The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-06
INVESTIGATIONS.

charge OF matters pertaining 10 lnqiar
Affairs, Military Aifairs, Naval Affairs
PostofIice, Public Lands, Public Build
ings and Grounds, Claims, and Wa
Claims, 10 inquire into any abuses in thu
administration and execution Of existing
laws affecting those branches OF public
service, with view to ascertain what
changes and reformation can be made &C
as to promote integrity, economy, and ef
iicicncy, also instructing the Committee
on Expenditures in the several depart
mcnts TO proceed at once, as required BY
the rules OF the House, to examine into
the state OF the assets and expenditures
in the respective departments. Whether
oil monies have been disbursed in con-
formity with the appropriation laws and
what provisions are necessary to be
adopted to provide more perfectly for
public monies, so as to secure the govern
mcnt against demands unjust in charac-
ter or evtravagant in amount. Adopted.
TuEPACIFIcR II, AND THE GOVERNMENT
INTEREST.
Mr.. Lawrence offered n resolution,
which was adopted, requiring the Judi
ciary Committee to report law to COM
pell the Pacific Bailroad Company to in
demnify the government for the interest
advanced on the subsidy bonds issued 10
the company. He said the Supreme
Court has recently decided that the gov
ernmeat is bound to pay the interest on
the subsidy bonds, and no provision is
,noJo En, .o;p,Lu .smapts oNoant that
where freight or passengers are carried
for the government one.half charges may
be credited on advance. The subsidy
bonds amount to SG5,0O0, 900, and the in.
terest paid by the government, over and
above the freight charges credited, is
100000. The Attorney General es-
timated that the railroad company would
owe the government 5000, 100000 at the
maturity OF the bonds. In about twenty
years this will be lost TO government un-
less we now by law secure the indemnity.
This is the object Of the resolution, to save
the government from u loss OF S200,000,-
900.
CALLING FOR THE JEFFERsoNIoN TEST.
Mr.. Harrison offered the following res
olution:
Resolred, That on the distribution Of the
patronage OF the House Of Representatives
and OF the government generally those ell
ected and who by law have appointments
of subordinates should only regard the
Jeifersonian test-.is he honest-is he
faithful-is he eapable--and that the re.
cent events in the Federal administration
give peculiar emphasis to this Democratic
sentiment. Laughter.] Adopted.
CHICAGO CUSTOM HOUSE AND PosroFrIcE.
Mr.. Caulfeld offered resolution stat
ing that certain charges have been made
implying fraud and mismanagement in
the construction OF the Custom House
and postollice building in Chicago and in
Structing the Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds to enter upon IN inves-
tigation Of such charges. Adopted.
House then adjourned.
e SENATE.
After prayer by Rev. Joseph Cross, OF
Illinois, and the reading OF the Journal
Of December Goth, the Chair laid before
the Senate a communication from the
Secretary Of War, transmitting the re.
port Of the Chief Engineer in regard to
the amounts appropriated for the i'm
provement Of the mouth OF the Alississip-
pi river, Fort Jackson and For. St. Philip.
Ordered printed and to lie on table.
Also, communication from the Secre-
tary Of War, renewing the recommenda.
ton that the military reservations at
Camp Crittenden and Camp Grant, Ari.
zona territory, be transferred to the In
terror Department for disposal under the
public lands law. Ordered printed and
TO lie on table.
Mr.. Conkling presented petition Of
citizens Of New York city, asking the
passage Of an amendment TO the Consti.
tuition Of the United States prohibiting
the appropriation Of money for any re-
ligious sect. Referred to the Judiciary
Committee. a.
MR.. MoRRlLL's REDEMPTION DILL.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Vermont, introduced n
bill to further provide for the redemption
OF United States legal tender notes in ac-
cordance with the existing laws. Order
cd to be printed and lie on the table. Mr..
Morrill, said he introduced the bill upon
his own responsibility, he presumed no
Senator here desired to repeal the act
passed last session to provide for specie
resumption. His purpose in introducing
this bill was to make the execution OF
that law easier. He gave notice that he
would ask leave to submit some re.
marks in explanation OF the bill after the
expiration Of the morning hour to.mor.
row. ~. --
Mr.. Howe presented n memorial OF the
citizens Of Wisconsin, for the completion
OF the Fox river improvement. Referred
to Committee on Commerce.
The Chair laid before the Senate CON-
munication from the Secretary OF War
stating that since the close Of the last ses-
sion OF Congress, the preparations of the
official records Of the rebellion, both
Union and Confederate, have made rapid
progress, showing the amount expended
in the work, the balance on hand, &c. |
Referred to Committee on Appropria-
tions.
After the expiration Of the morning
bour, the Chair laid before the Senate |
State rights resolution, submitted by Sem
ator Morton.
Mr.. Morton said it yas the desire Of his
colleague, Mcdonald, to submit substi-
tute, and as that gentleman was not pres.
ent and several Senators desired to dis
cuss the resolutions he asked that they be |
laid over. So ordered.
The Chair then laid before the Senate
the unfinished business of the resolution
OF Mr.. Morton to authorize the appoint
ment OF a committee to investigate the cir
cumstances attending the recent election
in Mississippi, and at the request OF Mr..
Morton the resolution was laid over till |
Monday next.
Mr.. Boutwell, gave notice that on
Thursday of next week he would submit
to the Senate resolutions relating to the |
service and public character Of the late
Vice President Wilson.
Mr.. Sherman submitted a resolution
that the commissioners Of the Freedman's
Savings and Trust Company OF the Dis.