Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-26
FORTY-FOURTR CONGRESS.
WFrNEsDAY. April D..


ate resolution, copies Of report from the
Comm ssioueT OF IUd:an Affairs relative .
the Unauthorized occupation Of the Sioux
territory. Referred 10 Committee Ga Iadian
Affairs.
Also, Communication from the Secre'ary
~ War In reference % pay ~ stad on ,erS
Referred 10 Committee on Military Affairs
Mr.. n calls, from Committee GA Indian
Affairs, reported OH 10 provide for the sale
OF the reservation 81 the confederate Nroa
ard Missouri Indians, Of Kansas ant "
bTaSka.
Mr.. Cockrel. from Committee on Claims.
reported bill for The roller OF the Richmond
Female institute
Mr.. Cameron Wis aud Mr.. MCMILLAN
stated that they dissented from the maj prlty
ofthe Committee ON Claims in this report
Mr.. Anthony, from Committee on Pr. Z
iEg. reported ON 10 facilitate the prlnfirE Of
Iubllc documents. Passed.
Mr.. Sherman presented Joint resolution Of
the ohio legislature in regard to pensions 10
the wOunded soldiers OF the civil war. Re
feIred 10 Committee on Pensions.
Mr.. Cooper, from the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds. reported bill 10 s--
Cept site for the custom house and post
office at Nashville, Tennessee, ant a. ked for
lts present consiterat!on, tut Mr.. Boutwell,
OBJECTED, and 10 went over.
MI Mcdonald reported resolution call
ing on the President fCr ali the correspond
ecCe not heretofore published I'm reference 70
the claims for captures made bv the reoa1
ship Shenandoah. lie said he mad under
Stood that some awards had been mode
greatly IN exec oil me value OF the canflFps
TIE resolution was pa SSed.
On motion OF Mr.. Sargent, the Secretary
Of The Treasury was directed 10 inform me
Senate of the number OF special agents. rev
enUe agents, &c; under what section OF the
Revised Statutes they hold their apnDiuf-
mentS; whether any OF them have received
any compensation in the nature OF special
AWARDS; and II so, by what authority Of Ia a.
rectiOn OF any officer not a subordinate OF
the IeaSury department.
Mr.. Norwood, from the Committee on Ma
val Affairs, reported the bili for the relief OF
Peters and Reed, late naval contractors at
Norfolk.
TEE DISTRICT SUFFRAGE BILL.
Mr.. Morton called up his resolution, 10
submit To the qualified electors OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia whether they desire an
elective form Of government, which was re
ported adversely by the Committee on the
District OF Columbia.
Mr.. Morton said ne would not detain the
Senate but for a few minutes. He had been
Informed that the great body OF the people
OF the District wanted a government OF their
own, like other cities, aud II they did 10 could
be easily aScertained by the method he pro-
posed. The condition OF affairs in this bis
trict was anomalous. II was republican; Il
was blow at our free Institutions 10 strike
down suffrage in this District. II was The
entering wedge 10 striking down universal
suffrage; and being the act OF the general
government IL was already quoted against
as IN the states where there was opposition
10 univ eTsal suffrage. The 10000 people OF
this District werc governed by three Com
miSsioners, they had 40 more control over
their own affairs Than the Serfs OF Rus
sia. There were three or four states which
Lad uO more population than this District,
yet They had two Senators on this door and
a Representative in the other House. and
their own local legislature. Every argu-
meDt against suffrage here would apply with
equal force 10 any state or any city IN the
Union. and senators who were against II
here wOuld rot be likely 10 go into their own
states and demand tie abolition OF the Sgf
frage. The pTtucl pa reason way We went 10
Wat with Great Britain was because OF tax
alton without representation. We tax this
people IA this District 3 2 s. iO0 on their real
estate, but we allow them no voice in their
local government. We tramDlC do n The
very lriI ciples for which We contendeu IN tine
revolution. No matter how able the District
commissioners are, they are no more than
prOcOEsulS. iftt is right 10 govern lJA 600 In
the District OF Columbia by procOnsuis, IL is
rlght 10 govern 10000 or JDoW9 or leo, 900
anywhere else, in the same method. These
Commissioners are strangers. they know
nothing about the wants OF the people OF the
District. This present government is a
shame. There are hundred streets I'm this
city now almost impossible, and yet the
people living on them cannot put in a spade,
cannot put down a stone. IL they apply 10
the CCmni siorers they have no appeal from
the decision OF those officers. In year from
low, unless something is done, n will be I'M
possible 10 haul a LOAD OF wood over many
OF these streets. The springs OF the fire en-
over them. These people had been given
local government for three quarters OF a CEN
tury. He admitted that there were some
evils in the suffrage here; these were every
where; but they were not half so great a. the
evils OF an appointing system. The abuses
which had prevailed here were due not to
The elective, but 10 the appointing system
The board of public works, whic h had mo-
popoliZed all the functions OF the local gov
eminent, was appointed by the President,
and not elected. He repeated that a blow al
y va Of hGr NrQ Qf
suffrage elsewhere, and would be so re-
gsrded.
Mr. Boutwell, said ne concurred with much
that had been said by Mr.. Morton. He
agreed with that Senator as 10 the princi pie
he had laid down, vet he was not prepared
now 10 follow the Senator In bis suggestion
He believed that the people OF this DistT'c,
should nave government OF their own.
What be looked upon as the trouble was that
the people of this District had ways been
In the habit of going ahead aud making Law
ish expenditures, with the idea that Congress
would pay them. Congress ought 10 Law
down precisely the amount which shall be
paid annually out OF the pubuc treas
ury, and then let the District people
know that they must provide for tha rest.
he asked Mr.. Morton what he would DO ia
case majority of the qualified electors lie.
cided that they did not want an elec i've gov
eminent. He submitted an amendment in
the nature OF substitute to strike out all
after the eBactiug clause, and insert that the
Committee on TIE District Of Columpil ue
government OF the District OF Colupa 5ia. the
officers of which shall be chosen by tie quail
fed voters Of the District.
Mr.. Thurman said there had as vet been
no indication that the people Of the District
desired TO return to an elective government.
IL was the custom OF the American people
when they desired anything, 10 let their
wishes be known. 10 regard TO tie Commits
sioners OF the District being strangers he
said that was not the fault OF Congress buf
OF the President, vino had seen mt TO 20 out
side of the District to make the appoint
ments. AT the time the appointment OF the
commissioners was authorized IL was con-
stdered that they should be Cod fearing
men, but be residents OF the District OF Coz
lumbis.
The morning hour here expired, and the
subject went over.
The unfinished business being the dill 70
amend the Jaws relating TO silver coin, came
up.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Wood IN. ", from the Committee OF Ways
and Means, reported the bill TO provide for
the separate entry Of express packages con-
lain6d in one bill OF ladiDg and moved con
currence In the Senate amendments.
The Speaker announced as members OF
conference committees the following gentle
men, viz:
On nefciencv AUGMENTATION han Nra..-.