The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-22

NUMBER Oh executive COMMUNICATIONS
which were referred to appropriate com
mittees.
Under the usual Monday morning cal
a large number Of bills were introduced
and referred. Among them the follow
ing
BY Mr. Ffyne, OF Maine Giving iu
risdiction In certain cases TO Commits
sioners OF United States District Courts
BY Mr.. Goode, Of Virginia To provide
for the improvement uf Norfolk and
Portsmouth harbors, and the Elizabeth
river, In Virginia.
by Mr. Baker Proposing an amend
nent to the Constitution, limiting the
power Of Congress In making appropri
ations.
by Mfr. Levy, Of Louisiana To restore
to market certain lands In the States ol
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ark
ansas and Florida, and repeal section
29D3 Of the Revised Statutes.
BY Mr.. Riddle, of Tennessee To re-
duce the tax on distilled spirits to fifty
cents on each proof gallon.
BY Mr.. Ford, Of Illinois To increase
the pension OF discharged soldiers who
are utterly disabled and have no meane
Of support.
BY Mr.. Thockmorton, Of Tennessee
TO confer additional jurisdiction on
court of claims.
BY Mr.. Page, Of California For the
protection of pre- -einption settlers on the
public lands.
BY Mr.. Faulkner, Of West Virginia
To carry into effect the provisions OF
the fourteenth article of the amend
ment to the Constitution to define the
rights OF American citizens IN foreign
countries.
Under the above call a large number
of private bills were presented and re
ferrpd.
On motion OF Mr. Lord, of New York.
the Attorney General was directed to
inform the House by what authority and
for what purpose he recently gave in
struetions to his subordinates in rela
tion to the testimony Of accomplices,
THUS overruling all precedents.
On motion of Mr.. Vance the Commit
tee on Printing was authorized to EN-
ploy experts during their investigation
Of the Government printing Office.
The House then resumed the consid-
Grafton Of the bill to reorganize the iu-
dietary Of the United States. The bill
passed-yeas 143, nays 102.
On motion Of Mr.. Kelly, of Penn
sylvania, the President was requested to
transmit to the House copies Of all cor
respondence between the officers OF the
Bank Of England and the Treasury
Department In relation to the transfer
of funds between the two countries and
also all correspondence with the State
Department in relation to the transfer
Of the award Of $15,0oo,o0o for the settle
ment Of the Alabama claims.
Mr.. Ellis. Of Louisiana. from the Com
mittee onNlississippi Levees, was author
lied to appoint subcommittee to visit
the levees and report the amount neces-
sary to be appropriated for the repair Of
the levees.
The House then. as the regular order.
proceeded TO the consideration Of bills
reported from the Committee on the
District OF Columbia.
After disposing OF number of bills
from the District Committee, Mr..
Springer, Of Illinois. rose to a personal
explanation, and had read an article
from the New York Herald, Of Saturday
last, In which II was charged that the
offered to the centennial
bill by Mr.. Springer, and which was in
tended to make the Government q pre-
fcrred creditor, was really in effect to
give theGovernment o second mortgages
only; that the stockholders must be
paid first at the close Of the exhibition
that this construction was put upon the
by the centennial board of
finance. II this is true. the Herald
added, then the Centennial stood dis
graced before the world. He also had
read an extract from the Philadelphia
Times which put the same construction
on the amendment, and added that
Mr.. Springer's measure of intelligence
was not equal to his illiberality; that he
did not know the use OF language. u nd
that in his opposition to the Centennial
he had overreached himself by his stu
pidity and malice.
Mr.. Springer went on to argue that
his intention in Offering the amend
ment was to provide that the Govern
ment should be paid in full before
was divided among the stock
holders; and IL the other Interpretation
is put upon ii. il Is contrary to the
spirit aud intent Of the amendment.
Mr.. Kelly. Of Pennsylvania. objected
TO the reference Of the resolution and
said that Mr.. Springer had attacked
the Centennial board of finance be
cause. In his hot haste to get in an
hs bad blundered. The
Centennial Committee did not ask the
gentleman to put in that amendment
and enlarge their powers and privileges.
Tt was NT. Springer's own act, and he
Kelly preferred 10 accept the construc-
ion of such eminent jurists Ne the late
Revcrdy Johnson and the Hon. J. =.
Black rather than that OF Mr.. Springer.
ind they put upon tho clause con
,truction the reverse OF that Of Mr..
Al.