The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-18
The Congressional Record as a
Vehicle for Bunoombe.
SENATOR sPENcERs EXPLANATION
interest on the 365 District Bonds
Still Unprovided For.
A Discussion on the Election OF
a Speaker Pro Tempore.

WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1876.

The CHAIR laid before the Senate a communication
from tie Secretary Of War announcing that the mill
tary bridge the North Platte River, near For.
Laramie, wy T. has been nearly completed, and win be
accepted by the government as the structure Is
made to conform fully the Of the contract and
that system Of tolls been established for travel
said bridge suggesting the passage of an act
authorize of such tolls in keeping the bridge
in repair Referred TO the Committee Military
Affairs.
Mr. MORRILL,, trep) Of VT, from the Committee on
Education and Labor reported WITH two amendments
the Senate bill to establish an educational fund and
apply portion the proceeds of the public lands to
public education and provide for the more complete
endowment and supply Of national colleges for the adj
vancement OF scientific and industrial education
Placed on the calendar.
In reporting the bill he said the committee was
unanimous in its favor.
Il is the same measure introduced by Senator Morrill,
last month"; with few amendments One OF them
quires that each State Territory shall not only pro
by law for the free education OF all its children of
school age las precedent to its being enti-
tied share in the distribution OF onehalf the total
proceeds of the public lands but shall provide equal
facilities and opportunities for the same"
AM EXPENSIVE
MI HOWE, (rep) Of Wis, presented petition which
he said purpored to be signed by citizens of Wiscon-
sin, asking the passage OF law requiring the
Treasurer of the United States to pay to every
man. woman and child residing in the country, with
out distinction account Of race color or previous
condition of servitude, the sum of $40 week. such
sum TO paid every Saturday night at the post office
the residence of such person He said there
limitation to time but, to prevent any undue
expansion of the currency, the petitioners thought
more than So 600 O0O coo should be issued in any
year. He not entirely certain that this was wise
measure. (Laughterl
va Committee Finance.
SENATOR sPEScER's EXPLANATION
seat YESTERDAY when the Senator from Mississippi
(Mr. Alcorn) made his personal explanation. He (Mr
Spencer) desired to state that there was no truth
whatever in from the Chicago Times which
the Senator had read He (Mr Spencer) had never
called upon the Chief Justice in regard to decision
upon the Enforcement act in regard TO any other
decision. lnfact he had never called upon the Chief
Justice at ALL
duce the interest upon the public debt provide for'a
sale and elastic currency for the speedy appreciation
of the value of Treasury notes and national bank notes
that of coin, and TO guard against pancs and ina
ton of bank credits. Referred to the Committee on
Finance.
Mr. WRIGHT said he introduced the bill by request and
without committing himself to the provisions thereof
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
Mr. ANTHONY (rep.) OF r. l., called up the concur
rent resolution submitted by him yesterday in regard
printing the debates OF Congress in the Congressional
Record He said the purport OF the resolution was
plain Whatever might be said Of the printing of the
debates the fact must be admitted that they we're in
valuable the people of the country 1t was not to be
disputed thar there was great deal OF irrelevant
matter introduced in the discussion, though
IL was much better TO have question debated too
much than not have it debated at all 1t from
hasty and nconsderate legislation that the country
had most TO fear He of the opinion that the Con-
gressional Record should be maintained II worth
all the cost He referred TO the scantiy reported de-
hates or the Convention which framed the constitu-
ton and said If they had been fully reported as
the debates OF the present time they would be
Of our forefathers The Congressional Record should
speak like credltabe witness and tell the truth the
whole truth and nothing but the truth II should re-
nruhn anfd and Wh MQ
MANY speeches delivered in Congress had been
put into the and statements put into it which
would never have been allowed to pass unchallenged
had thew been made in Congress He spoke several
instances where speeches had been withheld entirely
and given TO the Globe Tor publication when the
debates were published by that journal Congress now
the place OF the publishers OF the Globe having
taken upon itself the publication OF the debates
In his opinion it would be better publish
Ihe speeches Just they were delivered, without any
correction except in form OF notes; but he was not
prepared to urge such stringent rule now. In one
instance the other house OF Congress some years
ago a member said he had prepared some remarks on
the duty OF the government 10 recognize bellgerent
rights Of Cuba but he did not wish TO trouble the
House by reading them, and leave was granted him to
have his remarks printed in the Globe When they
appeared. instead OF being about Cuba, they were
shameful attack an honored member of the Senate
not long passed TO his final account The matter
was noticed by the House. and IL ordered that the
remarks be excluded from the official edition OF the
Globe though they had already appeared IN the regu-
purpose OF the concurrent resolution was 10 make the
Conoresstonal Record what purported to bea faith
full record OF what took place in Congress He moved
that the resolution be referred to the Committee
Printing. SO ordered. ,. (. az no,s
The Senate then resumed the Consideration OF the I'M
finished business being the report OF the Conference
Committee the dsagreeing votes OF the two houses
the joint resolution to pay the interest on the a65
District Of Columbia bonds.
OF the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr Dawes OF yes
terday, in regard TO the amount paid the Board or
Audit read from sixth section OF the act OF June
90 1874 providing that the members Of that Board
should be paid 900 each, for services rendered. and
said under that law they were employed los days and
received the 81 900 each for that Service The joint
resolution OF December 81 which continued the Board
OF Audit also gave them compensation propornona Tomato
ance of that law that they we're paid last year He
the law was very loosely drawn and ne opposed
a al the tme but the fault OF the Law that they
had received this compensation and not any fault Of the
District Commissioners The members Of the Board
of Audit being the First and Second Comptrollers OF
the Treasury received annual salary Of 50 COO each
from the government and in addition, received ~ 600
each last year members Of the Board he thought
mis- too much and was in favor OF having the Board
abolished He desired 70 say TO the senate that the
roposition looking to the continuance Of the Board OF
Audi came from the members Of the Conference Com
ttee part Of the House aud not on the part OF
the Senate They desired TO have the Board CONTINUED
because Of the investigation into IFS omca acts now IN
progress by the House Of Representatives.
Mr. EDMuSDs rep OF W., said he was inlormee Dy
gentlemen who members OF the sinking r una
Commission-severai OF whom he knew personally,
believed them be OF as good character as any
ponds thus far issued amounted to $lS 74s $50 and
FOR this they had certificates TO show When ne JONI
resolution INST passed the Rouse they s.Dppyu
bonds except those already ordered. Though ne pc
eved the Commissioners OF the District had gone too
in the expenditure Of money, be could not forget
the condition OF the city when hrst came into their
charge Miles and miles Of streets had been torn up,
and the Senate should exercise charitable judgment
in regard 70 the acts Of the Commissioners Congress
would be Obliged 20 pay ali the certificates issued, and
Il should DO done BY imposing tax upon the people
here.
Mr. DAWES, rep OF Mass. advocated the abolition
OF the Board OF Audit and hoped the report would be
recommitted 70 the Conference Committee with IN
fiructiOns TO have that Board abolished.
Mr. MoRRILL (rep) OF Me-, said the Board would be
abolished Its existence was prolonged only
count OF the investigation progress by the
II House OF Represen tativcs
II Mr. DAWES said could tell what would be the
insult Of that investigation. The question should be
II decided now. The people OF the country already
lkoucht that there the bottom Of the con-