The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-02
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. D. G.. Aug

correspondence between himself
and Gov. Chamberlain of South Carolina, and
other reports in regard to recent troubles at
at Hamburg, n. G. The President in conclud- |
ing his message alludes to the disturbances in |
the South and says he awaits the forthcoming |
report of the committee which recently invest-
gated Mississippi affairs, feeling confident it |
will sustain all he has said about fraud and yio-
leDcS in that state.
A letter was received from the Secretary of |
War transmitting report in regard to the num- |
Der of employees in that department from 1859 |
to 1875 inclusive.
The chair announced as the new Conference
committee on consular appropriation bills Sar-
gent Boutwell, and Norwood
A joint resolution providing for restoration
of writing of the original declaration of indie
pendence passed.
The conference report on the military acad-
envy bill was agreed to.
The chair announced Messrs. West and Cock
rell as members OF the commission to con slider
the work of recognizing the army, authorized
by the army appropriation bill recently passed.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the journal
the business OF the morning hour commenced,
which was the bill reported by Mr.. Bland of
Missouri, from the Committee on Mines and
Mining, to utilize the products of gold and ell
yer mines.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, asked leave to offer
an amendment providing that SO much of the
resump tion act as provides that on and after
January 1, 1879, the Secretary of the Treasury
shall redeem in coin the United States legal
tender notes then outstanding on their presen-
tation for redemption at the Office of the Assis-
tant Treasurer in the city of New York. be re-
| pealed.
MIR. Bland of Missouri, objected to the amend
ment, and it was not received.
Resumption of dilatory motions were set on
| foot by Messrs. Kasson, Townsend of Pennsyl-
vania, and others to prevent action on the bill
| by consuming the morning hour The bill
| went over without action.
Mr.. Glover of Missouri, chairman of the
| committee on the real estate pool, submitted
| the majority report of said committee and also
the following resolution, which resolution he
| asked be adopted:
Resolved, That the report and accompanying
testimony, together with the letters of George
| M. Robson addressed to the committee, be
printed and referred to the judiciary Commit
| tee, and said committee be instructed to inquire
| into said alleged violations of the law, and as
| certain the liability of George M. Robson for
| such alleged acts, and make such report to the
House as the facts and law may justify; and in
| compliance with these instructions said COM
mittee have authority to take additional testi-
| mony.
The majority report is signed by Messrs.
Glover, Lewis and Culberson.
| Mr.. Pratt of Iowa, submitted the views of
the minority signed by Messrs. Pratt and Smith
of Pennsylvania, with the followidg resolu-
ton:
Resolved, That the House finds no cause for
complaint or censure attaching to George M.
Robson, growing out of his official relations
and transactions with the firm of Jay Cooke,
McCulloch & Go. of London, and the Temporal
! ry special agent of the Treasury Department.
Mr.. Hale of Maine, made point of order
that the committee on the real estate pool had
| no authority to make report on the subject of
naval affairs 1t was special committee first
appointed to look into the affairs of the real es.
tate pool and afterwards granted power of in.
| vestigating all matters touching the official
| misconduct of any officers of the United States
provided it should not affect any matter then
being investigated by standing committee.
| At the time that power was granted the Naval
Committee had been investigating the conduct
of the Secretary of the Navy, and he therefore
| held that the committee on the real estate pool
had no power to enter into report of such in
vestigation.
Mr.. Glover argued in defence of the right of
the committee on the real estate pool to take
cognzance of the matter, inasmuch as it was
connected with the indebtedness to the govern
ment of Jay Cooke & Co.
| Mr.. Pratt of Iowa, minority member of
the committee, intimated his concurrence with
Mr.. Hale in his point of order, but still suggest
ed its withdrawal and to let the testimony and
the majority and minority reports be printed
and referred to the Judiciary Committee as
being the best means of indicating Secretary
Robson.
Mr.. Hale thought the point of order was so
important that the ruling of the Speaker upon
it should be had.
| Speaker pro tenn Saylor regarded the matter
more as question of fact than of parliament
tary law, and declined to sustain the point of
order.
The resolution by Mr.. Glover was thereupon
agreed to without division, and the matter
was referred to the Judiciary Committee
Mr.. Harris of Virginia, chairman of the
| Committee on Elections, reported resolutions
in five contested election cases declaring that
/ tba citt Maqera oE NJ
Carolina. Gambler of Georgia, Lynch of Mis-
| sissidp, Norton of New York, and Treehan of
Pennsylvania, were duly elected and entitled
to their Seats All the resolutions were adopt
ed.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the Committee on Appropriations reported
bill appropriatiLg $227,566 for payment of the
indebtedness incurred in the construction of the
New York post office building.
Mr.. Conger of Michigan, commented on the
lack of appropriations tor other public build.
ings, and intimated that Mr.. RandalPs symna-
thies led him to favor New York and PhiladeI.
phia.
Mr.. Randall-What do you mean by your in
Mr.. Conger-I mean just what say, as 1
| generally do.
Randal-If you were to imply in the least
| degree that have moved in the direction of
| New York's claims one hairs breadth from the
| line of duty, you state that which you know not
| to be founded In fact.
Conger-I thought the gentleman ought to
move in the same direction in regard to other
public buildings that would be in the line of
| duty.
Randall-When they come up for action it
| will be time enough to judge. l have reported
| no deficiency from any public building in Phil
| adelphia, but have no doubt that throughout
| the whole land there has been an utter disre-
| gard of law in connection with the expenditure
| of public money and the evidence given has
| struck even in high places.
After this little discussion the bill was pass
| ed. pow
mittee on the District of Columbia, reported
resolution instructng the clerk of the House to
| certify the Attorney General and to the grand
| jury OF the District of Columbia the testimony
taken before that committee with view to
/ having civil and criminal proceeding taken
against persons shown to have violated the law
| or to have obtained money Illegally. Adopted
| Mr.. Sampson of Iowa, called up bill in re-
| gard to the measure of damages in action for
| infringements of patents.
| Mr.. Rice of Ohio, raised the question of
| consideration and the House efused to consId-
| er the bill. Yeas a. nays 102.
| The House then OF 3 80 went into Committee
| of the Whole to take up bill reported by the
| Committee on Invalid Pensions for the pay
ment of arrearages of pensions, making them
| date from the time Of pensioners death. 1t
| was necessary, however, under the rules to
have each of the bills standing before it was laid
| aside by party vote, as Mr.. O'Brien and 9TH
erS sought to interpoSe all parliamen tary obsta-
ces to the consideration of the bill which would
take many millions out of the treasury. The
process of getting at tae bill proved too tedious
and had finally to be abandoned
The committee rose when obituary speeche
| on the recent death of Mr.. Parsons Of XIV, were
| made by Messrs. Jones and Boone of KY, and
Others after which the House at 445 adjourned.
THE INDIE NpIAI