The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-05-28
WASHINGTON NOTES.
Minority Report or the Judiciary Com
mlttee Favorable TO Huntington.
An or Day In the Committee Rooms The
Kerr Flasco--Frlday's Work In tho
House and Senate.

WASHiNuTON, may 1.-Ino Miuor-
ity report OF the House Judiciary Com
mittee on the subject OF the sinking
nnd, TO DO created for meeting the Pa
ciac railroad Indebtedness TO the Cow
ernment, opposes the majority report
on the ground that the acts OF 1862 and
1864 constitutes contract between the
company aud the Government lnvlo-
late In its character, In which the OBJ
legation OF the company has been ful
filled by the building and mathematics
of the roads, and giving the use OF the
came 10 the Government when re-
quired; that the judicial decisions have
settled the time for the payment OF the
principal and interest Of the subsidy
bonds, and that any attempt to force
the payment on the part ofthe compa'
nies IN advance OF such as that
proposed In the Lawrence bill,
submitted by the majority OF the
committee, 10 In violation OF law
and vested rights. II also contends
that Congress has not the power to al
ter or amend the contract created by
acts OF 1862 or 1864, or to repeal such
acts, except upon the refusal or failure
OF the companies to keep the roads In
order to carry the Government troops
etc., thereon, and that as the Contra
Pacific Railroad was chartered by til,
State OF California, any attemyt To re
peal It's charter would be futile. 1t con
cludes'as follows: "The minority o
your committee submits that the pow
or 10 enact this bill, the Lawrence bill
In the majority report, cannot b
claimed either from the general Gov
eminent, or the legislative power from
q special delegation Of power con
tained In the Federal Constitution, OF
from the provisions Of the acts Of 1885.
and 1864.
The Committee on Expenditures IN
the War Department, this afternoon
examined In secret A. H. Green, rela
tive to the charge against Speake
Kerr. He merely confirmed the state
ment already published that be ex
pressed TO Lawrence Harvey his desir'
to obtain commission In the army
and that Harvey said II would cos
money, aud arranged nh Interview
with Kerr, through whose influences
the com mission was obtained. Greer
also testified he paid Harvey six hun
dred dollars for his services, but be
yond this he knew nothing.
In the House Mr.. Singleton, from
the Committee on Conference on dis
agreeing votes OF the two Houses OF
the consular and diplomatic appropria
ton bills, reported that the conference,
had been unable 10 agree. Repor
agreed to. al
On motion Of Mr.. Barnum, the Hous
proceeded to consider the bill to pro
mote the efficiency Of the army and b
provide for its gradual reduction, an,
to consolidate certain Of Its staff de-
partments. 's't
On the preliminary vote there wa
no quorum, owing to the Republican,
generally refraining from voting.
Hurlbut suggested that the bill b
referred to the Committee Of thu
| Whole and set down for discussion
and action on Wednesday next.
Banning, who had charge ofthe bill
declined to accede TO the proposition
Thereupon O motion TO adjourn wa,
| made. This was followed BY othel
diIatory motions, and filllbusterlni
was kept mp until on motion from tn
Democratic side the House adjourned
| Seuate: Legislative business sus
pended aud the articles Of impeach
rnent resumed with closed doors. MI
Edmunds moved the following be oil
dered: That the Senate proceed OF
Monday next, after consideration. :
vote upon the pending and cognat
questions. Agreed to; yeas -, nays q
The order was further amended :
read "that the Senate proceed on Mon
day next, after consideration, TO vot
upon the pending question aud an
amendment that may be propose
4 thereto.
| Before feacbing decision the dooI
were reopened, and the President pr
Item announced Mfr. Patterson 81
member OF the Board Of Visitors
IWest Point, In place OF Mr.. Cisyfof
excused, and the Senate adjourned.