The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-09
BY TELEGRAPH
Forty-Fourth Congress.
SkNhTF.
WASHINGTON. March q.

Mr.. Cameron Of Wisconsin presented a
petition signed by over 16 600 persons in
regard to secret societies. The petitioners
declare their opposition to all secret organ
izaiions, and ask congress TO Withdraw the
charter granted to the Maaoiic hall ASSOC
citation of the district OF Columbia, and
that Law be passed making it unlawful to
appoint any person 10 office under the gov
eminent who is a member Of n secret or
gauization, and also that members Of such
organizations may be challenged as jurors.
Mr.. Cameron In presenting the petition
said he had been informed that the petit
TONERS were residents of every state and
territory in the United States. He asked
that the petition be read and printed in the
records. 1t was SO ordered.
Mr.. Wright of Iowa submitted concur
rent resolution instructing the president
pro TEN. of the senate and speaker of the
house of representatives 10 adjourn their
respective houses sine die on May l, 1876,
at IL o'clock noon.
Mr.. Edmuuds moved that it be referred
to the committee on appropriations, as it
was usual to refer such resolutions to that
committee. Agreed to.
After long debate the senate, at 4.30,
by ayote of 30 yeas to 90 nays, refused 10
admit pinchback as senator FROM Louis-
lana.
On motion Of Mr.. Hitchcock, the senate
took up the bill TO enable the people of
New Mexico TO form constitution and
state government, nnd for the admission of
the state into the union, 80 il would come
up aa unfinished business tomorrow and
at 4.30 the senate went into executive SEES
sion, and when the doors were reopened
adjourned.
The speaker announced the appointment
OF the fol owing committee on The matter
connected with the so-called whisky frauds
and attorney generals office Mr.. Knott
of Kentucky, chairman Mr.. Hams OF
Virginia. Mr. Glover of Missouri, Nlr. Coch-
ran of Pennsylvania, Mr.. McGahen of
Ohio, Mr.. McCreary of Iowa and Mr..
Plaisted of Maine On the request of Mr.
Harris of Virginia he was excused and the
speaker said he would appoint another
member in his placed during the day.
Mr.. Purnam made Il personal explana-
ton regarding statement that he had
used his position 80 enrich himself, saying
that he challenged the fullest investigation
as TO his integrity as a member of the
house. He denounced in severe terms
those persons who had put the stories in
circulation.
A select committee was appointed to In
vestigate the rccusant witness, A. B.
Wolf, who had refused to answer certain
questions put TO him by the committee on
naval affairs was brought before the bar
of the house, and Mr.. Whitthorne, chair
man, was proceeding to state that the wit
ness had this morning appeared and
answered, and that he might therefore be
discharged from custody, when the witness
himself fell on the floor in an epileptic fit,
producing much excitement and sympathy
in the chamber. He was attended by a
physician and subsequently carried from
the hall, when Mr.. Whitthorne concluded
his statement and had the witness dis
charged from custody
On motion of Mr.. Whtthorne, two sub
committees of the committee on naval af-
fairs were authorized to carry on the in
vesligatons at the navy yards of Charles
town, Mass, and Kittery, Maine.
The sub committees are Messrs. Mills of
| Texas, Bluleigh of Maine, and Jones of
New Hampshire, for Kittery and Mills
and Harris of Virginia, aud Jones, for
| Charestowp.
Mr.. Knott of Kentucky, chairman of the
| judiciary committee, made the following
report in the case OF the impeachment of
the late secretary of war:
Committee on judiciary would respect
fully report that III pursuance of instruc-
tons of the house, they have prepared
articles of impeachment against VIM. w.
| Belknap, late secretary of war, for high
crimes and misdemeanors in office, but that
since preparing the same they have been
| informed and believe that Caleb p. Marsh,
upon whose testimony before the commit.
tee on expenditures in the war department
and referred to them by the house, said
articles were framed, has gone beyond the
Jurisdiction of the United States, and that
probably his attendance AS q witness before
the senate sitting as Il court of lmpeach-
ment cannot be procured 10 convict said
Vim. w. Bellinsp Of high crimes and mis-
demeGnors in office as secretary OF war,
they therefore recommend the adoption OF
the following resolution.
Resolved That the resolution instruct.
ing the committee on judiciary 10 prepare
articles of impeachment against VIM. w.
Belknap, late secretary of war, for high
crimes and misdemeanors in office, be re-
committed to said committee with power
to take further proofs, TO send for persons
and papers, to sit during the sessions of tht
house and TO report at any time.
Your committee are impressed with thu
importance of securing the fullest indem-
nifty to such witnesses as may be required
to testify in behalf of the government
before either house of congress or any com
mttee, or either the house or before the
before the senate sitting as a court of i'm
parchment, would also recommend the i'm
mediate passage Of the accompanying bill
entitled "a bill to protect witnesses who
shall be required to testify in certain
cases; they would further recommed tina
the accompanying bill entitled "a bill il
relation to witnesses be introduced ant
printed aud referred to the committee OF
the judiciary with leave to report thereon