The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-13
THE SPEAKER.
Unanimous Report Of the Committee
on the Harvey Charges.
THEY ARE UNQUALIFIEDLY FALSE.
Eloquent Tribute Of Republican Members To
Life of Purity and Honor.
CONDITION OF Mr. KERR'S HEALTH

wAsuIScroS, Juno IL, 1915
A memorable scene took place to-day when the House
by . rising and unanimous vote exonerated Speaker
Korr any malfcasancc in the nomination OF Greene
for appointment in the army The unanimous re-
port Of the committee this effect presented ny
Mr.. Clymer, and its adoption advocated by him In
few well chosen sentences. he followed by Mr..
Danford Of Ohio representing the republican portion
Of tho Committee, who mad delicate and RESPONSE
Bile duty to discharge His rejoinder in explanation
OF the republican interest in tho investigation OF the
charges against Mr. Kerr forcible convincing and
satisfactory. Mr.. Danford, who heretofore has been
quiet and rcticent, TO tho front OF the
leading members oil the House. The great compliment
OF the vote OF exoneration medicine to MT Kerr,
who improved much hearing OF 1t that he sat up
for while this afternoon and ate, for hun, hearty
dinner.
rnE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House to-day Mr. Clymcr, OF Pennsylvania,
from the Conmto on Expenditures in the War Depart
mcnt, made report the OF the charge against
Sneaker Kerr Tho report states that after full
inquiry into the facts, and after thorough examina
ton Of Laurence Harvey the only witness making the
charge also OF Augustus y. Greene and divers other
witnesses, appeared that In 1866, while member Of
the House Of Representatives OF the Thirty ninth Con-
grcss Mr. Kerr in theexercse Of his right privilege,
nominated Greene for appointment in the regular
IN reaching the conclusion that the charge 10 the
payment OF money to Mr.. Kerr unqualiledy false,
ana that Mr. Kerr stood fully exoneraed IRON all
implication affecting his personal honor oiicia,
integrity. Tho committee had found nothing In the
Whole progress Of the investigation to imply dctract
rom the well established reputation OF Mr. Kerr for
inqucstioned personal integrity unsullicd purity.
Mr. CLyMEg remarked that the conclusion reached
vas the unanimous judgment not only OF the com.
nittec, but oil the House and the country.
SPEECH OF MI. DANFoaD
Mr. DANFoRD, OF Ohio "A republican member Of the
iommtse said that it afforded HIM pleasure to
be able to subscribe TO the report not because OF tho
unfortunate illness OF Mr. Kerr, but because it
ACT OF simple justice TO that gentleman He spoke OF
tho unfortunate circumstance which presented itself ut
The threshold OF the inquiry-as 70 Mr. Kerr, demo-
srat from Indiana, giving the nomination to Greene
republican from New iork-and said that
had i not been for that circumstance the
committee would not have deemed it worth
while to even enter on the investigation
lie was happy TO say, however. that he had no idea
lhat SO far as The corruption OF Mr.. Kerr was con
rerned, there single scinta Of truth IN Har
ncy's testimony. 1t was falsehood taken advantage
Bf by bad man for tho purpose Of attempting to
blackcn the reputation OF good man Applause) He
spoke Of these Investigations used by bad men like
Harvey, being the very worst Instruments that can
be used couatry Tx, this Tho testimony OF nar-
ncy was bat the natural outgrowth OF these invcsga
session moIrng around and dragging the public lie
and private correspondence OF citizens into Dubicity
publishing even tho bank accounts OF officials
without charges and without specifications He had
thought. at times, that there was in some quarters
yranca, on when public official could be smirched.
Two months ago. in which II WINS announced that
Grant IS cAagh. al last" aud despatch actually
nicing the prospect that the President Of the United
states had been found questionable transaction.
Referring to The matter of the expenditure OF money
IN rcgart 20 the New York election rauds.) The Prcs-
acnt whom all men should honor and respect
for the posItion which he occupied. He man who
lad been the leader OF the American army from Don.
idsoR to Appomattox, and who'was now in the last
roar OF his second term AS President He the
lessor Of Washington aud Jefferson and Lincoln and il
was sad sight when any committee OF the House or
Representatives, or when any citizen OF the United
States. could express qualification at catch
ing the President IN questionable transac-
sion lie also remembered another transaction
u another committee, IN which witness was
brought 10 testify against the President in regard to the
breaking ny OF the marital relations OF the witness.
The witness had come without single corroborating
circumstance, without single fact TO support his
nony, and yet, though the Presidents public charac-
might be blasted his reputation smrched forever and
his family relations broken up Or that might bel that
committee ic, called upon to examine that witness
antl u was learned that he was lunatic. lie had also
his mind a committee OF the House, which, by tho
process officer Of the House, had gone 10 the Of
Ice OF ono OF the telegraph companies OF the country
md bad seized several hundred pounds Of telegraph
messages indiscrimn from citizens OF all classes
regard TO private and public affairs alike
be moused through BY committee Of
he House Was il wonderful therefore, that
Iuch conduct aud such operations should bc
get an occasional Harvey in The way Of re,aliatons
he the very worst class OF that could
be found ID the country, lie was happy to say that
tier passing through all the testimony aud alter hear
Ing the clear statement OF Mr. Kerr. who gave TO the
committee satisfactory explanation OF hts appoint
pwn district and that he had offered the
personal friends, who had declined Il, &c. tho
testimony WAS clear and conclusive 10 the Innocence
MT Kerr IN the matter But there was anothcr
hing that weighed his tMr. Daniord's mind about
All those circumstances, that was the good maine OF Mr.
Kerr, name that had bccn borrc without
rcproach Tor many sessions OF the House. The
strength Of the political institutions Of tho
whom they had produced and he should be loath To be-
lievc that any man occupying the high position which
Mr. Kerr occupied before The country would be guilty
Of such charge. lie hoped that tue vote tho re-
port would be unanimous one without dissenting
voice heart, aud that every gentleman the noor
who knew the Speaker OF the House, they all knew
him and should know him, would JOIN IN wiplng out
ths attempted stain on his reputation aud on ms char
acter that they would, by their action to-day, cba
bic Mr. Kerr to present to his countrymcn an evidence
that his white to-day Ms u was before Tho
House, due To Mr. Kerr good and upright man, To
adopt tho report oi the committee without dissenting
voice, that lac might be IN tho future, as he had
been the past an honor TO his country, tower OF
strength TO his colleagues and comfort and conola
ton TO his wife aud children. tApplausc.l
REMARKS nuRiEvr.
Mr. nURLBur trcpl Of Ill., SAID the reputation OF our
public men " among inc best r'enes OF Tue country
aud tue man or men who would unJustly ana untruiy
dctract from the reputation OF public man we're not
only sabbing ut hs lite and character but were dong
the mischief TO the success OF The nation.
did wait Tor this relor, TO make w my mind with
the long record OF an honorable hicoutwcghcd ard
outweghs all the charges oil those loose icismers, who,
hcsc times encourage detrScton and scandal and
only arise here this occasion IL carry out, by my
socc my vote, the idea that for one, repre-
tentative oil thus American people, having before my
sycs tho honor OF the people ana The honor OF the
House, which $ thc,honor OF the people, am here
to bc able rom the heart to say that whatever
shadow this momentary impuiatoh might have east
the DAYS OF the distinguished gentleman the speaker
OF this Housedsys which OF fear numbered
nlready--it ~ tho unanimous 70 &c Of the people,
through their representatives, thai the gss oil long
and honorable life has protected him IRON the en-
vcnomcd shafts Of malice. that the cloud Is removed,
and that, u his sun down u shall 80 down IA full
aud In the esteem of all honorable men of what
Bvcr party (Applsuso ON both sides " the House.
Mr.. GARYELp, tfcpl OF OHIO, suggested that ,hr vote
on the report should he taken ny the members rising
Tho suggestion adopted, aud all the members, 20
in number IN the sfrniativei none ia the mega
Mr. GARFIELD then asked that u be cntarcd on tho
record that the report was adopted unanimously.
The SPEAKER pro tenn. directed the Clerk 10 let u
be recorded the record as The unanimous vote oil The
House
Mr.. LKAvKxwoRrn (rcp) OF \. u, suggested as highly
proper the House should furnish to Mr.. Kerr IN