The New York herald., 1876-01-19
The Crooked" Bookkeeping of
the Last Decade.
BOUTWELL, IN A MAZE OF FIGURES
Debate on the Centennial Appro-
priation in the House.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1876.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate a communication
nom the Secretary OF the Interior enclosing report
nom the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs in to
the resolution OF the Senate Of the 18th u regard
TO books kept by Indian agents in compliance with
10 of the Indian Appropriation bill for the year
ending June 80, 1875 Ordered to be printed and lie
the table.
THE LOUISIANA sENAroRsHIP.
Mr. THuRMAS, (dem.) of Ohio, presented the credcn-
tias of James B. Eusts, claiming seat in the Senate
as Senator from the State of louisiana which he sent
TO the Clerks desk and had read The document con-
sisted of lengthy extracts Of the proceedings of the
Louisiana Legislature, and before the reading fin
ished Mr.. Conkng (rep) of n. " inquired who cert-
fed TO these papers.
Mr. THURMAN replied that the papers were volumi
and it not necessary to read them. They
certified by the Speaker and Clerk OF the Lou
isana House OF Representatives and the Senator who
presided at the joint meeting
Mr. CoSKLISG said the Of Congress stated that the
credentials of claiming in this body must be
certified by the Governor of the State. He argued that
the papers in the Senate did not present
priDsd face case and not being credentials author
lied by the statute he submitted that they ought not
to be read as such IN the Senate
Mr. MORTON (Iep) of Ind, said he not in the
when the paper purporng TO be the credentials
of Mr. Eustis was read He asked that the matter be
laid over until to morrow morning.
Mr. Eusts TO the seat. He did not ask to have him
them but only asked TO have his referred
70 the Committee Privileges and Elections.
Mr.. CoSKLING argued that the papers presented were
irregular and papers upon which the Senate could
not act as constituting primo tacie case
Mr. THURMAN denied that the papers were irregular,
unless the absence of the Governors certificate
and that he submitted not an irregularty. The
act of Congress had been strictly complied with in the
election OF Mr. Eustis. The papers showed that
orty of the aggregate number of members of the
houses were present and also that majority of those
nannha tod a " a
would turn the act as to whether or not vacancy
existed in the Louisiana Senatorship. II the Senate
should decide that Mr. Pnchback was entitled 10 the
there would be end TO these papers, but the
nand If the Senate should decide that Mr Pinch
back not entitled TO the seat the claim OF Mr..
Eustis must be considered.
Mr.. SHERMAN suggested that the papers be printed in
the Record they had been read in the Senate and
the matter be laid over until tomorrow so that the
Senate could go with the morning business
This suggestion agreed to and 1t ordered that
they be printed in the Record and laid over until tomor
The CHAIR laid before the Senate the memorial ofthe
Democratic Conservative Convention of Louisiana,
held January g. 1876, concerning elections and the
condition of the State OF Louisiana Referred to the
Committee Privileges and Elections
number of bills introduced and referred.
sPBScEK's
Mr.. GoLDrHwAITE, tdem) Of Ala, said he found
his desk this morning pamphlets in the Spencer
He felt delicacy presenting them tc the Senate
they were made up OF newspaper testimony at the
best He asked however that they be referred to the
Committee Privileges and Elections which COM
mittee had charge of the case of Mr.. Spencer
II.
tend the provisions of the act to settle be-
the United States and the State of Mississippi,
approved March 3 1857, to other States Referred to
the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr. HARVEY explained that the object OF the bill
adjust the claims Of certain States in regard TO their
percentage on the sales OF public lands, &c.
Mr. EDMuNDs lrep) OF VT, submitted resolution
requesting the President TO communicate to the Senate
II not Incompatible with the public interest," copies OF
any correspondence had under his authority with other
governments in regard to the Centennial Exhibition.
Agreed to-
Commissioners of the Freedman's Savings and Trust
Company answer TO the resolution calling for the
same Ordered TO be printed and lie upon the table.
Mr.. CAMERON, (rep) OF Pa, presented petitions OF
citizens of that State in favor OF granting subsidy
the Southern Pacific Railroad Referred to the Com
mittee Railroads
Mr. CRAGIN, (rep) of N. H.. called up the Senate bill
TO the attendance and payment Of witnesses be-
fore military courts, and submitted an amendment,
giving every martial the power punish
witness for refusing to testify as that now held by
Circuit OF the United States providing that the
action of such court martial shall be subject to
vision writ of habeas corpus by any Circuit Dis
trict Court of the United States.
Mr. WHITE, (dem.) Of Nd, said the amendment should
10 to some committee for examination Under the
present law courts martial had power commit wit
ness who was in the service for time not exceeding
two months.
Mr. CRAGM said his amendment applied to civilians
Mr. wHirE said be would not give a court martial
more power a civilian than 1t had IN the
military or naval service, and he moved 10 amend the
amendment 80 that no Imprisonment imposed on such
civilian for contempt shall continue for more than two
months. After some discussion he modified the amend
ment so as to provide that such imprisonment shall
be for longer period than that imposed on
soldier sailor for similar offence.
The amendment Of Mr.. Cragn as amended by Mr..
Whyte was agreed to- and the bin as amended passed
INVESTIGATION OF TBH TREASURY.
sumed the CONSIDERATION of the resolution submitted
by Mr.. Davis OF West Virginia, Wednesday to ap-
point special committee to investigate the books and
accounts Of the Treasury Department
Mr. BOUTWELL, trep. OF Mass, said when he ad-
dressed the Senate Thursday last he stated the gen.
10 the argument OF the Senator from West Virginia
(Mr Davis) could be given. He (Mr. Boutwell, had
disposition oppose the examination called for by tho
resolution He was In favor OF such examination by
either special committee Of the standing
mttees OF the Senate There not the least founda-
lion for the suggestion that the books OF the depart
ment had been changed and II the honorable Senator
had taken the pains 70 examine process OF keeping
accounts in the department he would have that
would have been dcult change tho records AFTER
they had been made that might be said to be
possibility. He (Mr Boptwel6 found that the details
pedient to publish them to the extent required, and
they would furnish upon the whole very little OF the
Information required. He would therefore. confne
himself TO general statements and leave she committee
10 explore. the details The first definite state
ment made by the Senator from West Virginia
Mr Davis relative TO the amount Of expenditures
fhe entire amount OF differences which the gentleman
nated showed an increase In the expenditures from
hus-In the Finance Report for 1869, page S2l in
tuded outstanding warrants to the amount Of
which do not appear in the report for 1870
In The report for 1870 page 275 is, including trust
tunds 70 the amount Of 1926, ,O62, which
10 not appear In the report for 1862 The
Inference between the two, $3,271,o10 n the exact
difference claimed be increase Of expenditures,
shown by the statement This, II will be perceived
merely difference in manner OF preparing the state
ments Mr. Boutwell, quoted from the speech OF Mr..
Davis and said in the 1namc report Of 1869 there
Included for the purchase OF gold coin, author
wed by the first section OF the act Of March H. 1862
amounting to 5,O72 300 Under the same head there
was also payment OF $780, OF outstanding war
these two items amount to S. SOS, s04
n the report for 1870 the items OF trust
unds, namely. Chckasaw, Choctaw and navy pension
hnd amounting 70 81 242 242 included under the
head OF net ordinary expenditures and the difference
these amounts represents the discrepan-
tics referred to- Ho then explained at length the pay
nents account OF pensions, and said the increase
hown in the report OF 1874 compared with that Of
$50 caused by the payment OF warrants In
1874, which had been issued In prior years
n another instance error made