The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-25

| HeCcsbuIy " plClShb ooANAe"AO, II
pointments 10 Office and removals there
from by Senators and members Of Con-
gress. -,
Mr.. Kelly offered the following, which
was adopted:
Resolved, That the Secretary Of the
Treasury be directed TO report to this
House what amount Of specie was in the
Treasury on the 3lst OF December, 1870,
designating the amount Of gold and silver
respectively; also the amount Of silver
purchased under the provisions OF an act
approved January IA, 1875, entitled IAN
act TO provide for the resumption Of
specie payments" stating the dates OF the
several purchases and the price paid for
each, and what amount Of the cost, ii
any, Of such purchases OF silver has been
paid from the surplus revenue in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
and what amount Of 5per cent bonds bear.
ing gold interest has been sold or disposed
OF for the purpose Of providing the means
for the purchase OF said silver, the dates
OF the issues OF said bonds respectively,
the amount Of interest that has been paid
thereon and the amount that will have
accrued but remain unpaid on the day
preceding the date Of the report made in
response TO this resolution.
Mr.. Morrison, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, reported resolution
directing that the papers laid before the
House and testimony taken before the
Committee on Ways and Means at the last
Congress in regard to the Pacific Mail
subsidy be taken from the Speakers table
and referred to the Judiciary Committee,
with instructions 10 inquire what action
should be taken by the House in reference
TO persons now members OF the House
who are charged with completely in the
corrupt use Of money for that purpose,
and with giving false testimony relative
to it. Adopted.
Mr.. Kasson presented resolution for
the discontinuance of the annual agricul-
tural report and the publication in its
stead Of monthly agricultural report.
Referred.
Mr.. Buckner, from the Committee on
District of Columbia, reported bill di-
recting the Commissioner OF the District
TO transfer to the Treasurer OF the United
States for payment Of interest on the 1855
bonds due the first Of. February next,
S222,T97 from any unexpended appro-
priations heretofore male by Congress or
from any revenues derived from taxation,
provided all certificates heretofore issued
BY the Board OF Audit (including those
converted into 1865 bonds and those not
so converted), and all certificates hereaf-
ter to be issued by the Board Of Audit
shall not exceed in the aggregate Sl5 5,OOO,-
900.
Mr.. Randall remarked that the amount
already issued was S14,2O9,00O, and he
was opposed to allowing that amount TO
be increased.
Mr.. Holman moved 10 amend by strik-
inf ont the figures 1920, ,797," and insert
ing the words "the sum necessary 10 pay
the same" The amendment was agreed
to.
Mr.. Wood, Of n. Y, inquired Of Mr.,
Buckner whether his committee had con-
sidered the question whether the Govern
ment was liable for these bonds to great
er amount than was due at the time OF the
passage OF the law.
Mr.. Buckner replied that the commit
tee had not inquired into that question,
1t was supposed when the bill passed that
the amount would not exceed SS,3OO,O 600
but it had gone far beyond that.
Mr.. Randall moved 10 amend by limit
ing the amount OF S.G5 bonds to 81, ,3OO,'
900, and, discussing his amendment, de.
nounced the extravaganza Of the Com
missioncrs.
Mr.. Ward, Of New York, Questioned
whether the House was not in passage oi
the bill (which authorized indirectly the
payment OF the interest on these bonds in
excess Of the amount originally authoriz-
ed) recognizing the obligations OF the
government 10 pay the principal and in
ierest on bonds then issued in excess.
Mr.. Buckner replied that that question
was not necessarily involved in this bill
and that therefore he did not intend tc
discuss it, for it was serious question
whether thegoyernment was not bound tc
pay bonds illegally issued. This bill pro
yided that the restsbould be paid out
of the money in the United States Treasu
ry, and collected from the revenue Of the
district, so that it would be in exact
compliance with the requirements OF law
II was in the interest OF the law and justice
that this bill should bc passed at once
and that the Commissioners should have
authority (if they did not have it now( tc
use the money now in tho Treasury tor
the payment Of this interest.
Mr.. Randall remarked that they hat
that power now and that he was not will
ing 10 take any step which would in
crease the obligation Of the government
in the matter.
Mr.. Buckner said that this bill did MOI
increase the obligation Of the govern
ment in that connection.
Mr.. Randall suggested that 1t nigh
strengthen the claim that the govern
ment must pay the interest and see tina
the principal be paid.
Mr.. Holman moved to strike out th'
proviso limiting the amount Of 3.66 bond
and inserting in lieu thereof the follow
ing proyiso: "And any further issue o
1855 bonds is hereby prohibited" Th'
motion was agreed TO.
Mt. Tucker offered the following
amendment: "And provided further
that nothing herein contained shall in
volve the government Of the United State
in any obligation to pay the principal o
interest OF any bonds that have been is
sued contrary to or not in pursuance o
law" Agreed to.
Mr.. Kasson offered an amendment re
serving from the provisions Of the bill
the revenue receipts received for schoo
purposes. Adopted. The bill as amend
ed was passed.
Mr.. Grover offered resolution for .thI
appointment Of Select Committee to in
quirc into the nature and history OF wha
is known as the "Real Estate Pool" j
which Jay Cooke & 20. were interested
Adopted. :,
Mr.. Banning offered a resolution cal
ing on the Secretary Of War for informn
ton as to the pay and allowances Of th
army officers stationed in Washingto
since March, 1869. Adopted.
Mr.. Whitehouse offered rcsolutio
instructing the Committee on Civil serN
ice Reform to inquire into any abuses o
, frauds which mayex ist in the administr
tiop or execution of existing laws afiec