The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-13

sums Of money were paid TO corrupt public of
hci ls and to Influence the public press In favor
OF that legislation also, directing the co umittee
to report whether such corrupt action does not
invalidate that law, and whether The law was
not In violation ~ the contract under which the
bonds were ORIGINALLY issued, and therefore I'M
constitutional and void.
The vote on the motion TO suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution was, yeas. lU2; nays III
not quoru n-and the motion failed.
ExoNERATING SPEAKER KERR.
Mr.. Clytner Dam, Pal, from the Committee
on Expenditures in he war Department. made
3 report IN the case OF the charge against Speak
K,rr. The report states that after a full ina irv
into the facts, and after thorough examination
OF Laurence Harvey. the only witness making
the charge, also Of Augustus =. Greene, aud
divers other witnesses. II 9ppe req U ~ ~ iooo
tives Of the rnirtv-nin,h Coneress, Mr.. Kerr, IN
the exercise OF his fiRht or privilege, nominated
Greene for an ap. ointment In the regular army.
The Committee, however. had found no DIM
Guilty IN reaching the conclusion that the oh rye
a to the payment Of money to MIR. Kerr wne
unuua linedy false, and that MIR. Kerr stoD d fully
exuner tied fiom all implication affecting his
person. II honor or offci Integrity. The com
mittee had found nothing IN the whole progr, So
OF the investig alton TO imnlv or detr.ct from
the well-estiblisned reputation OF Mr.. Kerr for
unquestionei personal integrity and upsullied
purity.
Mr.. Clvmer i'd that the conclusion reached
was the unanimous judgment not only OF the
committee but Of tue Hpu g and the country.
Mr. Dmfoid Qkep:, Ohiob q nlemDei oi inc
committee, SAID that II corded MN re II
oil
not because OF the unfortunate tlness 81 Mr..
kerr. hut tccaus. Il W - an act 81 simple justice
to tn I gentleman. lie spoke of the uufortu-
n t. Giro IN tancc which presented itself at the
threshold of the Inquiry to Mr.. Kerr, a
Democrat from Indiana giving the nnmiu"tion
to Greene, u Republican trnm New lork-tnd
said tn had ~ not been for That cir umstance
the committee would MT uave deemed IL worth
while To even enter IN tue investiyatiOn. lie
wa happy to say. however. that ne had no iuca
that, so far as tue c'rrup ton OF Mr. Kerr was
lncern d, mere " single srintis OF truth
in IL rney's testimony. IL WAS isehood,
taken advantage % 10y bad man for tue pur
pose Ot attempting to blacken the reput ton ~
arood man. IA Vi use.l Tue testimony, Vas
| clear and conclusive ST. the innOcence OF Mr..
/ Kerr ana he hoped that tue vote Ou lie report
would tie unnnimous one, withou, a dissent
ing voice ,r near, and that every gen leilan on
tur II IOr who knew the Spe ket Of the House,
as thev all knew him AMI should know him,
would IN In vi. ing ont thus attempted = am
on MS teputWiuu and ON hts character; and
] that toy would by their action tO-dd, cnai 10
Mr. Kerr 10 resent to nis countr, men m evi-
deute tntt hi II me was IA white TODAY as II
was before the breath Of scandal toucued IT,
Mr.. Hunbut Qk,p, lil.l sid tue reput ton ~
our public men Is noug the test iiches of
the country. aud the man who would I'M
justly aud un rull de,rict from the reputation
of apu lie man was not OnN stibOing mis- life
an1 char cter. hut Is doing toe most .itdi mus
c lief To- thu success OF the nation. uid not
walt for tuis report to make up NV mind. With
me. me long reeurl oi az honor ,hle Iie out
! weig ed and uutwcighs II the charges of those
| loose deiani" X VINO. IN these base iin =. en-
courage uetraction ana sctnd !, aud OniN arise
! htte Oh this occasion to carry out, uy inN vuCe
and INV vote, tue idea that, Tor one. "a "A repre-
! sent tive Of tuis Ameuc u peope, having De-
! tore NV ewes the IA nor Of tue pepple aud the
honor II the House, which H. the honor uf
| the people, / ain be,e to lie ablo
/ shadow tnis mouneutary iuuutaiiOn misht have
/ s. ON The uaNs Of the distinguished gentle
nau, the Spe ker OF tIis House-d,ys which
some o Us fear are uu INBRED already Il l. tue
! unanimous voice OF tue people. tutOush their
! preseutaityes. that the agis Of tong ANA
! honorable lfc has protected MIN from the Gu
vrnolned shafts 4 malice. th-t the c'oud Is re
moved. AL int II his SUI goes Gown II snail ~
down III full honor M III Tue 80 eem oi all non
| orduie men OF wna,ever Iary Ia pause on
Mr. q rhrld (Rep. Onio) suggested that the
vnto on the iepurt should be tiken 10y the mem
| beers risIng. The suggestion was adop. ed. AMI
! oil the members-&lO In nunoer-ross la tue
affirmative. ne ~ The negative.
klr Garfield then asked tuat IL tie entered on
the record that tue 'ep"rt was adopted unani-
muusiy.
The speaker pro TEN. directed the Clerk to let
| II lie recorded on tue record as tue UNANIMOUS
| Mr. Leaveuwnrth QRep., N. Y suggested az
hlghly Ir per hat the House SHOULD iurnish 10
MIR. Kerr, Ia the most iOr,nal uiaDn r, a certified
! copy Of the proceedings GU This occasion. and
lie made motion 10 that elect. lhe notion
was asreei to. aud the Clerk Was Instructed ac
cordin.ly.
Toe spe ker pro TEN. laid before the II ouse
the following letter, wnicn Yves Referred To tue
| Committee ON the Centennial:
NEW YORK. June Q, 1879.
MY DEAR SIR: n II century ago genera Lafayette
r,vi t,u Amc lea. as the iuyite guest Of tle
ySa SIoa ~ rradi mo BY trdiaUS. The sareiion
en- husasm aud raiuue ~aAened oy that visit have
parallel ~ - worlds h.tory Would II be tqu lily
appropriate ami Ms haf eenlur, af.rr tue Vlst OF
NJ sraudiatuer to iuv Oscar Ltiayete, - the gu It
VI tue nalon 10 stcnd the I,nte"ni-l Ahniversry Of
| Our con nittrc has decided to invite NJ Lafayette
| gIye UTVg der ma deeper euert to y trouc iael.
~, VERY truly y0urs, THuKLow wsKD.
| The House then at 3a5 o'clock adjourned.