The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-22

tanning lnc HObtlle IIOCeeulnSs tuLVuBu
letters deposited in the postoifiCes, that IN
order was issued from the department
prohibiting tampering in any way
with any such letters. The only
alternative for the investigation suggested
was that the PostmaSter.Ge should
make It, but that official had not the
power which the House had to make a
thorough investigation. He might send
special agents but the power to summon
witnesses and to take testimony did not
exist in him as il did in the Committee
OF the House, unless therefore, the gentle
man (Hewitt), would satisfy the public
mind, by stating that he had no sufficient
ground for his charge, he did not see
that the House could withhold It's assent
10 the resolution.
Mr.. Hale said Il was very clear 10 him
that this was matter which the House
should not let drop. The inviolability
OF the Postofiice Department was such
that it shouldbe maintained and upheld by
every power Of the Government. 1t was
all the more important now that the
Department should be undisturbed and
uumolested. Since yesterday the House
had taken from another branch Of com.
munication, between man and man, all
that II had ever had OF its inyiolabllily.
The Postoifice still remains, and the
House could do nothing better in the ex.
ercise Of It's highest power than TO
ferret and probe such matters to the bot.
tom. Let an investigation be made,
most searching and complete, and let the
House know whether there has been any
interference with the correspondence Of
any one, more especially Of the gentleman
from New York HEWITT, who held the
formost place in one OF the political par.
,ies of the country. That gentleman be-
lievcd his correspondence had been tam.
percd with and he had lost his confidence
in the postotfice department. He had
shown him (Hale) two letters which he
had examined and he had become con.
WINGED, as he looked at the envelopes,
that the letters had in some way been
opened, but whether in the postottice or
by the writer's, who had then resealed
them, neither the gentleman from New
York Hewitt or himself had been able
to say. He had asked that gentleman
whether he had any proof as to how it had
been done, and he answered, he had not:
He did not believe, provided they had
been opened in the Now York postoihce,
that Postmaster James had any knowl.
edge Of it, but the gentleman from New
York believed his correspondence had
been tampered with and he was in favor
OF setting at work every power to see ii
that great department was sacred. %
Mr!Sprineer's substitution Mr.. PlattA
resolution was adopted by a'strict party
vote-ll7 to 90. The Republicans had
previously objected TO sending the inquiry
to COx's committee now in New York in
vestigating election frauds.
Finally it was agreed that an hours
discussion should be allowed, and Gar
field spoke against the resolution, on the
ground principally that the Honse is not
justified in treating telegraphic cOmmu-
nica,ions as IN official report.
Quite long discussion followed, and
finally the resolution was adopted With
out division.
The Speaker then laid before the House
the action OF the Senate in regard 10 the
death Of the late Senator Capcrton, when
remarks appropriate 10 the OCCASION were
made hy Messrs. Hereford, Faulkner
and Wilson, OF West Virginia, and by
Goode, Tucker, Kasson and Harden
'baugh. The customary resolutions werc
adopted and the House adjourned,
SENATE.
Mr.. Felinghuysen presented II petition
oil large number OF soldiers Of tile late
war, asking a passage OF the Honse bill
for equalization Of bounties; referred.
Mr.. Anthony called up the resolution
10 print five hundred extra copies Of the
document completely Major Mcdonald,
Chief Clerk Of the Senate, in regard to
count Of the electoral vote from 1880 to
1878 inclusive. .U
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Anth-
ony, that when the Senate adjourns on
Wednesday, the 22d, il be until Tueaday,
the 2Gth, and unless otherwise then or
dered, that when it.adjourns on the 26th,
that Ii be to meet on the 29th, and that,
unless otherwise then ordered, that when
it adjourns on The Goth, it be to meet Jan
uary I'd. r. p.. 81.
The resolution led to long discussion.
twas finally amended to read that
when the Senate adiourns on Friday, 22d
inst, 1t be to meet on Tuesday, 2Gth inst.
and the amendment was agreed TO, with
the general understanding among the
Senators that the Senate would adjourn
from Tuesday to Friday, and from Fri
day to Tuesday, January ID, 1877, with
out transacting any business. pt
The Chair appointed as Special Commit.
tee, authorized by recent resolution OF
Edmonds, 10 devise means for the prop
er count Of the vote for President and
Vice President, in connection with u
similar Committee Of the House, MesSrs.
Edmonds, Morton, Frelinghyson, Logan,
Thurman, Bogard and Ransom. ~ - - d
Mr.. Logan inquired. OF the chairman
Of the Committee on Finance il there
was any probability Of an early report
from that committee on the bill TO pro.
vide for the issue Of silver coin and to
make silver dollar legal tender. He
bhld kue 44DuSc NibLAu k4lG past ASN bal :
took action on similar bill and It was
important that the Senate should act
soon. 4
= Mr.. Sherman in reply said the Com.
mittee on Finance had not yet had an
opportunity to consider the subject or
had been delayed somewhat on account
OF the silver commission not having made
it's report yet. He had been told that
the report OF that committee would be
made soon. He could assure Mr.. Logan
that 10 far as the Committee on Finance
was concerned the bill could be acted
upon Immediately after the holidays.
Al the expiration OF the morning hour
the consideration Of the resolution oi
Mr.. Michel, authorizing an investiga,
ton into the. appointment Of Cronin as
Presidential electOr in Oregon, was dis
cuSsed at some length.
Mr.. Davis called up the report OF the
Conference Committee on disagreeing
to votes Of the two Houses on the bill
to provide for the expenses OF the South
ern Investigating Committee. The. com,
mitlee agreed 10 give each House $685.
900 to conduct the investigation ordered
In the course Of the discussion, Mr.
Morton said $50, 900 would not be suti.
4