The Morning herald., 1876-01-26
l776.--l876.
TnE NATIONS GIFT.

TnE NATIONS GIFT.
A Busy Day in the House Yesterday-|
lsebates JpOn the Centennial APP
propriation-The Vote by cas-
5E ana Nays.
Iy the American Press Association. -
z .or. WAsnINeroN, Jan. 25, 1876.
The Centennial bill passed the House at
4 Asp. III /. Tho vote stood I6 to 127.
Mr.. Wood, of New York, occupied the
chair. ,.,r.
w Mr.. Thompson, of Massachusetts,, who
had the floor from Saturday, advocated the
hill as q national affair in which all sections
were interested and all in duty bound to
sustain. The celebration was as national
as the day proposed to be celebrated. The
Centennial Commission was not private
corporation but an agency Of the govern.
ment as much SO as its treasury. The point
settled that it was q government celebration
it was then clear the government not only
had the Constitutional right but it became
the duty of the government. to carry it out.
The government, by legislation, had in
CURED the obligation and no one would
question its, right to pay its debts. No one
had questioned the Constitutionaltty of the
original bill and if that was now urged he
would reply, it was the duty of the govern
ment to repair injury done by an unconsti-
tutional act, but he denied the unconstitu-
tionality of that act.
Mr.. Southard of Ohio, opposed the bill
on the ground of its questionable constitu-
tionality. He said no two of the advocates
agreed upon the clause OF the Constitution
upon which 1t rested. .I =.
Mr., Robbins of North Carolina, spoke In
support of the centennial bill, and said
there were six sons who responded to the
call Of the Confederacy and followed the
flag all through the war, but when they
reached Appomattax there were but
two of them. Ond rcsted at Antietam, one
At Gettysburg, one on the Chichahomtny
and one in Kentucky. One of the other two
(himselt) was now speaking. He had had
enough Of war and wanted peace and he
! should support the bill as peace measure.
Those who had been in war wanted peace
and those who only wanted to prolong the
war, whose weapons were asses jaw bones.
[Laughter.] The people Of North Caro-.
lima had sent him here to talk peace and
reconciliation and he wanted to see tho blue
and gray meet at Philadelphia and stand
together in unity and concord.
| White, of Kentucky opposed the bill and
said he was opposed to any effort
to connect general amnesty with
the measure. He favored amnesty
including JEFF Davis, but believed this ap-
preparation would 60 to ring whose pa
triotism was inordinate greed. He did not
belle ye the Exposition would be failure.
If it was he should not lose faith In the
American people, but believe rather, as
they thought, this year OF retrenchment
and economy than extravagant expendi-
ture. There were many things the people
needed to which the Government could be
applied. He charged want Of consistency
in the Democrats in voting for Mr.. 'hol-
mans anti-subsidy resolution and now sup
porting this bill.
Mr.. Williams, of Wisconsin, supported
the bill. He defended the managers. liz
did not believe any man 3 rascal and
scoundrel.
Mr.. Goodwin of Kansas, said the gentle.
man from Va. (Mr. Tucker) would compress
the Constitution until he squeezed the llie
out of 1t. Mr.. Lawrence would stretch II
til he stretched the life out of 1t. lie was II
doubt, as to the constitutionaltty OF the Dill
and would therefore base his opposition t(
it upon its expediency.
Mr.. Lamar favored the measure upon tht
clcar and unquestionable ground Of Constl
tutional jurisdiction: no believed ina,
ever since the Inauguration o1
Jefferson had the people of this country
been animated by purer aud broader pa
triotism than at this time, although 1t hac
49, hAua hA{nS kAnt nv in
tolerant partisanship.
At 3,15 D. M, Mr.. Hopkins, of Fennsyl
vania, moved that the Committee OF tn
Whole rise and report the Centennial bill tt
the House. -
ATo test the question, Mr.. Holman movec
to strike out the enacting clause.
. The vote was taken by tellers and the mo
. tion was rejected yeas 100, nays 12S.
The bill was amended in the Committed
Of the Whole go as to provide that the ap
propriation made by the bill shall be pait
in full into the treasury Of the United State'
before any percentage of profits be paid tt
the holders of stock. After the bill wal
: reported to the House, an hour was glvel
for debate.
Mr.. Rea, OF Missouri, opposed the Dill OF
the ground of doubtful constitutionallty.
At 3:15 D. m. Mr.. Hopkins, who reported
| the bill, made the effort to have the com
: mittee rise and report the bill to the House
, Mr.. Holman offered an amendment to strik
, out the enacting clause, the effect OF whicl
would be practically to defeat the bill.
The vote was taken by tellers and resulte'
yeas, 101; nays, 12S.
/, Mr.. Springer then offered an amendmen
r the effect of which was any money remain
9 ing in the treasury Of the Centennial shal
be first used to reimburse the United State
before anything 10 paid to stockholders.
Pending the action the committee rose, O.
n motion ofMr. Hopkins, and went again int
: the Committee OF Whole, the debate bein
: limited to one minute.
' Mr.. Page, of California, was en-
' titled to the floor for one minut