The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-22
BY eIegraph
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
Iu rHE pAILY lNrELLlakNOER
CONGRESS.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, December q

WASHINGTON, December q.
Mr.. Willis introduced a bill which was
referred to the Committee on Naval AZ
fair, providing that the Aeet fthe nayy,in
peace, and until public safety demands an
increase, shall consist Of thirty sea going
vessels Of war, 10 be distributed among
the respective squadrons and divisions.
It specifies the number Of line officers
and provides that their tull pay shall be
the same as the officers OF the army, with
whom they take rank, that when on sea
service ..the same amount in emoiu-
ments be allowed as TO the assimilaied
grades in the army, and that when on duty
on shore the officers shall be entitled 10
their full pay without allowances, and
when on leave Of absence to 623 per
cent Of full pay Of their grade, with
out the allowances. The retired line Off.
GERS who have seen twenty years actual
service at sea, and the retired staff ctli-
GERS who have seen fourteen years Of
actual service at sea, shall receive 10 per
cent Of full pay ofthe grade from which
they were retired, and all other officers
shall receive one.haltof fall pay OF the
grade from which they were retired. 10
addition 10 the number Of men now al
lowed to the navy, $50 boys ior training
may be enlisted. rar;brf
The Speaker i,l'beiore tie nouSe q
,elcgraphic communication from Wm.
r. Morrison, Chairman Of the Louisiana
Investigating Committee, transmitting a
record Of the proceedings before that
committee in the case OF E. W. Barnes,
manager Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company in New Orleans.
Mr.. Knots submitted resolution di.
rec,ing that Barnes, the recusant witness,
be arrested and brought before the bar
Of the House for contempt. He declined
10 allow time for discussion rs suggested
from the Republican side Of the House.
and then the Republicans resorted to the
parliamentary device Of preventing any
action by Withholding their votes, so as
10 have no quorum voting.
Proceedings for the call Of the House
were then begun. - p
Mr.. Walker introduced hill, which
was referred 10 tic Committee on the
Judiciary, providing that no military or
naval officers or other person engaged 10
the civil, military or naval service shall
order, bring, keep or have under bis au::
thority or control any troop or armed
men at or near the place where any gen.
eral or special election il held in any
State, either on the day Of such election
or for ten days prior or subsequent
thereto, unless II be necessary 10 repel
armed enemies OF the United States, and
any person violating any OF the provisions
OF this section shall be fined not more
than 5000 and suffer imprisonment ut
hard labor not less than Eve years or be
deprived from hold any office OF honor,
profit or. trust under the United States.
Mr.. Platt offered a resolution for the
appointment OF Select Committee TO
investigate the charge made yesterday by
Hewitt, that his letters had been tamper.
ed with in the New York Post Office. In
connection with it, Platt sent TO the
clerks desk and had read telegram
from Postmaster James pronouncing the
accusation utterly and absolutely false.
After discussion Of the resolution TO
investigate Iewltt's charges against the
New York Post Office, the House refused
10 lay the whole subject on the table ns
proposed by Buckner, and finally on mo.
lion OF Mr.. Springer, the Committee now
in New York, Of which Cox is Chairman,
was instructed to investigate the matter.
Mr.. Hewitt narrated the circumstances
under which.he made the charge, he said
about month ago he received q letter,
the writer stating that he was an EN-.
ployee in the New York Post.oflice, and
that he felt bound 10 communicate tho
fact that SHADES little kettle was at work
on his letters. The only attention which
he had felt called upon 10 pay to this
anonymous letter was TO observe closely
the lettera which he received. He had
found that considerable number
Of them presented tho appearance
Of having been opened, the flaps OF the
envelopes presenting puckered or cor
rugated appearance. BE had called the
attention Of the gentleman in his Office to
the fact, and they had been able to picI;
out two classes Of letters, those which had
been apparently opened, and those thai
had not been. When he came 10 Wash
ington, he was struck with the fact thai
the letters received from Boston, Chicago
and other points had perfectly smooth
surface on the flaps of the envelopes
while frequently the letters from New
York presented that corrugated appear
ance. He had happened to show TO Parh
Goodwin, friend OF the Postmaster, ont
OF the envelopes, and asked him il il haC
not been opened. Goodwin said that i
|, looked so, lie then asked Mr.. Good
win TO SEQ Mr.. James, in whose
integrity he (Mr. Hewitt) had entire
confidence and whose valuable SER
vices should be retained through al
mutations 10 politics, and TO mention th'
matter to him. He (Hewitt) wished III,
House TO understand that he did no
think Mr.. James would be or could b.
= party TO any tsmpering with letterS
He had ahown two letters one morning
i. TO the gentleman from Maine (Hale), anC
g. had pointed out the corrugated appear
auce Of the envelopes, and Mr.. Hale hat
told him he ought to call the attention o
the House TO the matter IL he though
! his letters were tampered with, but i
would be readily seen from the natur,
Of the case, II would be hardly possible Il
, bring forward any other evidence thar
: the fact that the letters had thi
, appearance. He had therefore not stateI
: Il as fact, nor did he now state it US .
. fact, but he had that suspicion, whicI
amounted to q belief that his letters hat
been opened, and he acted on that belle
by sending by express special letters ant
requesting gentlemen who had such spe
cial letters to forward theirs by express
;, It may be thought that he was ta&inl
= unnecessary precaution. It might be hi
!, eyes deceived him and II might be tha
i investigation would be able TO get at III,
facts, OF which he had no knowledge. II
a had no objection, OF course, to a com
: mittee Of investigation, but he though
u 1t probable that no good woulC
: come Of 1t, and no important facts woulI
! be discovered. Hence he had not beeI
willing to put the country TO the expens
Of an investigation. But II it was tn
! wish OF the House or Of the gentlemen Of
the other side to have one, he shoulI
. cheeriully assent. Unfortunately he haI
thrown into the waste basket the anony
moua letters, IA hC did with all III
anonymous letters hc received, amount
ing 10 ten or twenty week. Therefor