The New York herald., 1876-01-25
The Investigation Into EX-Secretary
BOutwell's Bookkeeping.
A Reference to the Finance
Committee.
The Payment of Interest on the 3.65
District Bonds,
THE ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1874

Mr. SHERMAN, trep) OF ono, called up the Senate bill
TO provide for commission the subject OF the aco.
hoic liquor traffic. He said this bill was the same in
substance the bill passed by the Senate at the last
session the subject. The bill had been re-
ported by the Finance Committee, in accordance with
The request Of large number Of petitioners
Mr. BoeY (dem) of Mo-, said he opposed to
such bills being brought before Congress matter OF
his should be legsated upon by States Con-
gress was gradually drawing from the States all mat
lers Of legislation and assuming pass upon them and
thus doing great injustice to the States
Pending the discussion the morning hour expired,
and the Chair laid before the Senate the unfinished
business being the resolution OF Mr. Morton in regard
20 the recent election IN Mississippi
Mr.. MORTON said his health was in such condition
that he would not be able to continue his remarks TO-
day.
Mr. DAVIS fdem.) of w. Va, called up the resolution
submitted by him few days ago in regard 20 the in
vesgaton Of the books and accounts OF the Treasury
Department. The pending question being on the mo-
1ion of Mr. Edmunds TO amend the resolution so as 10
have the investigation made by the Committee on FL
instead OF special committee
Mr.. DAVIS said he expected TO show that the state
made by him in his former remarks were fully
sustained by all the facts and figures and that the ex
plantations OF several senators, and especially OF the
Senator Massachusetts, tBouwelD, were not well
founded and could not be sustained by the financial re-
ports He Davis had been told that his statements might
Affect the public credit IL was tar from him to njuTe
public credit and what he had said intended to
be IN the interest OF the puDhc credit The true
friend of the public credit was not one 10 at
tempt TO up errors or irregularities but one who
attempted 10 have them corrected He quoted from
the remarks OF Mr. Boutwell, in regard 10 the compost
tor having transposed the Indian and Pension expend
lures year and said he could not discover that
Iransposiion had been made, the figures were the
IN each report He could not find where any cor
recton was madc. He tDavis) again quoted from the
financial reports, and argued that they had been
changed and that the Senator from Massachusetts,
(BoutwelD had not noticed several items which he
lDavs) referred to In his former remarks He Davis
had been told that from the very nature OF things the
reports from the different officers OF the Treasury could
not agree How was II that they agreed from the or
EaniZauon of the government up TO 1869, and also
agreed for the past two or three yearsf what has
been generally known as the Paohc Railroad debt had
been reported by Mr.. McCuloch part OF
lhe public debt amounting TO about 500, 000 600.
In 1870 stricken from the public debt statement,
placed In another table and treated not as part of the
public debt but a debt OF the Pacific Railroad In
that there apparent reduction OF the public
debt but IL was only apparent The country gave
credit TO the administration fer large decrease in the
public debit but III fact large part Of such decrease
was due to change In the manner of bookkeeping
He then read from the remarks OF Mr. Sherman to the
effect that II would be bold and wise man who would
attempt TO improve the work of Alexander Hamilton
Galatin and other hnancers and said 1t seemed TO
him Davis that this bold and wise man was found in
1870 because the accounts changed then. In
conclusion he said the matters he had presented de-
manded prompt investigation and correction. At first
nearly all Senators in favor Of special committee
making the investigation it was proposed TO have
Il made by the Finance Committed, a majority OF the
members of which favorable TO the adminstra-
lion Surely that would be sending the child TO an IN
friendly nurse
The question being on the amendment OF Mr. Ed
munds to strike the special committee and insert
the Committee Finance, 30 that the investigation
to-yeas IS nays o. Mr.. Booth Of California voting
with the democrats IN the negative.
On motion OF Mr.. MORRILL,, OF Vermont the preamble
alleging that there were discrepancies In The accounts
Of the Treasury, &c, was laid on the table.
The resolution as agreed TO rs as iollows:-
Resolved That Committee Finance be instructed
q
parment particularly with reference to dscrepances and
Alterations in amounts and figures that have been made IN
hem especially IN .he annual statements oi government
por II any such discrepancies and alterations be
vund report the same aud the extent and nature
made and the reasons that indeed them aud 20 re-
Hpon The subject as to heu may seem best and thai said
committee have send for persons and papers
TIKI ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR TRAPFIc
The Senate then resumed tho consideration OF the
bill to provide for commission on the subject OF the
alcoholic liquor traffic.
the last Of the Senate The expense involved
In the proposed investigation was not over SlOO and
the result II would be vast amount OF useful in
formation He believed that an inquiry OF this kind
made by sensible would be OF great use No State
could make the Investigation because none had the
Command Of statistics u prosecute the inquiry
Mr.. BAYARD, (deml Of Del, said that IN his opinion
this the way is this the proper place TO treat
the subject II the investigation TO be made TO
procure Information in regard 10 the taxation OF liquors
It unnecessary, the Secretary OF the Treasury
already had the fullest information In regard TO the
matter No question oi Importance than that
OF regulating the and abuse OF intoxicating drinks
but could not be dealt with safely by legislation based
upon seutlmentality There DOMAIN OF morals
and DOMAIN Of law He argued that this matter was
within the province OF the state governments aud could
treated by the United States, and said this az
grandzement o the powers Of the states by the federal
government OF the radical evils Of our time. He
would voto against the bill believing that legislation TO
reform The vice OF intemperance only increased the
evil He submitted an amendment instructing the
commission 10 inquire whether the use OF opium AS a
substitute FOR alcoholic drinks had not become moro
Mr.. SHERMAN said the use OF spurious liquors was
The cause OF crime in all parts OF the world caused
begrary and poverty This vice almost universal
and 10 seemed him that the Congress OF the United
States might we'll give the subject iul and fair exam
lnaon. He not IN favor Of prohbitory laws, but
he believed the passage OF this bill would promote the
sommon good and Congress had the right 10 pass IL
MI. BAYARp sad any physician could show where
coercve laws had been passed to prevent the sac OF
liquors a beverage the use Of opium had become
more general, and that was far more injurious than
liquor
Mr. HowB trep ofws spoke in favor Of the bill and
hoped the senate OF the United states would not decline
20 make the small appropriation asked He thought
Ihe argument OF The Senator IRON Delaware (Mr.
Bayard, premature, as this was not bill to prevent
the sale OF liquor.
The amendment Of Mr. Bayard was rejected
hr MoRRILL, rep Of Me, said while the whole
question regulating the sale OF intoxicating drinks
see that this bill was for the good OF
Ihe whole country, and the inquiry proposed
should be made The government authorized the
uiacture and importation Of alcoholic liquors, and
surely Congress had the right TO inquire into subject
which brought revenue 10 the government The IN
auiry should be made the moral social. and econ
pmc aspect Of the liquor trac The question was not
new one all Al the close Of the Revolutionary War,
and for three decades alter. the people Of
this country drank more hquor per capita than
those Of any country on the lace or the
earth and whoever would take the pains "a
loek into history would see that IL in conse
ouence Of the government raising revenue nom aco
koc liquors In the year 1900 tnero were lS,OOO re
tau licenses issued, ana intemperance grew 30 that y
soon came TO pass that We denominated over ths
cfy1ltned world nation OF drunkards When the
eovarDment Of Great Britain encouraged the inporta
lion and manufacture Of alcoholic liquors, retail shops
we're opened crime increased and the prisons wore
Allied In this country lOO OO0 900 gallons were manu-
factursd annually.
By M. snKsxAS-Besides the crooked whlskey.
QAnghterl
M. MoRKrIl continuing asked what became OF IN
great quAuttyf IL was used BY 40 600 600 people and
By 70 they we're poisoEed. Paupeusm, crime oeggary.
want and death the result Three-iourtns OF the