by the Washing
ton asylum, where the material shall be
used for the construction of q workhouse,
with an amendment, strik ing out the clause
approprtating q, 900 out OF the Treasury OF
the United States for the improvement OF
Judiciary square, and requiring the same to
be paid from the revenues OF the District
The bill as amended was passed.
On motion OF Mr.. Randall, Pa the House
took mp and passed the Senate concurrent
resolution authorizing the committees OF the
House and Senate appointed to investigate
the matter Of Chinese emigration TO act as
joint special committee.
The House then went into committee on
tho Tey1Q 0OYtdQr frOY1 hill Mr. Mnnr0o