Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-08
FORTF-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY, March &.

ana territory, setting forth the dangers OF
secret societies, asking Congress to with
draw the charter OF the Masonic Association
OF the District OF Columbia, that members of
scored societies be debarrei from holding Of
Zee. &c. Referred In the Committee on the
Judiciary.
Mr.. Cooper. from the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections, reported resolution 10
pay Francis w. Asher, late contestant from
from March I, 1873, TO May IS, 1874. and asked
for its present consideration, but Mr.. Sar-
gent objected and it went over.
Mt, Cameron wis }; from the Committee
OF stephen G. Homer, OF Baltimore, Md. for
services rendered 10 the secret service
agents.
THE GAS QUESTION.
Mr.. Whyte, from the Committee on Public
buildings and Grounds. rer orted al verseIy
on bills TO incorporate the Capital Gas COM
pany OF the District of Columbia and To in
corporate the Oxygen Gas company of the
District OF Columbia, and they were indef-
n1tely postponed. Mr.. w. said the commits
tee were influenced in their adverse decision.
because they were satisfied that neither OF
the bills were likely TO result in procuring
better quality OF gas than that now furnished
in the District, or at a less price.
AMENDMENT TO THE RULES
Mr.. Anthony submitted concurrent reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the rules
SO as TO provide for the printing on paper OF
both enrolled and engrossed bills, instead of
writing on parchment as at present, aud
of the same.
Mr.. Sargent said it would be impossible 10
enter on this system under the present meth
Oh OF doing business in the last three DAYS of
the session. II IL was provided that the 10th
and 18th joint rules should never be Suspend
ed, then II might be done. He alluded 10 the
serious errors which had been made in the
appropriation bills by reason of the hurry
which attended their consideration in the
last days OF the session.
The resolution was then referred TO the
Committee on Printing.
ADJOURNMENT MAY 1ST.
Mr.. Wright submitted a concurrent resolu-
ton providing for sine die adjournment OF
the two houses on the 1st of May. He said
that he had offered the resolution without
consultation with any one, bat il embOiied
his opinion. He knew that business was now
in backward condition, but he believed
that 1t would be feasible TO have business in
such condition that an adjournment could
be effected at that time.
On motion of Mr. Edmunds, the resolution
was referred TO the Committee on Appropri-
ations.
PRINTING THE DEBATES.
Mr.. Edmrnds submitted a resolution that
the proceedings aud debates in the Senate
shall be printed in the Congressional Record
exactly as they are taken down, except such
grammatical corrections as may be proper
aud the copy shall be delivered in time for
the Record of the next morning, He asked
mat IL be referred TO The Committee on
Printing, and as ked for ii their serious con-
sideration.
The unfinis bed business, being
THE PINCHBACK CASE
came up, when Mr.. West stated that il q gree-
eble 10 The Senate he would like In accord
ance with the notice he had already given, TO
submit some remarks on the relations of The
Pacihc roads 10 the general government.
Mr. Anthony hoped this courtesy would
| be eXtened TO tie Senator from Louisiana.
Mr.. Fdmunds said it was time to stop the
| dtlly-Callying in the Pinchback case II
| ought TO be disposed of without further DELAY
Mr.. Hitchcock said to day had been set for
| the confederation of The bill for the admis-
! sion Of New Mexico, and he therefore moved
= tn procea1 y-sth IL.
MIR. Edmunds called the ayes and noes,
| when the question was rejected-ayes, q;
noes SO.
The resolution for the admission of Mr.,
! PIpcbback Was then proceeded with.
Mr.. West took the floor, and said that pro-
! oably, without intending TO do so. the gen.
| tlenan from North Carolina, (Mr. Merri-
mon, had msrepresented facts in stating
| that Mr.. Pinchbacks credentials had never
| been submitted TO the Senate.
| Mr.. Merrimon then asked that the refer
ence in the Pinchback case be read, which
was done, when Mr.. Merrimon admitted that
| he had beel misled in the matter, and salts
| factorily explained why he was induced 10
Mr.. West said that all the presumptions
| were in favCr Of Pinchback's right to q seat
in The Senate.
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
| Roar called attention to the fact that ia the
| record Of TO day there was appended to the
| speech of Mr.. Lamar of yesterday a note
|
| He did not wish to complain OF the particu-
| lar act or OF the subject matter, but desired
| to call attention to growing evil In this
respect, An influential paper had offered
TO publish the debates at a much less price
than was now paid, but the argument was
used that the House could not secure exact
| accuracy In its reports. If this feature was
not retained there was no protection TO the
members.
After some discussion the subject was
passed over.
| THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE WINS
KY FRAUD TRIALS.
| The Speaker announced the following gen.
tlemen as members of the special committee
| 10 inquire into the connection of the Attor-
| whisky trials, viZ:-Messrs. Knott (ky),
| Harris Na.). Glover (Mo), Cochran Pa ],
| Mcmahon tOhio), McCrary uowa) and
| THF GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr. Randall (Pa.), from the Committee on
AppI9Piaions repGr5ed the tiegls b
| the year ending June 80, ISL.
| Mr. Randall said that the estimates for the
| items embraced In the bill were $50, 773 3G67O,
and the appropriations for the same object
| last year were SIS 134 O00. While the present
| bill, If concurTed in as reported, would APP
| prCpriate total sum OF So, 799, $3.50. This
SHOW ed reduction from the estimates OF
| eight millions, and from last years apnro-
| rrls tioDs of over six millions. he would
1 add that the committee in the cOnsi i5ratlOl
| OF this bill had laid the foundation for fur
/
| dollars. so that, in fact, the labors of the
| committee On this bill had resulted in
| practical reduction OF over eleven miIlio rs.
| The committee, with almost uGalimity,
recommended the removal OF the Iodian 6u-
reau to the War department. This wOul
| effect a saving in the military Dill OF over a
million, and he believed a further reduction
| ip The army bill of three and half millions.
The com mittee had recommended the aorl-
| ishment of SIS special agents in the
| customs service believing them unnecessary.
| IL had also been agreed that amendments
| might be offered for the removal OF the PEN
| sion bureau To the War department, and for
| the Payments of pensions direct from the
| department at Washington. The latter
| would save half a million, and the former
| enable reduction OF the clerical force three
| hundred. He asked that the bill be referred
| to the Committee OF the Whole, and gave
notice that on Friday he would call 1t up for
| general debate with the intention OF finish
ing general debate this week, and on Mon
| day to commence the consideration OF the
| bill In detail.
Mr.. Foster (Ohio) said the Chairman had
| correctly stated the amount of labor taken
| in preparing the bill and in relation TO the
zeal with which the minority had labored.
| MR.. PURMAN CHALLENGES INvEsTIGA-
| TON.