Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-02
EVENING STAR.
WEDNEsDAY.. rsbruar, .. Is.s.
FORTY-FOURrH CoN.RESs.
Closing Proceedings Yesterday.
HE Discussion On the J-65 Interest

Sung, a. was EOped. in sweeping this
u deserved. He referred 10 the saf-hu--
glaTy conspiracy, which he said scarcely baB
parallel In crime and he hopet that the
guilty offenders in that matter would VET n,
brought TO punishment fOs their atrocio,ls
crimes. He then spoke OF the conduct OF the
Commissioners, and said their action haI
disappointed the country-had disappointed
every body. The reform which they were
expected 10 tnaugurate had not been under
taken. In fact, he Mr.. b. had been told by
every one IN the District with whom he hat
coHversei that Shepherds government was
only change In name. The same officials.
the same contractors and the same system
prevailed. He reviewed TIE estimates for
some Of the work, and pointed out tho great
disparity between the estimates and the
prices paid. one estimate hai been made at
S2.5o0, and the amount paid Tor The work
low run up To nearly 500. 900, AMI they
were not done paying for ~ yet. lie
was informed that the very COUNSEL
employed 10 defend the fiagiuous do
iEgs OF this shepherd government hat
been paid with these SIS bonds.
He was Informed that these Commissioners
al paii $500 To one OF their party papers
for advertising the testimony taken before
the committee ofiuveStigation. lie Ssti that
SUCH state Of affairs as had eNls.ed here
could not prevail for one hour in any com
mupity where self government prevailed.
Before DOW vigilance committees had swept
rom existence governments not reSpOus be
Tor one hair that has been done here. And
this Is the condition Of affairs that we are
asked In approve and allow To go on. No, the
issue OfiheSa bonds must be stopped; the IN
nuerces which have prevailed here since ISL
must he done away. We owe This 10 the
people OF this District and 20 the people OF
The country. lie did not admit that the
United states should be liable for these bonds
ISSUED IN oehance and In violation OF law. II
gross abuse has characterized the issue of
these bonds, let them be subject 10 the law OF
equity; and lot not the people OF this country
suffer Tor the acts of Incompetent or diShOn-
est agents. Hereafter II can be aSrart.fneI
whether there was any improper colluSion
between those who Issued AMI those who re-
ceived these bonds.
Mr. Morton said that I'm everything said
by Mr.. Bayard he had failed % point o,lt any
violation OF law by the CornmISS .olars.
These Commissioners were men OF SpptleSs
character, and stood as high as any one here
or elsewhere One thing the senator hal
SAID, "that this state OF things could not pre-
vail II the right OF self government existed"
Well. the right of self-gOvernment was
struck down in this District hV the aid Of
every democratic vote on this floor. Mr.. VI.
again defended the Commissioners from the
charge of making unlawful expenditures
and said al this came down 10 them as a
legacy from the Board OF Public Works.
Referring 70 the proposition 10 exclude all
the 3G5 bonds not legal, he said the question
Of the legality of these bonds was left nv
Congress 10 the officers OF the government,
the board OF audit. The Commi IS Toners iSSuet
none OF these bonds; they were ISSUED by ths
board OF audit. He also spoke at some length
an support OF the point made by him. that
ali the abuses complained OF grew out of the
appointiTe system, not the elective. for Che
Board or Public WOrks-upOn which an the
abuse rested-was not elecJei-by the people,
but app Oiuted by the Executive
Mir. Thurman said Mr.. Morton was the first
Senator who had brought politics into this
debate. He asked why Mr.. Morton dii not
oppose the law of 1874, Instead OF being dumb
aS an oyster. There never was slave IN
thiS country so completely awed by his IN as
ter as the District legislature was b. me
boari OF Public Works. lie also referred 10
the outrageous Over-measurementsd detected
ny the engineer appointed by the lnvestiga-
ing committee. lie spoke Of the labJrS OF
the investigating committee, and the uuan-
linous report which they arrived AT that the
District government was "A failure. He Sal
the committee had then provided for "A tenn
porary administration Of the District affairs,
but there was an enlargement OF the District
affairs, but there was an enlargement OF the
powers OF the Commissioners and a VERY DIFF
ierent Interpretation put upon their powers
Than was contemplated by the committee.
But IL seemed that every one placed in power
IN this District Immediately launched ont
into every species OF extravaganza. The
Board OF Health spent more money than was
required TO carry on the whole state govern
ment OF Vermont He also alluded TO The
expenses OF the Ire department and the sal
aries paid 10 the officers OF the District gov
eminent proper, which he said was more
than ever paid 10 the state officers OF Oaio.
Mr.. Morton replied al some length To the
structures of Mr.. Thurman. He said the
Senator had drawn the bill creating these
Commissioners, and il was very loosely
drawn. The Senator himself was RESPONSE
PIE, therefore, Tor these very errors Of which
he complains.
Mr.. Thurman said that was a very poor
argument, that a Senator VINO advocated a
OH was responsible for the manner In which
IL was carried out. The Senator Mr.. Nor
ton had voted for the present tax on whisky;
therefore, according 10 his own argument
the Senator was responsible for the whisky
frauds, and ought TO be on trial in st. Louis
with Mckee, Babcock and others.
The question then REQUIRED on the amend
ment OF Mr.. Sargent provided that the
aaPrif Hos f.as afr.fDr
audit, including those converted into sos
bonds and those which have not been so con-
verted, and the certificates hereafter 10 De
issued by the board OF audit or their success
sOrs in Office, shall not exceed in the sggre-
gale the sum OF Sl5,O00.OO0." The amend
ment was.agreed unanimously.
Mr.. Herman moved further proViso
chat any further issue OF SOS bonds under
and by virtue of said act OF June, lSIi, is
hereby prohibited
Mr.. Sargent stated that certificates of in
debtednness were now held by a number OF
persons who had carried out contracts, and
II this provisO was adopted IL would prevent
them from couvel ting these certificates into
8 6 bonds.
Mr.. Herman said no legal and valid claim
could be lnJudiciously affected. His object
was TO stop the issue OF any further bonds,
and then II could be ascertained whether
these certificates now outstanding were
properly and legally issued. II these were
legally issued then there would be 40 trouble
about their payment.
Mr.. Logan said he would like 10 have an
answer from some OF the Senators who had
participated in this debate whether they
would next session vote TO pay for any bonds
issued in excess Of the prohi bitiOn.
Mr.. Dawes said he would indict the Off
clals and treat the bonds as counterfeitS.
Mr.. Logan said he was some what confused
by this debate. He could not bring himself
to agree TO pay for any obligation Issued IN
violation OF law. 1t surpasses his compre-
henslon how Senators could get up here and
declare that several millions of these bonds
had been issued in violation of law and then
in the next breath advocate that the gov
ment should pay them.
Mr.. Eaton said il was not worth while to
talk about the credit OF the COVER Imeut go
ing 20 protest. Three hundred millions of It's
paper went 70 protest every day ia the year.
The whole matter OF these bonds ought TO be
Investigated by a special committed, aud he
should make that motion tomorrow. He
now moved TO adjourn.
Mr.. Eaton gave way 10 Mr.. Paddock, who
moved TO go into executive session, which
was agreed tO-ayes 81, nays ~; and, after a
short time spent therein, the Senate ad-
joUrned.
HOUSE.-After our report closed
The special order, the proposed amend
ment TO the Constitution reported by the
LA--aW